Summer Camp, what's the right age?

[Genieklone]

The warmer weather has got me thinking about summer camps. I know my DD2 will not be ready for a while but I was wondering, for those who have had experience with summer camps, when did you send your DCs to summer camp (not the day camp but the overnight one). I always wanted to go to camp when I was little. There was a show on Nickelodeon (or was it Disney?) that featured camp life but my parents could not afford to send us (we were 10 kids). How much $$ do they run? What are the popular ones? Do parents get to chaperone?

Thanks!

 

[loriandmatt]

my DS (now 12) had his first experience with overnight camp last summer (when he was 11) with the boy scouts. it was for 7 days and it was with adults/other kids he knew from being in scouts with them.

he had no problems at all. he probably could have done it at 10, but i am not sure if younger than that. (not all kids, but mine personally)

i don't know if he or i would be happy with an all summer overnight camp.

since he was a toddler, he has been going each summer with his grandparents who live over 400 miles away for 1-2 weeks . but that is totally different that going to a camp. i do think that helped him adjust to not being "with us" or "at home" all the time though.

 

[shelly3girls]

This is a good question which I have no answer for. My DD8 is being taken to an overnight type sports camp this summer. There will be adults and children there she knows and DH and I are still not comfortable with it. She got teary eyed at the thought of going by herself which clearly showed she wasn't ready. We were able to arrange DH to go and stay nearby for part of the week then I will go for the other part but I know this is not possible in many situations particularly in more traditional camps.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Most overnight summer camps do not let parents visit or call for the first few weeks. They are not chaperoned by parents. They have a staff and that is it. I know many people who have gone but I wouldn't send my kids to one. I wouldn't feel comfortable with it (and I would miss them to much!). You should look around in your area and see what different camps offer.

 

[MichelleVW]

My girls went to camp for a week when they were about 8. The oldest cried when I left, and then I cried all week...but when I went to pick her up all I got was a "hi mom" because she had so much fun while she was there!!!

My youngest was fine at 8 and didn't cry when she was left.....

They only went for a week though...some of those summer camps are 4-8 weeks long and I could never have sent them away for so long at that age!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

It's really such an individual choice. I know kids who have loved camp and thrived on it, and others who had a bad experience the first time and have never gone again. And still others, who never went.

In my own case, my DD went the summer after 2nd grade. She went to a beautiful camp in the mountains, that stressed non-competitive activities, etc. It was right up her alley. She went for 5 summers, starting with a 5 day beginner session and moving on to a full 2 week stay.

My younger daughter was much more shy and timid, and I never thought she would want or be able to go. But she begged me to let her try, so she went the summer after 1st grade. She was terribly homesick the first night (I called the camp the next day) but she adjusted and it became a great experience for her. In fact, it was one of those moments in her life when she could clearly see that she had faced up to something (being shy) in order to get something she wanted (the fun of camp.) She has gone every summer since, and will leave the week after school gets out for a 3 week session of rafting, mountain biking and rock climbing!!!

For both my girls, camp was a wonderful, wonderful experience. It took a little trust on my part but it was the right thing. I would never not let my children go somewhere because I wasn't ready to let them go, but I had a lot of friends who said that they just couldn't let their kids be away from them so young. So it's different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Can you tell I'm very high on camp??!!!!

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

I was 6 years old when I first went to camp. The first times, the camps were during long weekends (3 nights), then for shorter vacation periods (about 6 or 7 nights), when I was about 9 or 10 they were 2 weeks long, and when I was 13 I went to a 6 week summer camp in the US, in Kingston Mass., and had a great time.

And this coming from the pickiest eater that you can ever imagine, no bug lover and not a sports girl, but still I had the time of my life at camp.

I can´t wait for my dd to be old enough to go to camp. Will do a couple of short camps in Mexico first, and will try the US and Canada when she is about 8 or 9.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

My 6 year old will start camp this summer. It is not overnight though. I think he'll enjoy it. It's got 3 pools and a ton of activites. They provide door to door transportation and lunch is included.

 

[McKelly]

My DD8 (2nd grade) will be going to camp for the first time this summer, but only for two nights, and the camp is only two miles from our house. I did NOT think she would want to go, but she is going with several of her friends and is very excited. I am a total wreck about it and it is not until August! It is a Girl Scout camp and I am sure she will have a blast, but it is hard to let her go. We drop her off on a Wednesday at 10:00am and pick her up on Friday at 4:00pm. The cost is $100.00.

 

[mlraabe]

I think it is different depending on the kid. I never went to camp and never had an desire to. Dh loved camp when he was a kid. DD went for the first time when she was 6. It was our church camp and DH went as a chaperone(there is no way I would have let her go otherwise). It was 3 days. When they got home she said next year I am going by myself! So last year she went to a 3 day camp 3 miles from our house - without DH but with friends. Then she said next year I am going for the full week. She is 8 now and the problem is finding some of her friends that want to go for a full week instead of 3. She said she would go without them but I am just not comfortable with that. I want her to have a friend. Plus, she has had 2 offers to go to different camps with friends(3 days). I think she would go all summer if I would let her!

Now DS11 is a completely different story. His first camp was 3 days when he was 9. He had friends that went (they were girls so he didn't know anyone in his cabin) and he had a blast. However, said he would not go last year because he could not go to the 3 day camp anymore (too old). I think after we went to pick up DD last year and he remembered how much fun he had he is ready to try it again. So they will probably both be going to the all week one as long as they can find a friend to go. I don't think they would want to hang out together! Of course they would probably get along better there than they ever do at home!

 

[Whosemom]

We participate in Girls Scout camp. My oldest went to a 2 night camp when she was 9 and had a great time. Then last year as a 10yo she went to the 5 night camp and cried everynight. In fact, she made herself sick, but never told a grownup. A tent-mate told us about two weeks after the camp. Sigh.

My second child went to a 2 night GS camp last summer. She was 7. She also had a blast, and wants to go to the 5 night camp this year. I had a long talk with the camp director. She feels kid 2 will seek out adult help more readily and therefor will do better than her sister. So, we are sending them to a 5 day camp together (same tent), so the 8 yo can look after the 11yo. SHHHH, don't let on.

One thing that makes me comfortable with our camp is that we were there many many times for one day programs, so the girls knew the layout and the year-round staff. Then toward the beginning of camp season they have a family camp weekend where we got to know the rest of the adults, and the first time sleeping in the tents was with us.

That being said, it really varies with the child and the situation.

 

[CampbellScot]

I worked for five years at camps in Maine...Maine is where SERIOUS campers go to camp. They take kids for either one month or two. Most of the kids come straight from boarding school to camp for the whole summer. It's sort of sad...very wealthy kids who see their parents very rarely and spend their whole summers at camp. Anyhow...I digress...

I will say that all but one of the camps I worked for were outstanding. The kids were well cared for, the staff was well trained and all the kids seemed to really thrive while at camp. The youngest kids at the camps I worked at were 9 years old, the oldest were 15. Every cabin had two to six counselors depending on the size of the cabin and the ages of the girls.

All that being said, you have to be VERY careful where you send your kids. You need to KNOW where they will be living and playing for an extended period of time. I worked for a camp that was very BAD in all areas. The supervision of the children was inappropriate, counselors were teaching classes they were not trained to teach, and campers got drunk on several occasions after being sent alcohol through the mail. The camp looked great in brochure pics and online, but it was actually VERY run down. We often woke up to the smell of raw sewage. It was in standing puddles all the way to the dining hall. The plumbing routinely overflowed into the shower drains and campers were standing ankle deep in raw sewage all of a sudden. Parents paidTHOUSANDS to send their kids to this camp, and the owners on site mansion reflected that, but it was NOT going into the upkeep of the camp...it was a very eye opening experience in terms of what can happen at extended stay summer camps. It was like a soap opera most of the time, with counselors AND campers. The owners of the camp didn't appear to like children over much and referred to them as "wise a** little sh**ts" during staff meetings. It was very bizarre. You have to remember that camp becomes your child's whole world for a month or two months. If something is wrong or the kids are having trouble with another camper, the whole camp will know and choose sides and it can be miserable. The counselors can bring their own drama...at "bad camp" most of the campers knew all about the counselors "adult" goings on during their days off...counselors snuck out at night to meet up with boyfriends...it was insane. One of the female counselors kept writing love letters to one of the campers in her cabin. When this was found out, she wasn't even fired...just moved to another cabin with YOUNGER girls. This particular summer was not a good one. It was my last year as a counselor.

One of the camps I worked at was on a television show on the Disney channel called Bug Juice. If you have any questions PM about the experience!!

I think camp can be GREAT. You just need to know where you are sending your kids. You don't want them to end up in a camp like the one I described. It has had lasting effects on a lot of the girls I am still in contact with.

 

[MomToAp1699]

I think it all complelty depends on the child going to camp, I worked at a summer camp for two years while in high school and every child handles a summer camp experience diffrent. I had 5 year olds who had fun the whole week without even a hint of tears. There where 8 year olds who cried the first day and then met a new friend and had a great time and never remembered the tears until they left and cried for leaving their new friends.. AND, I Had 14 year old girls who cried every evening because they just wanted to be home with their things and their family. When the time comes that your DD is old enough for camp I recommend 1) taking the advice of the poster who said make sure you know the camp you are sending your child to, the best camp is one who treats your child like they are a gift you are allowing them to have for the week. We strove to treat each child that came through our camp as we would want our own children treated one day. We smiled with them when they where happy.. We cheered for them when they succeeded and our hearts broke for them when they where sad.. 2) Start small, Day Camps that run 8-4 are a great way to start a kid off in camp. Then a weekend camp etc.. Work your way up. Some kids head off for camp and seem like they never look back at mom and dad.. and some kids cry their hearts out when you leave but before your even down the road are having the time of their lives. The best advice is just trust yourself and your child you know them best.

 

[pezpam]

DD went to a week-long overnight Girl Scout camp last year. It was her first overnight camp (she did day camp the previous year) and she was a little nervous going in, but she's the kind of kid who makes friends in line for TOT, so I knew she'd be fine and she was. She had an absolute ball and has been asking to go back all year.

I only got to go to overnight camp once - when I was 16 we went to a 4-H camp for 2 weeks. By the end, I was very jealous of the kids who got to stay for a month or longer.

That said, there are kids who just hate it and maybe shouldn't go. How does your kid handle new situations? If they're nervous and adjust fine or enjoy new experiences, then camp should be ok.

You will not get to chaperone unless you find a parent-child camp experience. They can be expensive, but research your options to find something that fits your budget. As the other poster said, make sure you check the camp out to make sure it's a place youi're comfortable with.

 

[Enchanted]

I went to my first sleepaway camp when I was twelve. It was church camp, and it was only for five or six nights, I think. I was really nervous going in, but by the end of the week I didn't want to go home! I only got to go back one more time when I was fifteen or sixteen, and I loved it even more the second time around.

I'd say most kids could probably handle week-long camps by the age of ten or eleven, but it really all depends on the child.

 

[pigletof4]

I would check out your local girl scout council to see what they have. I know here where we live, they offer a 1 night overnight for girls entering 1st grade and then they offer a for 2nd-3rd grade 3 night and then 7 nights for
3rd grade on up. I know here, the 7 night runs about $200. They also offer camperships based on your income level.

Also, although they don't get to spend the night, you can volunteer for girl scout day camp and usually up to two girls get to go free.

 

[va32h]

My daughter went to overnight Girl Scout camp last year at age 10 (one week). She had a blast, and didn't want to come home. This year she is going for two weeks.

 

[BarbWB]

It depends on the child and where you live ... in TX, the "prestigious" overnight camps have waiting lists years long. For some camps, they need to get on the list before they are born. Others are not so bad. In GENERAL, the private overnight camps run about $700-1K per week -- some more, some less. Girl Scout and church camps are MUCH less.
I went to campfire girls camp (like girl scouts) and I can honestly say that it was the very best experience of my childhood. I learned so much and made great friends. I wish I could have gone for weeks at a time. otoh, my sister went to the same camp and was miserable!
I was a counselor at a camp outside of Branson, Mo (Kanakuk), which was an awesome place. At the time, their sessions were 2 or 4 wks. I had cabins of 7 yo girls and they ALL did fine after the first couple of days.
My dd (now 9, in 3rd grade) went to a private camp in the Texas Hill Country (most of the private camps in TX are located in the hill country) last summer for 2 weeks and LOVED it. Her camp's longest session is 3 weeks -- most range from 1-6 weeks -- and she begged to go for 3 weeks this year. We are taking an extended vacation this summer and can only schedule 2 wks and she is bummed. My younger dd7 is joining her for 2 wks.
In my personal opinion, to get the most out of camp, a 1 week session just isn't long enough. The kids can hang on to the homesickness if they know it is 5-7 days. But, if it is a 2 week camp, a child who is ready for camp will get over the homesick feeling at day 3 or 4 and join in the fun. They won't be ready to leave at the end. (I'm not saying to send a child who isn't ready or doesn't want to go, though).
At most camps, parents cannot "chaperone" at all. It seriously increases homesickness. But, most camps now have daily updates and post pictures (via a secure website) of the events of the day. It is reassuring as a parent to see a pic of your child having fun and smiling w/o you!!
As far as particular camps, do some online research for your area. I could rattle off 10 Texas camps, but there aren't tons of out of state kids there.
Check Kanakuk if you are a (relatively) conservative Christian. It's a great place. Find out what your dtr wants out of camp. My dd would only consider a place that had riding every day, so that narrowed our choices considerably. We visited camps the summer before and during the year. My dd picked her camp herself and, luckily, it was the one I wanted, too!!! I think that helped tremendously in her attitude. If there was something bad, she couldn't blame it on me and get cranky and homesick!!!
Good luck in your hunt!!! Camp can be a fantastic experience for your child if you find a place that suits you and your child!!

 

[sara74]

I went to a 2 week camp when I was 11 (the summer between 5th and 6th grade) and I loved it! Four girls from my school went sort of together, we weren't the closest of friends which I think was good - we didn't have the usual girl drama going on. It was a YMCA camp in New Hampshire and we had a great time! My sister went the next year as a counselor in training for a month and she loved it too.

 

[powellrj]

all three of my kids have been to different camps. My oldest went to church camp during the 4th and 5th grade, but lost interest and didn't go back. He had a great time the first year and the 2nd year not so much. It was a church camp that our church sponsored. Different ministers are in charge of each week. We learned our lesson and only went when we knew the ministers in charge because lets face it, some people do better with kids than others.

Middle DS went 5 and 6th grade and then decided to go on mission trips instead of church camp in the summer.

DD is our camper. She has been going for a week every year since she was in 2nd grade. Last year she went to church camp for 2 weeks and then she attended Law Career camp sponsored by our state police. She had a good time at police camp and stayed at a college dorm 5 blocks from home, but she doesn't want to go back this year because none of her friends are going. She can't wait to go back to church camp this year. I think its easier for her because she knows most of the counselors because they are friends with her DBs and she has lots of friends that go.