If your kid doesn’t want to go, don’t send them. I’ve encouraged my child in passing but when she said she didn’t want to and wasn’t ready, I said no worries. This year we again presented it as one option among many other daycamp choices and she eagerly picked it. We’ll see how it goes. But it’s a big step and to me should never be forced on anyone.

The reason I loved overnight camp is because I hated my parents and loved being away from them. My kids actually like being around us, so they don’t want to leave. I’m ok with that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t ready till middle school. We could do the day or overnight so we got a hotel so they could just do day.

You got yourself a hotel room so your child could attend one day of day camp?? Wtf?!

It was 5 days and a speciality camp. Why not? It was a mini-vacation for us in a place we enjoyed. Did it for years. Now they sleep over but we weren't going ot force it.

My child is gregarious and a happy day camper, but he's afraid (in concept) of being away from me for more than a day. We are encouraging him to go to sleepaway camp next summer because it's important to his Jewish identity, and we know he'll have the best time ever after he gets past the first hour.

I do worry about sexual abuse, though, so we're going to have to spend a lot of time talking about this before he goes anywhere overnight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t give my kids a choice. I simply signed them up and sent them when they were entering 3rd grade

This is their 4th summer. Do they loooove it? No. But they do enjoy it and they really like the zero phone policy. 4 weeks and no technology. They enjoy the break from the drama.

Why do you let a 7th grader have a phone?

Spoken by someone who does not have a 7th grader.

DH does not want to send out kids to sleepaway camp. He thinks it is a waste of money and a hassle , and they could wait till middle school for outdoor ed.

I have worked at GS camps for years, and continue to do so. Any camp accredited by the American Camp Association has very intense vetting of staff and a great deal of bullying training. Obviously, things happen everywhere, but many, many children and teens have wonderful experiences. But yes, it’s not for everyone.