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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What an interesting thread! I am not an American but went to camp for 3 weeks every year in Europe. My oldest now is in camp in my home country (first time ever overnight camp). I always loved camps and went as a kid and later as teenager councellor. THe difference is back home the camps are REALLY affordable. Compared to average pay, anyone can afford it and so kids go (as I did) from 1st, 2nd grade.

I want to ask about here in the US - the process of selecting the camp. It seems from the replies that you TOUR the camp first? That must be expensive!! And you call and talk to the director a year ahead? Can you please explain the process to me - at home, you sign them up in APril, May of the year, there is no touring etc, it simply is not done, kids just go.

And, when the camp is say in NH or VT, do you drive them up or they fly on their own and the camp people pick them up at airport? You fly with them?

I want to send my two older ones next year so some awesome camp and would welcome any feedback on the process. Thank you! My US DH never went to camp so this will need to be my effort...[/quote]

Selecting a camp is a big deal.  For many kids this becomes their summer home and their summer friends.  So you want to make the most informed decision that you can.  You don't HAVE to tour the camp, but if you can, it's a great idea.  It gives the kids a sense of where they'll be spending the summer and when they get there the first day, it's not completely unfamiliar.  But most camps today have videos and you can "tour" online.  Directors are really good about calming the fears of parents and campers and will often allow you to have Skype meetings with them so again, you and your child can meet the admin staff and there is a familiar face at camp.  The other thing that you can do is go to one of the information sessions.  They may not have one in DC, but there maybe one in NYC and you would just drive up there to meet the admin staff and get questions answered.  Often there are current campers floating around and your child would have a chance to talk to those kids directly.

My child is considering a camp in ME for next summer.  It's a 10 hr drive assuming no traffic on 95.  She would probably fly.  The camp counselors will meet her at the gate since she would be traveling as an unaccompanied minor.  Again, you can ask for a Skype session with the person that will be meeting your child.  You could also fly with them, rent a car, and drop off at camp.  There are some additional costs to think about when camp starts to involve airplanes.

First, you need to ship the luggage.  My kids soft trunks are 55x20x20.  That is oversized for the airplane and going to be a PIA to get out of baggage claim.  She has 2 of these trunks...one for linens, towels, blankets, etc and one for clothes.  If your camp provides linen and towel service, you could eliminate a trunk.  Shipping for each trunk each way is roughly $80-100.  So you need to add on $320-$400 to the cost of camp.

Second, you are buying a plane ticket.  Let's say that's $400 R/T.  Camps never seem to be located near a major hub.  My camp involves a small airport that has service 2x/day.  Then either you are buying a 2nd ticket for you and getting a rental car or your child is flying as an unaccompanied minor.  On US Air, the unaccompanied minor fee is $150 each way.

Third--if you've spent all of this extra money to get your kid to camp, chances are your kid is a full season camper.  What are you going to do about visiting day?  Remember, it's a long drive and an especially long drive for just a day since visiting day is usually 6-8 hours.   2 R/T plane tickets for mom and dad, hotel, food, and car rental.  Easily $1000 weekend.  This assumes you don't have any other children that come along and also need a plane ticket.  Of course, visiting day is not mandatory and the international kids probably don't have mom and dad visit, but when 90% of the camp goes off with their parents for the day, why would you want your child to feel left out if they didn't have to.  For the kids that do stay in camp, most camps offer a field trip to a great place with the counselors for the day.

In my mind, I have added an additional $2000 to the cost of the camp.  When I weigh why she would attend this camp over one that it is driveable, the additional money is a factor.  The driveable one offers free bus service from my area and takes the luggage on a separate truck at no additional cost.  On any given day, I vote for the other camp.  The one in ME offers amazing activities on a huge lake far away from the DC heat and humidity.  The driveable camp is a good camp, well know and respected, but just doesn't have the "Wow" of the ME camp.  Is the "Wow" factor worth $2000 more----I go back and forth.

You mentioned waiting until April in your home country.  If you wait until April here you may very well lose out.  The driveable camp I am looking at is already 1/2 full for summer 2015.  They just had visiting day and parents signed up their kids to return next summer.  Also, if you register early usually before Oct 31, camps offer you an early bird discount.  If you want to tour the camp, now is the time.  Camp is in session and you will get a sense of how daily life runs.

You should talk to your kids about what they want in a camp--sports focus, science focus, all around general camp, good waterfront, horses, hiking--what are the activities that are going to make them happy.  Then start researching the camps that have those activities.  Talk to your friends--where do they send their kids?  Where do their friends send their kids?  Balance the activities that your kids want with what you can afford and come up with a short list.  Then start calling.  Find out if summer tours are available, will they be coming for an information session in the area, are there currently any kids from the area in camp that you could speak directly with their parents.

good luck with the process.
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