Do you send your kids to summer camps?

[Anonymous]

Very sorry to the pp who was sexually abused. This is something I worry about.

We are sending my 9yo ds to a one week away camp. First time. I may do it again next year if he enjoys it. I may also do a different 2 week camp in another year or two. I would do the same for my dd if she wants it. I don't know if we'd do a month or two months. Maybe when we see how this and next year go.

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old (turning 8 this summer) is doing a 1 week sleep-away camp for the first time this summer. Neither DH nor I did sleep away camp growing up--DH's family could've never afforded it, and I didn't like being away from home for long periods as a child. No one I grew up with went to sleep away camp either.

I think DS will do just fine given his personality. If he likes it, I could see gradually increasing the number of weeks he is away over the next couple years to 3-4 weeks. DH and I both work full time so he goes to a variety of day camps the other weeks of the summer. We couldn't afford for him to do sleep-away camp all summer.

[Anonymous]

Sleep away camps are such an awesome experience. I agree starting with one week (or even shorter, some camps have 3 - 4 day sessions) and then building up to what the kid wants to do is the right way to go.

I personally would be sad to have my kids gone 24/7 for most of the summer, but I guess it depends on how close the camp was, if they came home between sessions or were gone the whole time, and what they personally enjoyed. As they get older and can become Counselors In Training, it's good preparation for being away at college and just overall learning responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one DS aged 7 and one DD aged 4 and I have been hearing from a few colleagues lately about how they are ready to send their kids (anywhere from my DS's age to mid-teens) off to camp this summer. Some of these camps are like $7,000 or $8,000 for a full session (about two months). Are they worth it? Any stories from people who have sent their kids to these summer camps? They seem very "snobby" though I like the idea of my kids being immersed activities, sports, and socialization.

My 7 yr old loves camp. She's going back for 7 weeks this summer. She ended up extending for the full summer last year. She's just one of those kids that the expression Live 10 For 2 applies to.

Last summer she learned independence, how to negotiate social relationships, tried new activities and foods, and learned how to take responsibility and be accountable for actions and behavior.

Yes it costs $7-$8 but you have to compare it to an expensive day camp. Our camp offers rock climbing, water skiing, zip lines, gymnastics, swimming, water sports as well as the traditional camp stuff like field sports and art and crafts. A day camp that offers all of this is going to cost $500/week for 9-5. Yes sleepaway camp is double. But they provide evening and weekend activities and all the food. I would say apples to apples sleep away is a bit more but not that much more than 7 weeks of day camp. IMO it's worth it.

A 7yr old away for the whole summer? You must be a troll or a really shitty parent that their kid prefers a camp bed to seeing their parents for 3 months.

I know many families who have sent their kid all summer starting at age 7.

[Anonymous]

Personally I cannot imagine sending my 7 year old away for 7 weeks, but that is just me. My kids are 8 and 13 and the 13 year old does 2 weeks of camp, the younger 1 week - but its gs camp so really only Sun-Fri. That is perfect for us. They fly together on their own to see Grandparents too for a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one DS aged 7 and one DD aged 4 and I have been hearing from a few colleagues lately about how they are ready to send their kids (anywhere from my DS's age to mid-teens) off to camp this summer. Some of these camps are like $7,000 or $8,000 for a full session (about two months). Are they worth it? Any stories from people who have sent their kids to these summer camps? They seem very "snobby" though I like the idea of my kids being immersed activities, sports, and socialization.

My 7 yr old loves camp. She's going back for 7 weeks this summer. She ended up extending for the full summer last year. She's just one of those kids that the expression Live 10 For 2 applies to.

Last summer she learned independence, how to negotiate social relationships, tried new activities and foods, and learned how to take responsibility and be accountable for actions and behavior.

Yes it costs $7-$8 but you have to compare it to an expensive day camp. Our camp offers rock climbing, water skiing, zip lines, gymnastics, swimming, water sports as well as the traditional camp stuff like field sports and art and crafts. A day camp that offers all of this is going to cost $500/week for 9-5. Yes sleepaway camp is double. But they provide evening and weekend activities and all the food. I would say apples to apples sleep away is a bit more but not that much more than 7 weeks of day camp. IMO it's worth it.

A 7yr old away for the whole summer? You must be a troll or a really shitty parent that their kid prefers a camp bed to seeing their parents for 3 months.

I know many families who have sent their kid all summer starting at age 7.

Yup, Jewish moms. They would send them at 2yrs old if they could

[Anonymous]

I doubt any overnight camp will take a 4 year old.

My DS loves camps but he didn't start doing overnight camps until he was 10 years old.

[Anonymous]

I think only a minority (10%?) send their kids to sleepaway camp in this region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt any overnight camp will take a 4 year old.

My DS loves camps but he didn't start doing overnight camps until he was 10 years old.

My 4 yr old wants to follow his big sister to camp. I'm currently up for meanest mom of the year because I said he can't go. I also got " you never let me do anything" so I have a 4 going on 14 yr old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one DS aged 7 and one DD aged 4 and I have been hearing from a few colleagues lately about how they are ready to send their kids (anywhere from my DS's age to mid-teens) off to camp this summer. Some of these camps are like $7,000 or $8,000 for a full session (about two months). Are they worth it? Any stories from people who have sent their kids to these summer camps? They seem very "snobby" though I like the idea of my kids being immersed activities, sports, and socialization.

My 7 yr old loves camp. She's going back for 7 weeks this summer. She ended up extending for the full summer last year. She's just one of those kids that the expression Live 10 For 2 applies to.

Last summer she learned independence, how to negotiate social relationships, tried new activities and foods, and learned how to take responsibility and be accountable for actions and behavior.

Yes it costs $7-$8 but you have to compare it to an expensive day camp. Our camp offers rock climbing, water skiing, zip lines, gymnastics, swimming, water sports as well as the traditional camp stuff like field sports and art and crafts. A day camp that offers all of this is going to cost $500/week for 9-5. Yes sleepaway camp is double. But they provide evening and weekend activities and all the food. I would say apples to apples sleep away is a bit more but not that much more than 7 weeks of day camp. IMO it's worth it.

A 7yr old away for the whole summer? You must be a troll or a really shitty parent that their kid prefers a camp bed to seeing their parents for 3 months.

I know many families who have sent their kid all summer starting at age 7.

Yup, Jewish moms. They would send them at 2yrs old if they could

grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one DS aged 7 and one DD aged 4 and I have been hearing from a few colleagues lately about how they are ready to send their kids (anywhere from my DS's age to mid-teens) off to camp this summer. Some of these camps are like $7,000 or $8,000 for a full session (about two months). Are they worth it? Any stories from people who have sent their kids to these summer camps? They seem very "snobby" though I like the idea of my kids being immersed activities, sports, and socialization.

My 7 yr old loves camp. She's going back for 7 weeks this summer. She ended up extending for the full summer last year. She's just one of those kids that the expression Live 10 For 2 applies to.

Last summer she learned independence, how to negotiate social relationships, tried new activities and foods, and learned how to take responsibility and be accountable for actions and behavior.

Yes it costs $7-$8 but you have to compare it to an expensive day camp. Our camp offers rock climbing, water skiing, zip lines, gymnastics, swimming, water sports as well as the traditional camp stuff like field sports and art and crafts. A day camp that offers all of this is going to cost $500/week for 9-5. Yes sleepaway camp is double. But they provide evening and weekend activities and all the food. I would say apples to apples sleep away is a bit more but not that much more than 7 weeks of day camp. IMO it's worth it.

A 7yr old away for the whole summer? You must be a troll or a really shitty parent that their kid prefers a camp bed to seeing their parents for 3 months.

I know many families who have sent their kid all summer starting at age 7.

Yup, Jewish moms. They would send them at 2yrs old if they could

truth

[Anonymous]

WTF.

Most of the all summer camps are about as WASPy as it gets. Look at the places in upstate NY, Maine, VT, CT etc.

[Anonymous]

We do sleepaway camp every year. DD is now 13 and DS is 10. They love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one DS aged 7 and one DD aged 4 and I have been hearing from a few colleagues lately about how they are ready to send their kids (anywhere from my DS's age to mid-teens) off to camp this summer. Some of these camps are like $7,000 or $8,000 for a full session (about two months). Are they worth it? Any stories from people who have sent their kids to these summer camps? They seem very "snobby" though I like the idea of my kids being immersed activities, sports, and socialization.

My 7 yr old loves camp. She's going back for 7 weeks this summer. She ended up extending for the full summer last year. She's just one of those kids that the expression Live 10 For 2 applies to.

Last summer she learned independence, how to negotiate social relationships, tried new activities and foods, and learned how to take responsibility and be accountable for actions and behavior.

Yes it costs $7-$8 but you have to compare it to an expensive day camp. Our camp offers rock climbing, water skiing, zip lines, gymnastics, swimming, water sports as well as the traditional camp stuff like field sports and art and crafts. A day camp that offers all of this is going to cost $500/week for 9-5. Yes sleepaway camp is double. But they provide evening and weekend activities and all the food. I would say apples to apples sleep away is a bit more but not that much more than 7 weeks of day camp. IMO it's worth it.

A 7yr old away for the whole summer? You must be a troll or a really shitty parent that their kid prefers a camp bed to seeing their parents for 3 months.

No a 6 year old. The PP said her child is 7 right now so must have been 6 last summer. So she sent her 6 year old ( who probably just finished kindergarten) to 7 weeks of camp.

[Anonymous]

6th grade both of mine went to patrol camp for a week. They were both captains and it was required. Otherwise, one or two weeks is what I was looking for ideally, three at the most. My daughter had the chance to go to a prestigious music camp for 8 weeks anytime during grades 7-10. It was across the country, in a remote area and we were in a unique situation where we actually had family in that area. What would have made the difference would have been if family could have signed her out occasionally (a few hours a week at most), or visited her on a rare occasion, but I asked and the camp was inflexible.