Sleep-away summer camps may conjure images of days spent kayaking and nights spent gathered ‘round a fire, but for many kids (and parents), the thought of sleep-away summer camp far from home is mildly terrifying — which is why finding the right fit is essential.
“There are so many overnight camps out there, and they each have something to offer your child,” explains Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association (ACA). “This is why doing your research on the front end, arranging site visits and including your child in the overall process are key.”
Thinking of sending your child to an overnight summer camp, but haven’t the faintest where to begin (or if they’re even ready)? Here’s what the experts recommend when looking into sleep-away summer camps for the first time.
First, determine if your child is ready
Many parents consider overnight summer camp a rite of passage — an experience they had when they were younger that they’d like to recreate for their child. However, sleep-away camps aren’t for everyone, particularly the younger set. One way to gauge how your child would fare being away from home for an extended period of time is to consider how they are with general sleepovers.
“I would encourage parents to think about overnight camp as another step up the ladder from single-night sleepovers or extended stays with familiar adults,” says Nina Kaiser, a psychologist who works with kids, teens and parents in San Francisco. “If a child is consistently able to successfully manage lower-intensity separations, such as overnight stays with friends or time with grandparents, and they’re reasonably independent in the context of daily routines, they likely are ready to take on the challenge of overnight camp.”
“I would encourage parents to think about overnight camp as another step up the ladder from single-night sleepovers or extended stays with familiar adults.”
— Nina Kaiser, psychologist
While every kid matures at a different rate, Kaiser notes that, on average, kids are usually ready for this next step at around age 8 or 9, “although some kids may be ready earlier or later, depending on their personality and life experience.”
Arlene Streisand, founder and owner of Camp Specialists, a company that connects families with sleep-away and day camps, notes that most kids go to overnight camp for the first time at age 11.
Narrow down your search
Unless you have your heart set on an overnight summer camp you attended as a child, whittling down your sleep-away camp list is key. You’ll want to consider the camp’s cost, location, activity lineup and amenities.
Here’s how to get the ball rolling and narrow it down to a few:
Determine your budget. Sleep-away camp isn’t cheap. According to 2022 ACA data, the average sleep-away camp cost — per day — is about $448.53. And Streisand notes that, on average, the families she works with will spend between $2,175-2,775 for two weeks of camp. “But keep in mind, not all camps offer that option,” she says. “Some will offer a four-week option, but only for the camper’s first summer. After that, they want a full-summer commitment.”
That being said, if overnight camp isn’t quite in your budget — but you have your heart set on — there are a number of ways to get camp discounts, including scholarships, early bird specials, sibling specials and financial aid. Speak with the camp director to find out more about these options.
Talk to friends. One of the best ways to get the lowdown on overnight camps? Talking to friends. “Ask other families and friends questions as you look for an overnight summer camp, as someone is likely to have recommendations and references,” says Rosenberg. “Doing this can help determine which camp programs will be a great fit for your child and vice versa.”
“Ask other families and friends questions as you look for an overnight summer camp, as someone is likely to have recommendations and references.”
— Tom Rosenberg, president, American Camp Association
Go through a specialist. Parents and kids who are considering overnight camp for the first time may want to go through a third party, such as Streisand’s company, that knows all the ins and outs. “When families come to us, we assess them as a whole, as well as the individual child,” Streisand explains. “In addition to taking the child’s interests and hobbies into account, we consider the family’s budget, along with when they want to go and how far they want to travel.” Also, it’s particularly worth noting, the service is free of charge.
Attend camp fairs. Camp fairs are generally held on weekends between the months of November through April and offer parents the opportunity to meet with representatives and gain information on potential camps. The ACA has a tool for finding camp fairs in your area. They’re free of charge to attend and are open to the public.
Use the ACA’s Find a Camp tool. For parents who are just starting out and are pretty much in the dark about overnight camps, the ACA’s Find a Camp tool is a good (user-friendly) place to begin. “Families can search for camps via location, activity, cost, session length and more,” Rosenberg notes.
Schedule tours
Once you’ve got your list narrowed down, schedule a tour with your child. “If possible, you’ll want to narrow your overnight camps down to one location so you can tour all of them in one weekend,” Streisand says. “In many cases, tours last about half a day, and it gives kids the opportunity to meet some of the staff and see the facilities and the cabins where they’ll be sleeping.” Also, if it’s doable, Streisand recommends touring sleep-away camps a year in advance so kids have the opportunity to “see camp in action.”
“Camp tours last about half a day, and it gives kids the opportunity to meet some of the staff and see the facilities and the cabins where they’ll be sleeping.”
— Arlene Streisand, founder, Camp Specialists
Taking a camp tour will also likely help you assess how ready your child is (or isn’t) for overnight camp, according to Rosenberg. “Site visits are super helpful,” he says. “Not only do they involve your child in the process, going to tour a camp together shows your encouragement and helps you determine their camp readiness.”
Many camps offer in-person tours, Rosenberg explains; however, if a camp is far away, there may be an option for a virtual tour.
Ask the right questions
During your tour, and in subsequent communication with staff, make sure you ask the right questions. In addition to finding out if a camp is ACA-accredited, which assures health and safety standards are met through a peer review, here’s what Rosenberg recommends asking:
- What is the camp’s philosophy and program emphasis?
- What is the camp director’s background?
- What training do counselors receive?
- What is the counselor-to-camper ratio?
- What are the ages of the counselors?
- How does the camp handle homesickness and other adjustment concerns?
Other things to ask if the camp is not ACA-accredited are:
- Is there emergency transportation available at all times?
- Is there a first-aid facility and trained staff available at all times?
- Are staff members background checked?
- Are camp activities developmentally based?
“Beyond this,” he says “gauging a child’s readiness for camp, along with their excitement and interest, can help determine whether a camp program will be a good fit.”
Include your kids in the process
Whether you’re narrowing down your list or trying to choose the camp, make sure your child has a say. “Kids should always be included in the search process,” Rosenberg says. “This helps everyone involved figure out how interested and ready the child feels, along with specific activities they’re excited to try.”
How can parents prepare their child for homesickness?
For a lot of kids, homesickness is inevitable when going to an overnight summer camp. And fortunately, the director and staff are generally trained to deal with these issues when they come up. That said, there are things you can do on the front end to help your child feel more comfortable.
“Parents can tell their kids that they may feel nervous or homesick, and that lots of kids feel that way,” Kaiser says. “This normalizes the emotion and opens the door for you to talk explicitly with your child and develop a plan together for how they might be able to handle those feelings if they come up.”
Other things that Kaiser suggests are:
- Bringing comfort objects, like a stuffed animal or piece of jewelry, from home.
- Mapping out a plan for what to do or who to talk to when they’re feeling nervous or down.
- Asking the camp how they manage homesickness, and if they have any specific advice or suggestions for families concerned about supporting their kids in navigating this issue.
- Getting your child familiar with the camp by frequently watching videos or looking at maps.
- Planning collaboratively with another family so your child has a friend at camp in a way that offers some anchor or sense of familiarity.
The bottom line
Ultimately, you and your child should decide together if they’re ready for sleep-away camp. Chances are, if it’s their first time, nervousness will crop up. But hopefully, as the goal is with overnight camp, they’ll work through their feelings and make memories to last a lifetime.
