Spring Break at Valley Mill

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone out there who has had a child at Valley Mill camp for spring break? Did your kids have fun? Was it too cold? Do you think it would work for an active 6-year old boy?

[Anonymous]

It has been a few years since we did spring break camp, but Valley Mill's programs are consistently outstanding. As I recall they had a shelter with a fire pit and arts and crafts to warm up in during the Spring. Six is a perfect age to begin.

[Anonymous]

We've only done the summer, but I tell you it has been the best damn experience of my young boy's life. Amazing!! Transformative. They have a rugged philosophy that really brings out the adventure in children. My baby is a City Kid through and through, so it was particularly gratifying to have him plunged into Nature like that. It gave him something that can't be taken away. We've lifers now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We've only done the summer, but I tell you it has been the best damn experience of my young boy's life. Amazing!! Transformative. They have a rugged philosophy that really brings out the adventure in children. My baby is a City Kid through and through, so it was particularly gratifying to have him plunged into Nature like that. It gave him something that can't be taken away. We've lifers now.

Sorry to hijack - but my son, who will be a young 7 this summer, is going to do weeks 8 and 9 this summer. I wasn't ready to commit to the 6 week session. Will he still get the "Valley Mill" experience in a 2 week session? Will there be a ton of "lifers" that already know the ropes? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We've only done the summer, but I tell you it has been the best damn experience of my young boy's life. Amazing!! Transformative. They have a rugged philosophy that really brings out the adventure in children. My baby is a City Kid through and through, so it was particularly gratifying to have him plunged into Nature like that. It gave him something that can't be taken away. We've lifers now.

Sorry to hijack - but my son, who will be a young 7 this summer, is going to do weeks 8 and 9 this summer. I wasn't ready to commit to the 6 week session. Will he still get the "Valley Mill" experience in a 2 week session? Will there be a ton of "lifers" that already know the ropes? Thanks!

I'd like to bump this question up - I have the same question on a two week program versus a six or nine week program.

[Anonymous]

My two boys went for the 6 week session this summer and LOVED it. It felt like a huge leap of faith; we had a lot of experience with other camps but only knew VM by word of mouth from parents of girls. One of my kids was almost aged out and I was worried about the sense that all the returning campers would know each other, but he didn't have any complaints or concerns like this. They came home filthy and exhausted and can't wait to go back.

One hint: I realized once we got the bus schedule that they are not totally dogmatic on the scheduling thing - it seems like it's possible to do shorter sessions even at the beginning of the summer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My two boys went for the 6 week session this summer and LOVED it. It felt like a huge leap of faith; we had a lot of experience with other camps but only knew VM by word of mouth from parents of girls. One of my kids was almost aged out and I was worried about the sense that all the returning campers would know each other, but he didn't have any complaints or concerns like this. They came home filthy and exhausted and can't wait to go back.

One hint: I realized once we got the bus schedule that they are not totally dogmatic on the scheduling thing - it seems like it's possible to do shorter sessions even at the beginning of the summer

Thanks for posting this. I have one that is almost aged out too, and willing to give 2 weeks a try (but not 6 weeks!!). This is great to know the 2 weeks can be done maybe earlier in the summer. Can you recall at the 2 week mark if yours were already happy and adjusted at the camp? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

My kids will be first timers this summer too - doing those same 2 weeks but a year older. Really excited about it.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who had 2 boys at VM this summer. They were definitely settled in right away; it was surprising to me because I was pretty anxious about how it would go (it's a lot of money and we didn't really do any other camps this time around.) The majority of the kids do stay for longer stretches, and they do a few special things like an overnight for older kids that a 2weeker would miss out on. That's not a big deal though. We'll probably do a month for each kid this summer.

[Anonymous]

My son will be a first time camper at VM this summer (rising 1st grader). He's going for the whole 9 weeks. I'm thinking about signing him for spring break camp...but I'm afraid he'll have a bad experience and then I'll have to drag him off to summer camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son will be a first time camper at VM this summer (rising 1st grader). He's going for the whole 9 weeks. I'm thinking about signing him for spring break camp...but I'm afraid he'll have a bad experience and then I'll have to drag him off to summer camp.

I think the Spring camp is going to be very different to the Summer. Less kids, colder, different activities. It may though introduce him to some of the people who work there, and its always nice to have a familiar face / connection.