As most of you know from Instagram, Mazzy and Harlow are both in sleepaway camp right now. This is Mazzy’s third year (it would have been her 4th year if it wasn’t for the pandemic) and Harlow’s first. They are going to different camps for a variety of reasons that I will explain in a bit. Mazzy has always been an ideal sleepaway camp kid. She’s very independent, makes friends easily, loves adventure and according to her own admission, doesn’t experience one lick of homesickness. (I tried not to be too offended when she told me that.)
This was THE BEST experience for Harriet (and us). We are deeply grateful to Pam and Harlow. Harriet is absolutely thriving. But we got lucky. I have a dear friend who had to pick up her boys in Maine (from NYC) and with so many camps out there, do your research to match your camper to the right place. Thank you, Pam! X
It was super important to me that my daughter went to a Jewish camp. It’s a big predictor in whether those children pursue a Jewish life in the future. That said, we chose a different camp than most of her friends. She really liked it and went for three weeks every summer until she turned 16.
And yes, there are sleep away camps all over! We live in the northeast, but there are camps in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and in the Midwest and west coast.
This is the first year both my children will go to camp, in their case to the same camp though they will be separated in groups by their age. My children are 8 and 13.
They are looking forward to it, and so are we! We will be celebrating our 15th anniversary in Europe, the first trip by ourselves since our honeymoon, while they gallivant all over the place at camp.
I truly believe that giving them this opportunity allows them to branch out and get to grow into their selves and meet new people.
It is pricey, that much is true, but in our case it has been well worth it.
I’m not Jewish but have lots of Jewish friends. I’ve heard them say sleepaway camp was the one place they weren’t the only Jewish kid and it was such fulfilling experience. My 11yo old does day camp with all the classic lake activities which is great, but looking into sleepaway for next summer!
Thoughts on a longer school calendar?!? NYC public schools go until the end of June. This year was 6/27!!!! It makes it seem like the summer is not long enough with just July and August to work with. My kids are only 6 and 8 and the older one being young for his grade (going into 4th) and honestly quite immature. I’d love the experience for them but I can’t imagine the long sessions cause that’s pretty much the whole summer! Thanks for sharing your experiences- I am happy both girls found the perfect place for them!
There are camps on the west coast, with many of them being traditional types. We looked into it at a camp fair when my daughter was just starting elementary, but the cost to send them, when they are really far from us, plus her still being rather young, we decided not to. But there were a lot in the Big Bear, CA area, Utah, even Montana and Wyoming. Basically, anyplace where you could easily do a wide range of outdoor activities with hiking and swimming involved. We only have one “local” place here in NV and they traditionally held Girl Scout Camp there (which my daughter did twice as a Juliet member, meaning she wasn’t in Girl Scouts).
We also sent her to a Swim Camp for a week in middle school, with an Olympic coach. If you’re involved in sports, you can usually find a camp that specializes in it. Hers didn’t require high skill level but it divided kids based on age/skill level. It’s a great way for kids to bond with others who share a love for a specific sport and get a different perspective from another coach.
My son went to swim camp, too, and he also went to what I consider the coolest of the camps my kids did - he did Surf Camp in San Diego! You can easily find week-long camps in the west and many of them have a day camper portion (living in the area and only go during the day, not sleeping there).
A big reason I wanted them to go to camp, even if it was only a week, was to build up a sense of independence. That way, when they head off to college, it’s not the first time they’ve been separated from the family. Both of my kids have an independent streak, so I don’t know how much is nature/nurture, but my daughter handled college like a pro and my son has no qualms as he looks to head away in August.
Would love a list you were considering or decided on without being specific and/or what camp fair you attended to find camps - grateful for any information you can share - thanks for all the great information - Sarah
I have been trying to convince my two girls (9&13) camp would be awesome I feel like it would help them branch out more and just come out of their shells. My youngest is a lot like Harlow and I am sure she would love it. My eldest is much more shy And has trouble socializing. I would love for her to trust herself and come out of her shell. I have never heard of camp fairs or anything, I need a Pam near me!
Now is definitely the time to start considering camps for next year! Many camps even offer a potential family visiting day while a camp is in session (although maybe not this year) or right after camp ends. Seeing the bunks and camp
buildings in person can really help you make a decision and your child feel more ready. My daughter is at a 7 week traditional camp in NH for the second year and having a fantastic time! My son goes to two different week long overnight science camps.
My kids are at sleep away camp out here on the West coast and it is so interesting because while it is our culture on the East coast my friends here are sure I just don’t like my kids. They seriously don’t get it and have said so many things that I am baffled by. For example- “how could you want to get rid of them knowing you only have four years left before college.” I wish there was an op Ed or some type of writing out there to share why I send my kids and in fact, it feels opposite of their comments- like the best decision we could make to provide our kids with a nurturing home away from home. Thanks for sharing your story. Crying over the joy I know they are all experiencing now while I type this.
West coast - specifically California, has a lot of great sleepaway camp options as well. Tahoe area, Yosemite, Santa Cruz and Catalina have fantastic options for outdoor focused fun! You can also find sport specific sleepaway camps. We have been lucky enough to be able to send our child over the years, and as an only child, he for sure has made some great camp friends. Great to hear your daughters are enjoying their experiences and making wonderful memories
My daughter went for 11 days last summer, and went for 4 weeks this summer. (She is entering 4th grade). She absolutely loves it and kept asking if we could sign her up for the whole summer (which isn’t a possibility yet). We actually worked for 2 weeks at the camp, my husband as one of the photographers.
He said he could not imagine having to get pictures of the kids and get them uploaded three times a day. We got pictures twice a week and that was so fun. We were excited to see the smiles on her face, but I wasn’t always focused on her at camp and live somewhat a normal life. (And I say this even working at the camp- I didn’t see her often and we weren’t allowed to approach her unless she approached us).
I grew up doing Girl Scout camp, mostly one-week sessions, but I did a two-week session once. I loved camp. I married into Judaism and sleepaway camp is such a strong tradition, which I love, especially since we live in the South and there are so few Jews.
We sent our seven-year-old to a two-week session at our regional Union for Reform Judaism camp this summer. He did well, but didn’t love it. We are looking at options for next year. He’s a neurodivergent, ADHD kid with shaky social skills and strong interest in STEM. I just found a URJ STEM and Art-centered camp in SoCal that seems like it could be perfect for him, while still having the Jewish values we want in camp.
We’ll show him all the videos and see what he thinks. If he isn’t up for a two-week session, we might sign him up for the four-day sneak peek next summer. Hopefully he loves it and feels at home there. I really want him to love camp.
Wow, that was a Dear Diary. We are also really looking forward to a couple vacation once both kids are old enough for sleepaway camp. Even just having one kid home felt like a little vacation. We didn’t have to break up any fights!
Sleep away camp is pretty common in the Midwest too. I'm in Ohio and went to a performing arts camp as a kid (late 70's, early 80's very hippy vibes), but for only 1-2 weeks. My son went a few summers before 5th & 6th grade, but after that there was too much school sports prep in the summer for him to go away. I think most people go for no more than 3 weeks around here, but I know some people send their kids our of state for longer camps. I have a friend who sends her son to a month long canoeing & backpacking camp in Canada (Camp Wabun) that looks like an amazing experience.
This was THE BEST experience for Harriet (and us). We are deeply grateful to Pam and Harlow. Harriet is absolutely thriving. But we got lucky. I have a dear friend who had to pick up her boys in Maine (from NYC) and with so many camps out there, do your research to match your camper to the right place. Thank you, Pam! X
Also anyone looking for some assistance should check out the website One Happy Camper for scholarship information.
It was super important to me that my daughter went to a Jewish camp. It’s a big predictor in whether those children pursue a Jewish life in the future. That said, we chose a different camp than most of her friends. She really liked it and went for three weeks every summer until she turned 16.
And yes, there are sleep away camps all over! We live in the northeast, but there are camps in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and in the Midwest and west coast.
This is the first year both my children will go to camp, in their case to the same camp though they will be separated in groups by their age. My children are 8 and 13.
They are looking forward to it, and so are we! We will be celebrating our 15th anniversary in Europe, the first trip by ourselves since our honeymoon, while they gallivant all over the place at camp.
I truly believe that giving them this opportunity allows them to branch out and get to grow into their selves and meet new people.
It is pricey, that much is true, but in our case it has been well worth it.
I’m not Jewish but have lots of Jewish friends. I’ve heard them say sleepaway camp was the one place they weren’t the only Jewish kid and it was such fulfilling experience. My 11yo old does day camp with all the classic lake activities which is great, but looking into sleepaway for next summer!
Thoughts on a longer school calendar?!? NYC public schools go until the end of June. This year was 6/27!!!! It makes it seem like the summer is not long enough with just July and August to work with. My kids are only 6 and 8 and the older one being young for his grade (going into 4th) and honestly quite immature. I’d love the experience for them but I can’t imagine the long sessions cause that’s pretty much the whole summer! Thanks for sharing your experiences- I am happy both girls found the perfect place for them!
There are camps on the west coast, with many of them being traditional types. We looked into it at a camp fair when my daughter was just starting elementary, but the cost to send them, when they are really far from us, plus her still being rather young, we decided not to. But there were a lot in the Big Bear, CA area, Utah, even Montana and Wyoming. Basically, anyplace where you could easily do a wide range of outdoor activities with hiking and swimming involved. We only have one “local” place here in NV and they traditionally held Girl Scout Camp there (which my daughter did twice as a Juliet member, meaning she wasn’t in Girl Scouts).
We also sent her to a Swim Camp for a week in middle school, with an Olympic coach. If you’re involved in sports, you can usually find a camp that specializes in it. Hers didn’t require high skill level but it divided kids based on age/skill level. It’s a great way for kids to bond with others who share a love for a specific sport and get a different perspective from another coach.
My son went to swim camp, too, and he also went to what I consider the coolest of the camps my kids did - he did Surf Camp in San Diego! You can easily find week-long camps in the west and many of them have a day camper portion (living in the area and only go during the day, not sleeping there).
A big reason I wanted them to go to camp, even if it was only a week, was to build up a sense of independence. That way, when they head off to college, it’s not the first time they’ve been separated from the family. Both of my kids have an independent streak, so I don’t know how much is nature/nurture, but my daughter handled college like a pro and my son has no qualms as he looks to head away in August.
Would love a list you were considering or decided on without being specific and/or what camp fair you attended to find camps - grateful for any information you can share - thanks for all the great information - Sarah
I have been trying to convince my two girls (9&13) camp would be awesome I feel like it would help them branch out more and just come out of their shells. My youngest is a lot like Harlow and I am sure she would love it. My eldest is much more shy And has trouble socializing. I would love for her to trust herself and come out of her shell. I have never heard of camp fairs or anything, I need a Pam near me!
Now is definitely the time to start considering camps for next year! Many camps even offer a potential family visiting day while a camp is in session (although maybe not this year) or right after camp ends. Seeing the bunks and camp
buildings in person can really help you make a decision and your child feel more ready. My daughter is at a 7 week traditional camp in NH for the second year and having a fantastic time! My son goes to two different week long overnight science camps.
My kids are at sleep away camp out here on the West coast and it is so interesting because while it is our culture on the East coast my friends here are sure I just don’t like my kids. They seriously don’t get it and have said so many things that I am baffled by. For example- “how could you want to get rid of them knowing you only have four years left before college.” I wish there was an op Ed or some type of writing out there to share why I send my kids and in fact, it feels opposite of their comments- like the best decision we could make to provide our kids with a nurturing home away from home. Thanks for sharing your story. Crying over the joy I know they are all experiencing now while I type this.
What was your back up plan should an emergency happen while out of the country?
West coast - specifically California, has a lot of great sleepaway camp options as well. Tahoe area, Yosemite, Santa Cruz and Catalina have fantastic options for outdoor focused fun! You can also find sport specific sleepaway camps. We have been lucky enough to be able to send our child over the years, and as an only child, he for sure has made some great camp friends. Great to hear your daughters are enjoying their experiences and making wonderful memories
My daughter went for 11 days last summer, and went for 4 weeks this summer. (She is entering 4th grade). She absolutely loves it and kept asking if we could sign her up for the whole summer (which isn’t a possibility yet). We actually worked for 2 weeks at the camp, my husband as one of the photographers.
He said he could not imagine having to get pictures of the kids and get them uploaded three times a day. We got pictures twice a week and that was so fun. We were excited to see the smiles on her face, but I wasn’t always focused on her at camp and live somewhat a normal life. (And I say this even working at the camp- I didn’t see her often and we weren’t allowed to approach her unless she approached us).
I grew up doing Girl Scout camp, mostly one-week sessions, but I did a two-week session once. I loved camp. I married into Judaism and sleepaway camp is such a strong tradition, which I love, especially since we live in the South and there are so few Jews.
We sent our seven-year-old to a two-week session at our regional Union for Reform Judaism camp this summer. He did well, but didn’t love it. We are looking at options for next year. He’s a neurodivergent, ADHD kid with shaky social skills and strong interest in STEM. I just found a URJ STEM and Art-centered camp in SoCal that seems like it could be perfect for him, while still having the Jewish values we want in camp.
We’ll show him all the videos and see what he thinks. If he isn’t up for a two-week session, we might sign him up for the four-day sneak peek next summer. Hopefully he loves it and feels at home there. I really want him to love camp.
Wow, that was a Dear Diary. We are also really looking forward to a couple vacation once both kids are old enough for sleepaway camp. Even just having one kid home felt like a little vacation. We didn’t have to break up any fights!
Sleep away camp is pretty common in the Midwest too. I'm in Ohio and went to a performing arts camp as a kid (late 70's, early 80's very hippy vibes), but for only 1-2 weeks. My son went a few summers before 5th & 6th grade, but after that there was too much school sports prep in the summer for him to go away. I think most people go for no more than 3 weeks around here, but I know some people send their kids our of state for longer camps. I have a friend who sends her son to a month long canoeing & backpacking camp in Canada (Camp Wabun) that looks like an amazing experience.