I know dc will love camp but i'm sad to have him go away for 4 weeks. It's worth it right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh, so worth it. I am from NY, my husband from the Deep South and we now live in the Midwest. I had to convince him to let our kids go to camp since it is so unfamiliar to him. But camp was the most formative and wonderful experience of my life. (I started going for 4 weeks and eventually roped my parents into 8) I think it is even more important this day and age- a month with no helicopter parents, no electronics or social media, no boys (I have daughters), no name brand clothes or social pressures. My girls will be going for the first time this summer.)l I think 3.5 weeks is the minimum time needed for acclimating, feeling at home, and getting the full benefit of the camp instruction. Many camps that are really intentional about curriculum, personal growth, etc. have those as minimum time frames, other than for first time campers. My husband is already getting so sad, but if they have even half the experience I did, I will be so happy for them

100% agree! My husband and I are from Midwest. We didn’t have these camps and I honestly thought it was something from years gone by (like in Parent Trap). But a good friend convinced me and it has been the BEST thing for my kids. They started with 3.5 weeks and now go for 7. They love it. It’s a chance to connect with friends from all over the US and really bond and work through differences, learn, and grow, over the course of 7 weeks. No computers, no phones, no homework. Just talking to each actual people all day long, playing games, learning new things they aren’t to do at home (sailing, etc.). They learn it’s ok to be cold, wet, hot, bored, uncomfortable at times and gain resilience through it all. But it is SO hard as a parent to have them away. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel like it is truly great for them, or if they didn’t want to go.

Op - this is the thing - I’ve heard it’s soooo good for mental health, independence, socialization, friends for life etc etc

You’ve heard from whom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh, so worth it. I am from NY, my husband from the Deep South and we now live in the Midwest. I had to convince him to let our kids go to camp since it is so unfamiliar to him. But camp was the most formative and wonderful experience of my life. (I started going for 4 weeks and eventually roped my parents into 8) I think it is even more important this day and age- a month with no helicopter parents, no electronics or social media, no boys (I have daughters), no name brand clothes or social pressures. My girls will be going for the first time this summer.)l I think 3.5 weeks is the minimum time needed for acclimating, feeling at home, and getting the full benefit of the camp instruction. Many camps that are really intentional about curriculum, personal growth, etc. have those as minimum time frames, other than for first time campers. My husband is already getting so sad, but if they have even half the experience I did, I will be so happy for them

100% agree! My husband and I are from Midwest. We didn’t have these camps and I honestly thought it was something from years gone by (like in Parent Trap). But a good friend convinced me and it has been the BEST thing for my kids. They started with 3.5 weeks and now go for 7. They love it. It’s a chance to connect with friends from all over the US and really bond and work through differences, learn, and grow, over the course of 7 weeks. No computers, no phones, no homework. Just talking to each actual people all day long, playing games, learning new things they aren’t to do at home (sailing, etc.). They learn it’s ok to be cold, wet, hot, bored, uncomfortable at times and gain resilience through it all. But it is SO hard as a parent to have them away. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel like it is truly great for them, or if they didn’t want to go.

Op - this is the thing - I’ve heard it’s soooo good for mental health, independence, socialization, friends for life etc etc

You’ve heard from whom?

every single person I know who has sent their kids, which is about 50-70% of our peer group and school parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I already have an existential crisis every 2 seconds about missing ANY time with dcs so it's hard for me to get my head around having them be gone for 4 weeks, but i know they'll love it. or i think they'll love it and i should do it, right?

No. It’s not normal to send your kids away for weeks on end. It’s a very American thing. This is why the American family is splintering and withering. Don’t do it!

SUMMER CAMP is why the 'american family is withering'??
lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is already independent, confident, self driven, and has friends for life. We travel internationally every summer. He hangs with his bro. I know it’s a big part of American Jewish culture and a big break for American Parents who both work but much better for kids to be home with family. Huge no!

most of the families i know who do this have one parent working.
it's nothing to do with the parents, this is a positive experience for the kids. kids dont need or want to be with their parents 24/7 after the age of 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh, so worth it. I am from NY, my husband from the Deep South and we now live in the Midwest. I had to convince him to let our kids go to camp since it is so unfamiliar to him. But camp was the most formative and wonderful experience of my life. (I started going for 4 weeks and eventually roped my parents into 8) I think it is even more important this day and age- a month with no helicopter parents, no electronics or social media, no boys (I have daughters), no name brand clothes or social pressures. My girls will be going for the first time this summer.)l I think 3.5 weeks is the minimum time needed for acclimating, feeling at home, and getting the full benefit of the camp instruction. Many camps that are really intentional about curriculum, personal growth, etc. have those as minimum time frames, other than for first time campers. My husband is already getting so sad, but if they have even half the experience I did, I will be so happy for them

100% agree! My husband and I are from Midwest. We didn’t have these camps and I honestly thought it was something from years gone by (like in Parent Trap). But a good friend convinced me and it has been the BEST thing for my kids. They started with 3.5 weeks and now go for 7. They love it. It’s a chance to connect with friends from all over the US and really bond and work through differences, learn, and grow, over the course of 7 weeks. No computers, no phones, no homework. Just talking to each actual people all day long, playing games, learning new things they aren’t to do at home (sailing, etc.). They learn it’s ok to be cold, wet, hot, bored, uncomfortable at times and gain resilience through it all. But it is SO hard as a parent to have them away. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel like it is truly great for them, or if they didn’t want to go.

Op - this is the thing - I’ve heard it’s soooo good for mental health, independence, socialization, friends for life etc etc

It is! Don’t listen to the negative people here. The only opinions that matter is your children’s. If they like it and benefit from it, which many do, then it is worth it! You cannot replicate the benefits of a long sleepaway camp with a family vacation. They are just too different.

so weird to me that so many people here have these like hardcore opinions about a kid going to summer camp.
like - if you're on an anonymous message board trolling ppl in the middle of the day, your kid has bigger issues than spending a day rowing a canoe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this their first time going? Weird to start with 4 weeks

what's the other option?

Mine is going to a YMCA camp for one week; a basketball camp for four days; and violin camp for 10 days. There are a ton of other options.

She started with the YMCA one week option and built up from there.

i would hesitate to do ymca if you can afford one of the others op. i'm sure they're fine but it's not like for like.

What was hat last sentence? What’s the problem with YMCA camps? Have you been?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does 4-8 weeks of sleepaway camp cost?

Low end around 10k, up to 17k

I would spend that money on a nice vacation with my kids.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't personally send my kid for more than a week or two. That's what I did growing up, and I loved it and it felt like enough. My parents let us start going in middle school for 1-2 weeks at a time. We had neighborhood friends that went too.

But I also know kids who went away for 4-8 weeks (to the same camp every year) and they loved it.

I think it depends on your kid's age and whether they want to go in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this their first time going? Weird to start with 4 weeks

what's the other option?

Mine is going to a YMCA camp for one week; a basketball camp for four days; and violin camp for 10 days. There are a ton of other options.

She started with the YMCA one week option and built up from there.

i would hesitate to do ymca if you can afford one of the others op. i'm sure they're fine but it's not like for like.

What was hat last sentence? What’s the problem with YMCA camps? Have you been?

Probably depends on the YMCA camp. Some of them, like Seafarer and Seagull, are really nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does 4-8 weeks of sleepaway camp cost?

Low end around 10k, up to 17k

I would spend that money on a nice vacation with my kids.

That’s great. People that send their kids to summer camp likely also take several family trips throughout the year as well. You aren’t wrong and neither are they. Do what works for your family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does 4-8 weeks of sleepaway camp cost?

Low end around 10k, up to 17k

I would spend that money on a nice vacation with my kids.

That’s great. People that send their kids to summer camp likely also take several family trips throughout the year as well. You aren’t wrong and neither are they. Do what works for your family

this. people who can afford summer camps are not doing it at the expense of vacations.

[Anonymous]

Age matters. Though I think 4 weeks is too long unless this is a late high schooler. Mainly, because .... although likely the camp environment will be a good influence, you don't know. You don't know that the environment will be a good influence. The older the child, the stronger they will be if they are up against some uncomfortable challenges. Four weeks is a long time. They would need to assimilate, for better or for worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this their first time going? Weird to start with 4 weeks

what's the other option?

One?

Op - idk. We got a camp consultant (they know all the camps) and they told us all the good/ established New England ones are 3 weeks or more.

Camp consultant?! 8 weeks of vacation each year?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Age matters. Though I think 4 weeks is too long unless this is a late high schooler. Mainly, because .... although likely the camp environment will be a good influence, you don't know. You don't know that the environment will be a good influence. The older the child, the stronger they will be if they are up against some uncomfortable challenges. Four weeks is a long time. They would need to assimilate, for better or for worse.

Summer camp is for 7-15 year olds so sending a late high schooler is not a thing unless they are a counselor

[Anonymous]

Gosh, you hover mothers would have had a hell of a time with a kid like me. First sleepaway at 6 for a week, up to 4 weeks by 10, 8 by 12 and then moved overseas as an exchange student at 16 where I didn't see my parents for a year barring a 2 week visit. Loved every minute of it. You sound so suffocating. If your kid wants to do this kind of thing and gain independence, support them without thinking about your own emotional needs.