Do many more kids go to overnight camps these days?

[Anonymous]

We have two kids at sleep away camp for the first time this year and it is definitely a luxury but one we saved for. Kids are almost 9 and going into 4th and this seemed like perfect timing for them. I had a few summers with a week of camp paid for my Dad after my parents divorced but not two weeks away like this. My husband never went to camp - summers were spent working on the farm.

I agree with the posters who said this is a great opportunity for the kids to exercise some independence in a safe environment. We picked a close in Quaker run camp that has a focus on fun, art, outdoors, friendships, and time each day for quiet reflection. Half the price of some of the other options we considered and friends and DCUM had good things to say about the camp.

Just saw the kids at mid term visitors day and they were in heaven. Filthy but in heaven. We will definitely make it happen for them next year.

And Mom and Dad got some uninterrupted time together - better then marriage counseling for us.

[Anonymous]

Going to summer sleep away camp was a big part of my childhood. I went to camp in Maine; we lived in NJ. DH's family never did overnight camps, and they didn't even do many day camps. Summer was for playing in the neighborhood, going to the local municipal pool, and family trips. We've done a mix of camps and other experiences with our own kids over the years. One of our kids really loved overnight camp -- it's been a great opportunity for her to become more independent. Another kid never really found it much fun, but he loved some of the overnight academic programs (e.g., Summer at Brown) when he was in high school. Another kid of our loved adventure touring camps, such as Overland, where kids go on 1-2 week hiking or bike trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two kids at sleep away camp for the first time this year and it is definitely a luxury but one we saved for. Kids are almost 9 and going into 4th and this seemed like perfect timing for them. I had a few summers with a week of camp paid for my Dad after my parents divorced but not two weeks away like this. My husband never went to camp - summers were spent working on the farm.

I agree with the posters who said this is a great opportunity for the kids to exercise some independence in a safe environment. We picked a close in Quaker run camp that has a focus on fun, art, outdoors, friendships, and time each day for quiet reflection. Half the price of some of the other options we considered and friends and DCUM had good things to say about the camp.

Just saw the kids at mid term visitors day and they were in heaven. Filthy but in heaven. We will definitely make it happen for them next year.

And Mom and Dad got some uninterrupted time together - better then marriage counseling for us.

OMG, I know what you mean! This was a major turning point for DH and me as a couple. Kids are now headed to college, so having that alone time is no longer a big deal. Back in those earlier years it was like gold!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two kids at sleep away camp for the first time this year and it is definitely a luxury but one we saved for. Kids are almost 9 and going into 4th and this seemed like perfect timing for them. I had a few summers with a week of camp paid for my Dad after my parents divorced but not two weeks away like this. My husband never went to camp - summers were spent working on the farm.

I agree with the posters who said this is a great opportunity for the kids to exercise some independence in a safe environment. We picked a close in Quaker run camp that has a focus on fun, art, outdoors, friendships, and time each day for quiet reflection. Half the price of some of the other options we considered and friends and DCUM had good things to say about the camp.

Just saw the kids at mid term visitors day and they were in heaven. Filthy but in heaven. We will definitely make it happen for them next year.

And Mom and Dad got some uninterrupted time together - better then marriage counseling for us.

Could you tell me the name of this camp? Sounds good.

[Anonymous]

Grew up in NOVA. It was really rare for kids to go to sleep away camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grew up in NOVA. It was really rare for kids to go to sleep away camp.

Huh?
I grew up in Falls Church and most of my friends did a week or two at a sleep away camp at age 10 or so and up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have never done it and I never will. That's not how I parent.

This could have come out of my mom's mouth, along with the stuff about a missing bond and all that. I obviously never went. She talked about parents who didn't want their kids around, how she could never let us go, etc. I recognized it for the bragging it was even as a kid.

We will send our kids when they are old enough. I don't want to do what my mom did in this respect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never done it and I never will. That's not how I parent.

This could have come out of my mom's mouth, along with the stuff about a missing bond and all that. I obviously never went. She talked about parents who didn't want their kids around, how she could never let us go, etc. I recognized it for the bragging it was even as a kid.

We will send our kids when they are old enough. I don't want to do what my mom did in this respect.

My kids and I are closer than imaginable. But every year since they were 10-11, they have gone to camp for a week. Not because I need a break, or because I want to do something for myself, but because they want to. They have a blast, and the independence is great for their social/emotional development and self -esteem. I miss them every second they are gone, but it's not about me.

I'm absolutely dumbfounded that people seem to equate one week of summer camp to sending your kid to live with the nanny for the first 18 years, and I believe that people who refuse to let kids who want to experience camp go are thinking only of themselves and doing their kids a disservice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine has been there for two weeks already. Letters home are begging to stay the summer. However, she is the only one of her friends to have gone this summer. I grew up going to sleep away camp and I passed the tradition onto my DD. My husband never went and thought the concept was odd but was wiling to try it because she desperately wanted to go. He sees he pictures every night and reads the letters, he now admits that she's having the time of her life.

Can you please tell us the name of this camp? Also, PPs who mentions the Berkshires....which camp? DDs are 9, so I am looking to send them next year. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have two kids at sleep away camp for the first time this year and it is definitely a luxury but one we saved for. Kids are almost 9 and going into 4th and this seemed like perfect timing for them. I had a few summers with a week of camp paid for my Dad after my parents divorced but not two weeks away like this. My husband never went to camp - summers were spent working on the farm.

I agree with the posters who said this is a great opportunity for the kids to exercise some independence in a safe environment. We picked a close in Quaker run camp that has a focus on fun, art, outdoors, friendships, and time each day for quiet reflection. Half the price of some of the other options we considered and friends and DCUM had good things to say about the camp.

Just saw the kids at mid term visitors day and they were in heaven. Filthy but in heaven. We will definitely make it happen for them next year.

And Mom and Dad got some uninterrupted time together - better then marriage counseling for us.

Could you tell me the name of this camp? Sounds good.

It is the Catoctin Quaker Camp run by the Baltimore Yearly Meeting. They have a couple of different ones. www.bymcamps.org

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like everyone these days send their kids to overnight camps once they reach a certain age. I only remember a few friends going when i was a kid. Is this a nee trend, or did i just have an unusual group of friends and his was aleays the case?

Jewish parents send their kids for a month or all summer starting at like 7-8yrs old. It is really weird. Don't you want to spend any time with your kids? It is definitely this area. Sadly neighborhoods are ghost towns because parents don't want to parent. Kids have structure 24/7. Very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like everyone these days send their kids to overnight camps once they reach a certain age. I only remember a few friends going when i was a kid. Is this a nee trend, or did i just have an unusual group of friends and his was aleays the case?

Jewish parents send their kids for a month or all summer starting at like 7-8yrs old. It is really weird. Don't you want to spend any time with your kids? It is definitely this area. Sadly neighborhoods are ghost towns because parents don't want to parent. Kids have structure 24/7. Very sad.

First--it's not sad. Parents are sending their kids (who want to go) to gain experiences they can't give them at home. They are not sending them because they don't want to parent. Independence within a supportive environment; consequences for actions ie, you have to sweep the floor, else as a cabin we fail inspection---this teaches team work, accountability, and pride in your work; ability to make choices about what you want to do....archery or zipline, dance or volleyball?

Second, it's not just this area. If you do a search you'll find that there are sleep away camps all over the country and even the world. They wouldn't exist in areas outside of "this area" if there wasn't the demand.

Third---not all parents have the luxury of staying home with their children all summer. Sometimes, both parents have to work. Younger children need childcare. I have yet to hear of a day camp that offers completely unstructured days. There is structure in every child care environment.

I was on the phone yesterday with a camp director discussing options for my child for next summer. He made a comment that resonated with me. He said that many children are developmentally ready to attend camp by 2nd or 3rd grade but parents are not ready to send their children until 5th or 6th grade. Sleep away camp is not the right choice for all families, but for families that do make the choice, it is by no means "very sad".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like everyone these days send their kids to overnight camps once they reach a certain age. I only remember a few friends going when i was a kid. Is this a nee trend, or did i just have an unusual group of friends and his was aleays the case?

Jewish parents send their kids for a month or all summer starting at like 7-8yrs old. It is really weird. Don't you want to spend any time with your kids? It is definitely this area. Sadly neighborhoods are ghost towns because parents don't want to parent. Kids have structure 24/7. Very sad.

First--it's not sad. Parents are sending their kids (who want to go) to gain experiences they can't give them at home. They are not sending them because they don't want to parent. Independence within a supportive environment; consequences for actions ie, you have to sweep the floor, else as a cabin we fail inspection---this teaches team work, accountability, and pride in your work; ability to make choices about what you want to do....archery or zipline, dance or volleyball?

Second, it's not just this area. If you do a search you'll find that there are sleep away camps all over the country and even the world. They wouldn't exist in areas outside of "this area" if there wasn't the demand.

Third---not all parents have the luxury of staying home with their children all summer. Sometimes, both parents have to work. Younger children need childcare. I have yet to hear of a day camp that offers completely unstructured days. There is structure in every child care environment.

I was on the phone yesterday with a camp director discussing options for my child for next summer. He made a comment that resonated with me. He said that many children are developmentally ready to attend camp by 2nd or 3rd grade but parents are not ready to send their children until 5th or 6th grade. Sleep away camp is not the right choice for all families, but for families that do make the choice, it is by no means "very sad".

I know kids who don't want to go and are sent anyway, even all summer. But most are 21-28 days. And if you can't discipline your child to teach them independence and consequences then I guess paying others to do it while you go on your own vacations and dinners with your husband, then more power to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like everyone these days send their kids to overnight camps once they reach a certain age. I only remember a few friends going when i was a kid. Is this a nee trend, or did i just have an unusual group of friends and his was aleays the case?

Jewish parents send their kids for a month or all summer starting at like 7-8yrs old. It is really weird. Don't you want to spend any time with your kids? It is definitely this area. Sadly neighborhoods are ghost towns because parents don't want to parent. Kids have structure 24/7. Very sad.

First--it's not sad. Parents are sending their kids (who want to go) to gain experiences they can't give them at home. They are not sending them because they don't want to parent. Independence within a supportive environment; consequences for actions ie, you have to sweep the floor, else as a cabin we fail inspection---this teaches team work, accountability, and pride in your work; ability to make choices about what you want to do....archery or zipline, dance or volleyball?

Second, it's not just this area. If you do a search you'll find that there are sleep away camps all over the country and even the world. They wouldn't exist in areas outside of "this area" if there wasn't the demand.

Third---not all parents have the luxury of staying home with their children all summer. Sometimes, both parents have to work. Younger children need childcare. I have yet to hear of a day camp that offers completely unstructured days. There is structure in every child care environment.

I was on the phone yesterday with a camp director discussing options for my child for next summer. He made a comment that resonated with me. He said that many children are developmentally ready to attend camp by 2nd or 3rd grade but parents are not ready to send their children until 5th or 6th grade. Sleep away camp is not the right choice for all families, but for families that do make the choice, it is by no means "very sad".

I know kids who don't want to go and are sent anyway, even all summer. But most are 21-28 days. And if you can't discipline your child to teach them independence and consequences then I guess paying others to do it while you go on your own vacations and dinners with your husband, then more power to you.

You can be assured your children will learn what you are teaching, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like everyone these days send their kids to overnight camps once they reach a certain age. I only remember a few friends going when i was a kid. Is this a nee trend, or did i just have an unusual group of friends and his was aleays the case?

Jewish parents send their kids for a month or all summer starting at like 7-8yrs old. It is really weird. Don't you want to spend any time with your kids? It is definitely this area. Sadly neighborhoods are ghost towns because parents don't want to parent. Kids have structure 24/7. Very sad.

First--it's not sad. Parents are sending their kids (who want to go) to gain experiences they can't give them at home. They are not sending them because they don't want to parent. Independence within a supportive environment; consequences for actions ie, you have to sweep the floor, else as a cabin we fail inspection---this teaches team work, accountability, and pride in your work; ability to make choices about what you want to do....archery or zipline, dance or volleyball?

Second, it's not just this area. If you do a search you'll find that there are sleep away camps all over the country and even the world. They wouldn't exist in areas outside of "this area" if there wasn't the demand.

Third---not all parents have the luxury of staying home with their children all summer. Sometimes, both parents have to work. Younger children need childcare. I have yet to hear of a day camp that offers completely unstructured days. There is structure in every child care environment.

I was on the phone yesterday with a camp director discussing options for my child for next summer. He made a comment that resonated with me. He said that many children are developmentally ready to attend camp by 2nd or 3rd grade but parents are not ready to send their children until 5th or 6th grade. Sleep away camp is not the right choice for all families, but for families that do make the choice, it is by no means "very sad".

I know kids who don't want to go and are sent anyway, even all summer. But most are 21-28 days. And if you can't discipline your child to teach them independence and consequences then I guess paying others to do it while you go on your own vacations and dinners with your husband, then more power to you.

You let your child decide whether or not to eat? You let your child decide whether or not to brush her teeth and use soap? You let your child decide whether or not to wear the same shirt four days in a row? Those are the kinds of things kids have the independence to do at camp, where they can learn to face the consequences of their decisions.

They also do things like walk alone in the woods, walk alone in the dark outside at night to go to the bathroom, share a room with four other kids, eat only at mealtimes and only what it served, navigate a canoe out to the middle of a lake and back by themselves....you can really provide them those kinds of experiences at home?

Obviously plenty of kids grow up without doing these things, but you can't say that being home is the same as being at camp.