What age for sleep away camp?
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Anonymous
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I know many camps begin with kids as young as 8 but my kids are older. Is 11 or 12 too old to try sleepaway camp for the first time?
I’ve been told that a 2-week session is better than 1-week but I wonder if it might be easier to start with 1-week. Anyone have good experience with a 1-week session? |
Anonymous
| Not too old! But you'd want to pick a camp that has new campers at all ages. Two weeks is better than one because it gives them longer to settle in. |
Anonymous
| 9 |
Anonymous
| I started at 9. And my DD will turn 9 this summer and it’s the first time I would have felt comfortable with it. I’m not sure we’ll do it this summer though. But maybe next year! |
Anonymous
| I would start with 2 weeks (at least). It can take at least a week to settle in. I would also try to find a camp with two week sessions so that some kids aren't leaving half way through your kids' time at camp. |
Anonymous
Thank you! How do you find out which camps have new campers at all ages? Ask the camp staff? |
Anonymous
Ask the director. Any camp worth going to will have a director who will get in the phone with you and answer all your questions, especially about sociali dynamics and session length. |
Anonymous
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Not sure what region you are looking in.
But if you are interested in NY Frost Valley is GREAT! Some programs are already full for the summer, but some still have openings. DS started at 8, but there are new kids at all levels. My cousin went there starting at 15 and works there now! https://frostvalley.org/ |
Anonymous
| Mine went for the first time at 11 and loved it. He was one of only a few first-timers in his age group and didn’t know anyone going into it, but it went really well. |
Anonymous
| That's a great age to start! Lots of kids start at that age. Go for two weeks. Look at Camp Tockwogh in MD. |
Anonymous
| Thanks everyone for the helpful input! |