It's that time of year! The time when the holidays and new years have passed and we are left in the middle of January with the SUMMER to start planning. It has taken me 10 years to realize that January is really the time to start planning the summer, especially when you have children. I denied it for a long time because is seemed so ridiculous.Beach House rentals start filling up in January and camp registrations start gearing up. And here we are, making a big camp decision. We are about to step over from day camp to over night camp.
Last summer in this post I mentioned that we were going to visit a camp in Maine for our boys. As a girl, I went to Camp Four Winds in Sargentville, Maine for quite a few summers and loved every one. It is hard being away from home but, looking back, the fun and experiences sure out number the bouts of homesickness.
We loved the camp we visited for our boys and it is time to register our oldest. He is our child that likes to keep very busy. He has a hard time just hanging out. He likes play dates and sleep overs. There is nothing wrong with that it's just that he likes LOTS of play dates and sleep overs.
He is also half way through his first year of middle school and starting to test boundaries a bit. He can be smart mouthed, fresh and frustrating. We know this is natural and try to remember that in many ways he is lovely and kind, just not always to us!
We know that the camp program we are looking at will be an important part of his character development. The camp's philosophy is to develop all areas of the camper and "to be the best, whatever you are." They set weekly personal development goals and work with counselors and staff towards achievement of these goals.
So, our big decision, it's a big investment and our son is excited about the activity level but worried that he will miss his entire summer at home. There isn't much time between the end of school and his leaving for camp. And when he gets back from camp, there isn't much time before school starts again. There is an option to go for a 1/2 session but most kids who go for the first 1/2 session end up staying for the whole summer and those that come in the middle regret not going for the whole summer because it's hard to walk into all the fun that has already started.
He is also thinking he will go for one summer and not return. I guess that's natural but worries me. I don't want him to have the 'one and done' mentality. I am trying to take one summer at a time but would like him to continue at this camp for a number of summers to get the most out of it.
Families in our immediate area don't often send their children to sleep away camp. It sure would be easier if "everyone was doing it"! Anyone out there have children that go away to camp? Do you have any thoughts on whether 11 is too young? Any other suggestions or thoughts are appreciated.
17 comments:
Both my son and daughter started going to sleep away camp the summer after 2nd grade! Ooops, maybe that was too young, but they loved it and they gradually worked into staying for longer periods of time. They first time they went it was for only 2 weeks and then the next year they went for 5 weeks and then continued at the five week session every year thereafter. Five weeks was good for them because it left a little of the summer to enjoy at home.
Well, I just looked at a camp in Michigan and it already has a waiting list. I think a lot of people around here work and are looking to keep their children busy (daycare)and camp is a great option for them. I am not sure how I feel about overnight camps. In middle school, I went to Interlochen for two weeks in the summer to play my oboe and loved it and look back on it fondly.I am not sure that I loved it while I was there (other than maybe for the boys). My first daughter went to a farm camp (montisori -sp? on an amish farm) for a week when she was going into 4th grade and has not wanted to go to camp since (other than day tennis camp)-she was too young. My middle daughter went to Saddlebrook camp in FL last year and wants to go for a month this year. We have such a short time with our kids and at the same time, they need to be busy and stay out of trouble, especially when approaching the high school age. I am debating about spending time with them vs. helping them find out who they are. I think my kids will go to a 1 or 2 weeks of camp this summer and we will hopefully take a trip for 4 weeks somewhere.
Can you talk one of his best pals into going too? I went to camp out of state too as a child but my best friend came. Then the next year we convinced a huge group from my hometown to go so there were like 10 of us on the plane together. Sooooo much fun!
I went to overnight camp in Harrison Maine for many years. Camp is a life building experience with the opportunity to make life long friendships. I went to camp for the whole summer as does my niece. However some people send their children for one month which works too.
My children are certainly much younger (my oldest will go only to day camp). BUT, in our community there is a popular camp in Michigan that a lot of ppl around here send their kids to. At age 10, you can send them for 1 week. After that they can go for longer. I don't know if that helps you. Also, I grew up going to sleep away camp - but I only went for 1 week out of the summer (it was a Campfire Girls camp so obviously a little different). I love my memories of that camp. But looking back, I don't know if I could have been gone all summer. That's a lot at age 11. But you know your kid and what he can handle.
Also, don't worry too much about him saying he wants to only go for one summer. If he truly loves it, he'll beg to go back the following year. If he doesn't, maybe it just wasn't for him.
I can't wait to send my sons to sleep away camp when they're older simply because I loved my camp. But I don't think I could handle them being away that long. Of course, I say that now, but who knows what I'll think in 5 more years.
Good luck!
I started goin gto camp at the age of 5! I LOVE CAMP! My husband is on the board of directors for a camp in our state so our girls will go there, they will also go to the Episcopal camp here in AL and maybe even one that is just across the lake from our cabin. Down here most go for 2 weeks unless you are a CIT or counselor and then you go either the entire summer or 1/2. I cannot wait until our girls are old enough to go! I think now they start the summer afte 1st or 2nd grade and go for like 3 nights and then work up so I think 11 is a great age!
Actually, the first time I went to sleep away camp, I was eight. It was the summer after second grade and my best friend and I went together. Granted, it was only for five nights, so that makes it a hugely different experience.
I never spent more than a month away at summer camp, and cannot imagine spending an entire summer away from my family. But, it sounds like your son would really enjoy it. Maybe sign him up for the 1/2 session this summer? That way if he hates it (which seems unlikely) he'll be home faster, and if he loves it - well that'll make returning next summer all the more enticing (no more 1 and done).
One question - do you guys typically do a family vaca during summer? If he's at camp for the entire summer, will that make your family plans complicated?
Our daughter went to sleep away camp in Michigan the summer before she turned 12. She did go with some friends but they were in separate cabins and in different group activities. She wasn't homesick but didn't want to go back. She missed the leisure time at home as well as the amenities. She wasn't able to do swim team since she would miss too many meets.
I think it depends on the child and what they are missing. I do think it was a good experience for her to be away and I'm hoping to get my younger son to do it for just a week.
Mine always went to French camp at Concordia Language Villages in Northern Minnesota. Same concept as all the other camps, only throw in speaking French. J1 always went to summer ballet programs. Six weeks starting when she was 12. The only one who hasn't done camp is J3 and that's because he plays travel baseball.
J2 and J4 loved the camp experience--they both did things that I would never think I could do. J2 camped and canoed the boundary waters for a month--can't even imagine it!
Here it seems not so many boys go to camp (they seem to be into year round sports) but lots of girls start going to Camp Skyline in Mentone AL from the time they are 7 or 8 and continue through high school (and then become counselors).
I know what you mean about planning for summers. We already have some of our stuff booked for June but that's as far as we've gone.
I have NO advice - I went to girls camp with my church organization for a week every summer starting at 12. One week was fine for me! The "going away" to camp always seemed like such a glamorous "Eastern" thing to do! Your son sounds like Graham, needs to be busy. I wouldn't worry too much about the "one and done" thing since it's all new to him, maybe that is his way of saying he'll try it but feeling like by saying he wants to go, he's not committing the rest of his summers. Most likely he'll be begging to go again. Eleven does seem a tad young to me. I would need to know he wasn't going to be hanging out with 15/16 year old all summer long, know what I mean?
Sorry this is so long. I would be a nervous wreck to send my boys away all summer at that age, being the worrier that I am. But every child is so different, I'm sure he'll be fine and have so much fun!
He may have so much fun, that the "one and done" mindset will disappear.
I sent my parents hate mail for the first two weeks at camp, then I settled in and didn't want to leave!
Can you sign up for half the summer, and if he really likes it re-up for the 2nd session?
Good luck. Tough decisions ahead! :)
Look at Camp Seagull in North Carolina. Our children have gone there and now are counselors! They have the largest fleet of boats on the East Coast other then the Navy!!
Hiya - I'm a total lurker, but wanted to help if possible! My now 14 year old cousin started sleep away camp when he was 12 and LOVED it - he goes camp in Maine and it has been the most amazing place for him - he has developed a better sense of self, his love for adventure has deepened (while also increasing his understanding of safety while being adventurous ;)
He has grown up while at camp and made a great group of friends - we thought he would go for his half summer and never again, but he went the following summer and is now going for the full summer this year!
good luck!
While it was not something "done" in the area I grew up in (probably due to lack of fundage), and thus not something I ever thought of for my son (outside of 1 week at space camp). A friend of mine sent her 8 year old twins last summer, and I admit I felt quite envious. :)
I think 11 is a good age. Can you do the whole summer and if he just absolutely hates it, bring him home half-way?
This will be my sons 3rd year at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain NC he is 9 years old and loves it! he has made so many friends, he has only stayed for a week in the past but will be 2 weeks this year.
You need to do whats best for your family. We live in a small town and Brady is the only one out of his friends who goes off to camp but he doesnt care, I get some questions every now and then but thats ok.
I went to the best sleepaway camp. Camop Jeanne D'arc in upstate NY. It was wonderful. I started going in the second grade and kept going through 7th grade. I looooved it! I think you're right about vacation planning in Jan. Seems like the only way to get it done!
C went to sleep away camp starting at 8 for 2 weeks. We slowly progressed to more weeks as we got older.
This year he has zero interest. The summer breaks here are only 8 weeks long and with 2 weeks being our family vacations and one week church camp, he is not happy about not having time with his friends at the pool. I figure that this year I can find 5 weeks worth of sports day camps and friend activities to keep him busy. Good Luck!
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