Qualitative difference between YMCA or private sleepaway camps?

[Anonymous]

Is there any difference in the experience a kid would have at a 2-4 week program run by the YMCA vs at a private sleepaway camp? I'm not talking a super fancy program, but like the traditional summer camp, cabin life, dining hall songs, range of activities, counselors who were also often campers, etc?

[Anonymous]

I can only reply with my own personal experience, I went to a YMCA camp growing up, exactly like you described. I worked there, met my husband there and out daughter goes there. It was a YMCA, but you would only know it from the name - I don't know how others are, but it wasn't christian and its incredibly inclusive and progressive.

[Anonymous]

Going to camp weigh the same group of people for several weeks or a month is a dramatically different experience from 1 week sessions. Camps where the majority of counselors are themselves camp alumni also offers a richer experience. Also compare the camper: counselor ratio and the training that counselors receive -- but I don't know what Camp Letts is like for either of those metrics, so don't know if there's a difference.

[Anonymous]

For first timer for sleepaway camp, I think I will enroll in ymca for a week to test the water coming summer. If it works out, I will think about if I will move on to private one or ymca one. I have been debating if ymca letts or ymca silver beach, which one is better for first timer.

[Anonymous]

One of ours went to a YMCA and one went to a private (it's where each of them wanted to be/where their friends were).

Private costs more. A lot more. Many thousands of dollars more. And, they do fancier arts and crafts projects (they YMCA does gimp and tye-dye). And the cabins are a little fancier (dresser space v put your large duffle under the bed).

The private made my kid be a CIT for multiple years (different names) before being able to work there as a counselor for peanuts, where at the YMCA camp, our child worked as a CIT and then counselor at a much younger age, and earned a lot more money.

The reality is, both kids were happy, with their friends, and well supervised and cared for. If we had to do it again, would probably send both to the YMCA and saved the money

[Anonymous]

Go visit a couple. There are differences from camp to camp in facilities and activity offerings, but they may not be things you or your child care about.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Op here. We're in the NYC metro area and there are a bunch of great YMCA options but I'm biased only bc I went to a private sleepaway camp (which I liked but don't feel like my daughter HAS to go there) and also bc we're Jewish. But it seems like many of the Y camps are completely non denominational. As long as the counselors are kind and committed to the kids and not just dialing it into a summer job I think I'll be happy sending her there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of ours went to a YMCA and one went to a private (it's where each of them wanted to be/where their friends were).

Private costs more. A lot more. Many thousands of dollars more. And, they do fancier arts and crafts projects (they YMCA does gimp and tye-dye). And the cabins are a little fancier (dresser space v put your large duffle under the bed).

The private made my kid be a CIT for multiple years (different names) before being able to work there as a counselor for peanuts, where at the YMCA camp, our child worked as a CIT and then counselor at a much younger age, and earned a lot more money.

The reality is, both kids were happy, with their friends, and well supervised and cared for. If we had to do it again, would probably send both to the YMCA and saved the money

Do you think having older counselors at the private camp impacted the camper experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of ours went to a YMCA and one went to a private (it's where each of them wanted to be/where their friends were).

Private costs more. A lot more. Many thousands of dollars more. And, they do fancier arts and crafts projects (they YMCA does gimp and tye-dye). And the cabins are a little fancier (dresser space v put your large duffle under the bed).

The private made my kid be a CIT for multiple years (different names) before being able to work there as a counselor for peanuts, where at the YMCA camp, our child worked as a CIT and then counselor at a much younger age, and earned a lot more money.

The reality is, both kids were happy, with their friends, and well supervised and cared for. If we had to do it again, would probably send both to the YMCA and saved the money

Do you think having older counselors at the private camp impacted the camper experience?

If they are accredited, they should be following ACA guidelines, you cannot be a full counselor until you are 18, you can be a junior at 17, but there are requirements about the number of 18 year olds who must be present and and the ratio of campers