Sleep away camp in another country?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone sent their middleschooler to one like this?
I am seriously considering it. My parents live in country x and would pick her up from the airport and then ds would spend a week at a camp. Including some days with the family by itself.
Noone else from my family is going.
I thought my kid would be interested when I got the brochures, but now he is worried about flying alone

[dedicateddad]

If it was as easy as your situation sounded then I would seriously consider it but I don't have family or close friends who I could have meet my boys at the airport and take them to the camp and everything....I am not comfortable with the way it would work in my case but giving your children as much international experience as possible is really great opportunity. I would say that the time I spent in Europe and Asia as a teen really broadened my horizons...and it also got me a lot of tail.

[Anonymous]

How long is the flight to country x? Has he done it before with you? Lots of kids come to the US for sleepaway camp from other countries at that age so I would think it would be fine, especially for just a week. It sounds like a great opportunity.

[Anonymous]

call the airlines and ask about procedures for unaccompanied minors flying. We have friends whose family is split between US and overseas. The kids are between 11 and 15 and have flown individually to home country. My understanding is that if you inform the airline, the child will basically never be left alone on the trip - e.g. seated on plane next to attendants, escorted to next flight, supervised in waiting area, etc. The kids like all the attention.

[Anonymous]

No. Way.

[Anonymous]

A middle schooler? No way. I wouldn't even consider it.

[Anonymous]

My brother did this in the USSR for six weeks in 7th grade. I would have, but for the fact that the Armenian earthquake turned the camp into a refugee camp. It was such a great experience for my brother, so I was pretty upset. So, I went to Costa Rica for the entire 10th grade year. Best thing I ever did!

[Anonymous]

depends what country.

Also, I wouldn't send a child alone on an airplane internationally unless that child was really excited about it. Actually i think 7th grade is a bit young to fly unaccompanied internationally. So no, I wouldn't do this.

[Anonymous]

Yes, unless your son didn't want to.

Are you rich? If you are, you can buy a companion ticket for someone you know -- maybe a college kid who would jump at the chance to spend a few weeks in country X.

[Anonymous]

There's tons of camps in the U.S. to choose from, no need to look overseas, although having your parents in that country does change the matter.