Anyone has signed up those scout summer sleepaway camps?

[Anonymous]

I have a girl scout & a cub scout, and both are ES aged. Those summer camps organized by girl scout or scout of America are located faraway that we would only consider sleepaway option not day option. Kids will not have any friends to sign up with. Do those scout sleepaway camps are in good quality or better or similar to those ymca or private sleepaway camps?

[Anonymous]

Speaking for Maryland based Girl Scout Sleep away camp. The program was well run and my DD had no issues making buddies at camp. Sometimes if they go the same week every year there are repeat friendly faces. DD has also done day Y camps and we haven't had the best experiences. I would definetly go see the camp if you can to get a feel for either.

[Anonymous]

Cub Scout camp typically requires adult leaders / parents from their pack to attend - it is not designed for drop off without supervision.
I attended Cub Scout camp with my son after 3rd and 4th grade. The first time, we were the only 2 from our pack. My son had a great time and met other kids. The second year myself and one other parent took 7 kids from the pack.
FWIW, he enjoys scouting, went to numerous scout camps, earned Eagle Scout, going to Sea Base St Thomas this summer.
No experience with camps outside of scouting besides day camps.

[Anonymous]

OP which cub scout camp are you asking about? Have you already discussed this with your kid's Cubmaster?

[Anonymous]

I work at GS camp and have worked at the ones in the DC area. They are very safe and well-run. Safety is first, followed by fun. Most girls do not go with a friend. They make friends easily and quickly. The staff is eager to work with girls and there are opportunities to do all kinds of activities. I could not recommend GS camp more highly.

[Anonymous]

My son did Cub Scout camp, but went with his pack (so included adults and kids he knew). You can go as a single.

He also went to YMCA camps. He said he liked it better because they had airconditioned cabins. At scout camps they slept in tents on platforms.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. No one I know from both troops attend scout camp. Does that mean thd scout camp are more basic on lodging facilities?

[Anonymous]

My DD did not have good experiences with the GSCNC sleepaway camps. One year there were 20 girls in her group and 14 were from the same troop and 4 others also came together. Just her and one other girl came with no one. GS has also become so full of rules that they suck the fun out of everything. I say this as a longtime girl scout and former leader. We switched to a private sleepaway camp and my DD loves it. This is one time where you get what you pay for!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. No one I know from both troops attend scout camp. Does that mean thd scout camp are more basic on lodging facilities?

The GS camps are more rustic than private camps, if that is what you mean. I didn't have a great experience with the GS camps for the national capital region. Did not think they were particularly well run (although apparently the director of the camp I had serious concerns about was let go). My daughters attend GS camps in another state now.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has gone to May Flather for the last 3 years and loved it. She always goes by herself and makes friends there. Be prepared though--it is rustic. She will come home with stories about smelly pit toilets and covered in bug bites.

My son does Boy Scout camp with his troop--that's the only option that's ever been presented to us. He didn't go as a Cub Scout and didn't want to do sleep away camp until he was going into middle school. He loved it last year though.

[Anonymous]

My girls do a Girl Scout day camp every year and love it. I've heard the sleep away camps are fabulous.

[Anonymous]

In general, Cub/Boy Scout camps are attended by whole packs/troops and they stay with their troop the entire time. So, leadership picks a week and that's the week that your son would attend, or not.

In general, Girl Scout camps are attended by individual girls or maybe pairs of girls. PP's experience of a whole troop attending is an outlier. My child has attended for years, including as a junior counselor, and says she has never run into this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. No one I know from both troops attend scout camp. Does that mean thd scout camp are more basic on lodging facilities?

You cannot send your child to camp as a Cub Scout without signing up with a troop.

[Anonymous]

Some of my best childhood memories was Girl Scout camp every summer. I looked forward to it every single summer

[Anonymous]

My grandson is in a BS troop in one state. He is attending a BS camp as an individual in another state. No one else from his troop will be there. It may not be as common, but there are BS camps that are set up for individual scouts, not entire troops.

My daughter attended GS camp out of state with her friend. To get the scout pricing, her friend registered as a "Juliette" (no troop) and attended for the scout price.

My experience was GS camps were more affordable than the camps that have been around for decades, sometimes over 100 years. However, that GS camp is now closed as it didn't make enough profit the rest of the year to justify keeping it open.

I loved going to GS camp. Thankfully they all had regular toilets and showers.