Summer Camp...

[fivefordisney]

I posted on the Budget Board and now here in the hopes of getting some help! My DD11 wants to go to "sleep-away" camp for two weeks this summer. Does anyone have a recommendation for me of a good summer camp? We are thinking of the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic regions...

Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance...

 

[Youarehere]

I went here and loved it.

http://www.camphazenymca.org/residentcamp.htm#Dates & Rates

 

[barkley]

i would suggest you look into any seventh day adventist operated camps in your area. these can be incredible facilities and offer a tremendous value.

my dd has been for multiple weeks to one in california and another in idaho. both had incredibly well trained and qualified staff in a very low camper to counselor ratio. the offerings include among other things-horseback riding (cowboy camp is total immersion in horsemanship with a camper being assigned their own horse and learning to care for it as well as ride), water sports (wakeboarding, skiing, swimming, boating), drama, music, crafts, archery, off road biking, photography, video production (dd opted for this last summer-brought home a video she and her partners wrote, produced and edited ).

while it is christian based-it does not focus on the aspects of the sda faith (with the exception of worship activities held on saturday vs sunday).

only 'odd' thing as far as some kids would be concerned is the totaly vegan menus. but even my carnivore had to admit that once she tried it she enjoyed it every bit as much.

as compared to allot of the summer sleep away camps i've seen people post about on the dis i think the ones my dd has been to are truly a bargain-less than $500 for 2 weeks all inclusive (including a camp photo and video). and we are'nt talking sleeping in the woods or in tents-these are nice, clean well maintained dorm type facilities that are rented out the rest of the year for corporate retreats.

 

[lookingforward]

My kids go to Camp Seagull/Seafarer in North Carolina. They are run by the Raleigh YMCA and have been in existance for over 50 years. They are traditional camps with an emphasis on sailing and water sports. The only problem is that there are either one week or four week programs. They do have two week sailing camps too. Check it out:

http://www.seagull-seafarer.org

My two sons and one daughter LOVE it there and the staff are amazing.

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Where are you located?

I can't rave enought about Camp Winshape in Rome, GA. It was started by the same family that started Chick-fil-a. My daughter LOVES going!!!

 

[Maverick Mike]

I would suggest Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. It is an outstanding experience that cannot be found anywhere else!

I worked as an instructor in the education department during the summers of 2002 & 2003. It really cannot be beat!

www.spacecamp.com

 

[scottishduffy]

Well, That depends entirely upon what you want in a camp. You can google ACA camps and come up with a website to search for camps by region. Many have websites that you can explore and get a general idea of the camp. However, ask a few questions first:

Co-ed, all girl, or brother/sister camps (seperate camps on opposite ends of same property that may meet and mingle about once a week)?

Do you want a religious camp with an emphasis on specific values or is a secular camp alright for you?

Would your daughter prefer to sleep in cabins, or a more rustic feel in a tent? Do you care about whether bathrooms are in a central shower area or bathrooms within each hut?

What activities does your daughter enjoy? Do you wish to focus exclusively on water sports, land sports, or horseback? Or do you want a wide range of activities to expose her to?

Do you prefer a set schedule or do you want your daughter to determine her own schedule of activities?

Do you want to be allowed to mail packages, or e-mail you daughter? Or will plain old snail mail be alright for you?

Does your daughter get along well with other children most of the time? Does she handle conflict easily (there is almost always at least one kid living with you that you won't like)? Does she like new experiences and trying new things or does this make her scared? Has she ever been away from you before?


I know of quite a few good camps and attended one camp for 10 years out of my life (best experience ever). You should answer those questions first and then look from there.

 

[KelNottAt]

My kids have attended Sandy Hill Camp for the past 2 years. http://www.sandyhillcamp.com/

It is awesome. Located in the town of North East, Maryland, it's at the tippy top of the Chesapeake Bay. It's got tons of water sports, plus all the typical summer camp activities.

They have one-week and two-week sessions.

Right now DS is trying to decide if he'll go back as a CIT in '08. (May have family and/or sports/school schedule conflicts.)

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

http://www.robindel.com/

I drive one of the busses for this camp every summer. They are great! Its in Moultonboro, NH.

This is my favorite camp to work for.

 

[chrisney]

Another vote for Camps Seagull/Seafarer. Camp Seafarer is the girls camp. Our family has been involved with these camps for the last 13 years...both my son and daughter attended, and my son has continued each summer as a CILT, then a junior counsellor, a senior counsellor and finally as a co-director of camper services. He's now 25, and still plans on returning every summer he can.

The camps are located on the Neuse River, at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean. They're run by the YMCA (Raleigh area) and have outstanding leadership and a stellar staff. They also have amazing on site medical people. Not all of the staff are American, my kids have made true friends from all over the world! Although run by the "Y", the camp is not pushy on the religion issue, but deals more with common values as they have nightly meditations and a weekly service. In fact, there is a large Jewish concentration especially during second session.

I would (and have) trusted the people who run these camps with my childrens' lives. My son had a major medical issue four years ago, and wound up having emergency surgery while he was at camp. The care and concern that the staff showed for both of us was overwhelming...far beyond anything I ever could have anticipated. We'd heard about "Seagull spirit" from the kids, and while I'd experienced bits of it during the annual weekend held for financial contributors, I'd never felt the full effect until the camp rallied around my son. I am forever grateful, and only hope that nothing will change before my grandchildren attend (and I don't have any grandchildren yet!).

One word of warning...you might want to think things through fairly fast, and contact the camps to see if there are any openings. These camps fill very fast and they may already be full for next summer. They've been written up in various family magazines, and are a regular in the top 10 camps list. We always filled out our applications and left our deposits before we put the kids in the car! Get ready to gulp over the cost, but then take a look at many of the other camps...this one is a (relative) bargain!

 

[Caboosey]

I worked for YMCA camps for a few years, and I think that they're awesome. I've never been to Seagull or Seafarer, but they have a great reputation in the Y camping community.

 

[fivefordisney]

Thanks so much for all the great info. I feel like there is so much info out there; I am a little overwhelmed.

My DD12 (by the summer) really wants to go to camp. She is not the rustic-type, and would definitely prefer cabins over tents.

We actually did visit Sandy Hill and DD LOVED it. Unfortunately, their two-week programs are filled, except for the first session. I'd have to pull her out of school early to go then, not really the best option. She is considering the one week option, but as a last resort. The two week options have quite a waiting list already.

So here I am, trying to get more info. I have no problem sending her out of state...I just want to find a camp that is good, not too overwhelmingly expensive, and that she'll want to return to again and again! We are Christian, but very laid back. We don't need a religious camp, but are okay with one as long as it is engaging, safe and fun.

Thanks, again, for the suggestions. I am going to "google away" now to learn more about each of them. I appreciate your suggestions more than you can imagine!!!

 

[fivefordisney]

My kids have attended Sandy Hill Camp for the past 2 years. http://www.sandyhillcamp.com/

It is awesome. Located in the town of North East, Maryland, it's at the tippy top of the Chesapeake Bay. It's got tons of water sports, plus all the typical summer camp activities.

They have one-week and two-week sessions.

Right now DS is trying to decide if he'll go back as a CIT in '08. (May have family and/or sports/school schedule conflicts.)

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Did your kids do the one or two-week sessions?

 

[fivefordisney]

Where are you located?

I can't rave enought about Camp Winshape in Rome, GA. It was started by the same family that started Chick-fil-a. My daughter LOVES going!!!

I live in the Western suburbs of Philadelphia.

 

[scottishduffy]

Here are some to check out: (I didn't really do price checks, just looked at places I have heard good things about and known people to attend)

http://www.campcarysbrook.com/

http://www.camprimrock.com/

http://www.lwcgwc.com/glen/index.htm

http://www.lincoln-lakehubert.com/

http://www.campillahee.com/

http://www.merri-mac.com/

Try searching those out. I hope your daughter finds a camp she likes! When I was younger and I was asking to go to camp my parents let me "choose". They picked out 4-5 camps which looked nice and asked for the videos and information from each camp. One night we sat down, looked at all the information, watched the videos, and talked about what camps I liked. I narrowed it down to 2 that night, and in the end decided on one camp. So, do your research, take advice of those above since the best camps are those with a high return rate, and then let daughter have the final say.

Look for camps with a high return rate, if they are old camps they should have 2nd or 3rd generation campers. Look for camps where the majority of the counselors are former campers themselves. Camps that have such loyalty as that are the best ones around!

 

[KelNottAt]

Did your kids do the one or two-week sessions?

Year one they did 3 consectutive one-week sessions. Because it was new to them, they wanted the option of coming home on the weekend.

Year two they did random one week sessions. They're not crazy about getting up early during the summer (7:00- ish at Sandy Hill). So, they decided one week at a time was all their lazy bones could handle.

 

[Iansmom]

Camp Thunderbird, in South Carolina, just across the NC border:
http://www.campthunderbird.org/

 

[scottishduffy]

Camp Thunderbird, in South Carolina, just across the NC border:
http://www.campthunderbird.org/

This is a good camp. One time when the CIT's from my camp were on a trip we ran into some of the guys from Thunderbird. It was great! A really nice group of kids and we even taught each other our camp songs. I have never seen our camp director so miffed as the day when the CIT's came home from their special CIT trip, stood up during dinner, and began singing the Thunderbird theme song....

 

[Sandy321]

I was overwhelmed last year when dd at 10 wanted to do a 1 week sleep over camp - and the camp she picked was in Michigan (we live in IL) she heard it from a neighbor of my mom's in IN!!

I did a lot of investigating - and calling and emailing the camp - she didnt know any other people going to this camp - and yet, she went - and she loved it!!

Does your dd know anyone going to a camp? DO anyone at the school have any suggestions?