We were considering sleepaway camp for our 9 year old who has become more self-sufficient in the past year, but it is more expensive than daycamp, even the local YMCA ones. We'll put it off at least one more year.
Very few of our friends (DC area and at a NW WOTP DC public school) are doing it. More frequently they are talking about day camp, some variation of "gramma camp," flex work and taking family vacations together.
The parents I know who did do sleepaway camp report the kids come home with a feeling of more self confidence and independence. Must be something about having to schlep your own stuff to the bathhouse! I had a mixed experience because I loved the nature stuff, swimming and campfire songs but not yellowjackets, team sports in the hot sun and sometimes you get assigned a cabin with some cliquey mean girl campers.

Sleep-away camp is for rich people. The vast majority of families can not ever afford to send their kids to a sleep-away camp without receiving some sort of donation or charity.

Anonymous wrote:To those you send kids to camp: Is it for child care because you work? I didn't raise my kids in DC and am shocked by the amount of money that people spend on camps!

If both parents are working and the kids are in day camp, then yes. Camp serves the purpose of child care in the summer while the parents are at work. However sleep away camp isn't necessary for child care.

As an only child, sleep away camp was some of my best memories of childhood. I begged and begged to go.

To those you send kids to camp: Is it for child care because you work? I didn't raise my kids in DC and am shocked by the amount of money that people spend on camps!

Anonymous wrote:This is going to sound terrible, but most of the people I can think of who are big on sleep away camp at a young age either have one kid that they probably didn't want anyway and they can't wait to get back their lifestyle for 2 weeks next summer, or have a ton of kids and need a break. It seems less of a thing in what I would consider easy going happy and simple families. That still sounds very offensive, and I feel bad about that, but it's an observation.

As you noted, your comment does sound terrible. Have you ever considered that perhaps the child wants to attend sleepaway camp? Some children really love camp.

OP-- while some kids love camp, others do not. There correct answer is to do what is best for your child.

My 10 yr old DD hated it, not sending my now 10 yr old youngest

incredibly weird.

My extroverted sister loved summer camp. My introverted brother was fine with it. Introverted me hated it. I did have some great sleep-away experiences in high school, just not a fan of the traditional summer camp.

Not at all. When done early, it's usually when a bunch of children have grown up with friends and the parents send them all to the same camp. That way it's a nice bonding experience with kids they already know, trust and like.
If not, send your kids later, when they can fend for themselves a bit more. Or, don't send them at all - they're not going to die from lack of exposure to sleep away camp

Not weird at all! My boys did Scout Camps and a couple of youth group camps during the summer in high school. But never more than about a week and never until they were at least 12.

We vacation as a family over the summer.

This is going to sound terrible, but most of the people I can think of who are big on sleep away camp at a young age either have one kid that they probably didn't want anyway and they can't wait to get back their lifestyle for 2 weeks next summer, or have a ton of kids and need a break. It seems less of a thing in what I would consider easy going happy and simple families. That still sounds very offensive, and I feel bad about that, but it's an observation.

I think 7 and 8 are on the very young side for sleepaway camp, OP. I went as a child but I was either 9 or 10 the first year I went. We have a first grader and I know of just one friend who is headed to sleepaway camp this summer.

No, not at all. It's totally FINE. Maybe when he's around 13 he'll want to do a teen tour thing, where you leave Monday and come back Friday. But if he doesn't that's ok.

I have a 7 year old and am hearing a lot of buzz from peer parents about sending their children to sleep away camp next year when they are 8. I realize that not anywhere close to every kid does sleep away camp and that 8 is probably young, but I've heard it enough times now that I am a bit self conscious that I can't envision sending my child to do it for a very long time! He is a friendly kid who does not have trouble making friends, but he is definitely an introvert and close to his dad and I, and I know that he wouldn't be ready or want to do it this or next summer. He tends to get overwhelmed when with a friend for a whole day, and he needs alone and quiet time a lot (i.e. he is an introvert). He hasn't even wanted to go for sleepovers yet, and I see no reason to push this, as his social life is plenty full.

Is our experience abnormal? Or are the early sleep away camp people just very vocal?