If your child ever went to overnight camp...?

[teachma]

I hope you're okay with my posting here. My oldest child is 7, but I'm figuring that more parents in this forum have sent a child to sleepaway camp by now (although I'm sure it's not so common at MDC to begin with). Anyway, I don't want judgement or questions about why I'd send my child away in the summer. What I am wondering is...if your child has ever gone to overnight camp, did you and your child first visit the camp (like, the summer before) or did you make your decision based only on a DVD of the camp or a friend's experience there? In other words, how important is the actualy visit before enrolling in the camp? We are thinking of it not this summer, but next (before he enters 4th grade, as he's about to turn 9) and so if we want to visit a few, it would be this summer.

[CookieMonsterMommy]

As you have posted here without having a preteen, I hope you don't mind me replying also not having a preteen (mine will turn 9 this week).

I would go look at the camp. DVDs can make places look reeeeaaal nice, and it's easier to act on a DVD. I'd want to see the actual site, facilities, and meet some counselors to see if they seem responsible and how they interact with the children.

Think of how many times you've been to a hotel or park (or met someone from online) after seeing it on the internet, only to find that it was SO not what you expected.

No judgements here! If your dc feels ready for sleepaway camp, and you do too, then go for it!

[onlyboys]

We did not go to look at the camp, though the camp was around when I was a kid, well known to everyone and there was an extensive website.

That said, be prepared for your child to come back with stories that will stun you. My 11 year old went to sleep away camp and came back relating events that I really would have preferred him not experiencing. He's integrated this new info quite well, and learned lots of good stuff, but some of it was SHOCKING to me.

[teachma]

Thanks so co much for the feedback so far...keep those stories comin'!

CookieMonstersMommy, you make lots of valid points; you pretty much articulated the feelings I have about the matter.

onlyboys, I am also considering an "older" camp that has been around for a while, and additionally, older children from our community have been going there, so I've heard about it from their families.

[karne]

I posted about this a while ago, and received some feedback that people had fond memories of sleepaway camp, and that their kids grew through the experience. My child, who is slightly older than yours really wants to do this as well. We're looking, and I have asked for, and received, references. I am also polling other parents that i speak with about their experiences. I lsiten to, but don't take super seriously people who tell me NEVER to do this because, well, I'm not sure we can live our lives, or our children's lives out of fear. I do however, feel strongly about a single sex camp.

[MCR]

My younger son went to camp with the school a couple f years back, it was only 5 nights and he had a blast. He got to share a cabin with all his friends. He couldn't get in too much trouble as his cabin counselor was one of his big brothers school friends and so were most of the other counselors, plus loads of teachers.
His only experiences that I didn't expect, were warm to cold showers, lots of all day hiking, and I think he only changed clothes one time. His bag was still full of neatly folded clean clothes. PJ's and socks. He smelled really bad when I got him home

[LookMommy!]

I spent my life at camps, as a camper and counselor. DH was a camp director for 7 years. This is my first summer in 10 years we are not going to camp as a family (just my older dd will go).

I think talking to campers and their parents is more important than a visit. When you visit, you won't see what happens at night, won't get a sense of the social dynamic or educational program, etc. The superficial aspects - food, campus, rooms etc. are important too, but are not the essential part imo.

Yes, your kids might learn "stuff" you aren't ready for them to learn, but they will also have an amazing growing experience.

Why single sex? Maybe at 7 that is best, but by 11 and 12, I was totally enjoying the co-ed friendships and romance.

I would check out what kind of communication the kids are allowed. Can they call home at all? It is common in Israeli camps that kids have cell phones, but practically unheard of in American camps.

Also, are the counsellors teens or older? IMO 16-18 year olds aren't really all that responsible.

Is there an educational program? Just "fun" can get a little boring, imo, and the quality of the staff isn't as great, imo.

Must wake up kids - (7 am) - Lisa

[alegna]

I grew up going to girl scout camps. Never visited ahead.

-Angela

[Flor]

I started going to camp when I was 6 (a week) totally my choice. I begged and saved up money, but I'm not sure why because I was sooo shy! Anyway, I loved it and went for many years. I think my parents just got a brochure because it was through my church. I know they didn't visit because it was 5 hours away. I'm not sure how they made the decision, maybe it was that other kids from my church were going and one of the mothers was a counselor.

[UmmBnB]

Ahhhh camp. I LOVED camp. I started with weekend camp between 2nd and 3rd grade and progressed to week+ as I got older, always at the same camp. I think I stopped going in Jr. High, iirc.

[teachma]

Originally Posted by LookMommy!

I
I would check out what kind of communication the kids are allowed. Can they call home at all? It is common in Israeli camps that kids have cell phones, but practically unheard of in American camps.

Also, are the counsellors teens or older? IMO 16-18 year olds aren't really all that responsible.

Is there an educational program? Just "fun" can get a little boring, imo, and the quality of the staff isn't as great, imo.

Wrt communication, I think there is more at the camp I'm considering than at most. And also, I would be able to send him emails regularly!! But the website does say that it's one-way (he could not email me).

Need to research more about the counselors...

YES! There is an educational program. That is one of the appealing aspects about this particular camp. All the programs are elective (he can choose 4 the first 2 weeks, and four during the next two week period. Knowing him, he'd definitely choose some of the academic stuff, especially because it's science-y and interesting. He's a quirky kind of kid, my son, and this camp is appealing because it supposedly reaches out to those who are slightly different.

I am not looking for a single-sex camp. Ds likes to play with girls as much as he enjoys his male friends.

[Momily]

We've gone to "Family Camp" a couple of times at the YMCA camp near me -- basically we rent a 12 bed cabin with another couple for Labor day or Memorial Day weekend and get to do all the things the campers do only with mom hanging out. It's some of the same staff (obviously family camp doesn't require regular counselors but it's the same lifeguards and rock climbing and sailing teachers, cooks, and head counselors). When DS decides to go (he'll be 9 this summer and says not yet) by himself he'll be pretty familiar with the lay out of the place.

One thing I've learned is that families vary greatly in how picky they are about where they send their children. I'd feel very comfortable taking a camp reccomendation from parents who I know share my level of pickiness (high). On the other hand I have friends who "love" programs I'd choose over my dead body -- their reccomendations for sleep away camp wouldn't mean mch at all.

[kennedy444]

My son went to sleepaway camp last summer for the first time. He had no interest in visiting before hand although I did offer many times. It was a Y camp that had been around "forever."

He had an okay time but the things that we didn't like about it would not have been apparent if we had visited.

[UUMom]

At age 9 or 10, my older children started attending a UU camp. They love it. My 19 yr old attended until he 'aged out' and wants to work there at some point. The year we didn't sign up in time and it filled was devastating for my kids. Also, when one program went from two weeks to one week was a great time of mourning here.

I loved camp as a kid. Loved it.

We did visit beforehand. Dh and I have also stayed there.

My youngest hasn't started going alone yet, although she has done the children/family programming.

[UUMom]

Btw, once you start talking to people about camps and camp experiences, you are going to get an earful. Believe you me. We love our camp...but a few years before we started attending some young teens accidently burned down a building, so I know some people who wouldn't send any child to that camp. You should really visit and talk to past parents and campers...you'll get an earful no matter which camp you choose...

Ah, camp.

[xixstar]

DD (12) has been going to a 2-week sleep away camp for 3 years, this will be her 4th year and she loves it.

Her best friend had gone to the camp before and loved it. Also, it's a quaker camp and most of the kids from our meeting had also gone there growing up -- so I never looked into in other than already knew she'd go.

Our yearly meeting actually runs 3 camps that have slightly different focused and it turns out that dd goes to a different one than her bf - we didn't realize that at the time but dd's camp suits her perfectly (very active, lots of physical activity, hikes, rock climbing, hiking/camping trips during the week) and we've been very happy with the selection.

Our camp offers work grants (covers 50% cost) to families and I actually went and worked in the kitchen the first year she was there for one week. You don't hang out with your kid, but you do get real first-hand view of what its like and I thought it was amazing and vowed that dd would always return.

[Ruthla]

First of all, there's absoultely nothing "not AP" about sending an older child to sleep away camp when the child is emotionally ready for it and wants to go. It's completely different from leaving a toddler overnight!

The first time DD1 went away to sleepaway camp, we didn't even visit the camp first- I signed her up for a week based on the brochure and the fact that a classmate was going to the same camp the same week she was. I think she was 9 or 10 that summer?

The next year (or was it the year after?) I sent DD1 and DD2 to a different sleepaway camp than the prior summer, but they went to the same camp as each other, plus many school and neighborhood friends were going as well. DD1 was 11, and DD2 was 9. I didn't drive the 3 hours to visit the camp ahead of time. Last year, DD1 went again but DD2 chose to stay home. This particular camp offers girls' camp for 4 weeks followed by a boys' camp for 4 weeks, and you ahve to sign up for all 4 weeks.

Only you know when your child is ready for sleepaway camp. I sent DD1 when she was 10 but she was probably ready at age 9. DD2 wasnt' quite ready at age 9, and may never go to sleepaway camp again.

Similarly, you know your comfort level. If you'd feel better visiting the camp before sending your child, then by all means do so! For me, the transportation would have been too much, and DC had friends who'd gone to that camp before who were returning.

[CarrieMF]

2 of my girls have gone to overnight camps & they're 7 & 9. They were both 6 when they first went. It was thier girl guides group so now guys allowed though it is on the outskirts of a provincial park(though when they go it isn't camping season anyhow). We never went ahead of time to visit the camp. It is not much of a camp, it has a cookhouse that also has a bunker for the youngest girls to sleep in. The older girls(7 & up) sleep in tents outside.

I'm thinking of sending them away to camp that's further away. It is also an all girls camp. The younger kids sleep in a building the older ones in canvas tents. It is a camp that I went to as a child and my mom went to as a child. I can go to it too to help out & probably will as it's further away(about 2 hours instead of the 45minutes the other one is), plus the groups here don't really know about it & none of them go to it.

[nalo]

I went to a few sleep away camps as a kid/adolescent and I swear those were some of the best weeks of my life (and I've had a great life - it's not like I was escaping anything). I simply LOVED camp!! I don't believe my parents ever visited the camps ahead of time but they were camps that they were very familiar with so I don't think it was a huge deal. That said, if you know nothing about this camp (i.e. no friends have been there, etc.), I would definately visit first if it's not too far. I believe there is a national camp organization (like an accrediting thing) that you could look into also.

[Jennyfur]

Two of my four kids have attended sleepaway camps, and both had a nice enough time, but nothing they were particularly eager to repeat. We didn't visit the locations beforehand, but we knew people who were familiar with the camps & we had a lot of knowledge about what to expect.

My DS13 and DD9 have no interest in sleepaway camps, and I'm okay with that.