It is well known that there are tremendous benefits to a traditional summer camp experience. In addition to providing an avenue to experience new activities and make new friends, a summer away from mom and dad helps kids build independence, confidence, and group living skills that will serve them well into the future.
However, as kids complete elementary school, and enter their middle school years, the opportunities available to them will multiply exponentially. Suddenly, options might include adventure programs, community service options, and academic experiences – in addition to existing specialty camps and day programs. As a parent, how can you decide if it’s the right decision to send your child to a traditional summer camp (either as a returner or new camper), or whether it’s time to explore other opportunities?
The Social Situation
At traditional overnight camps, many kids form unique bonds that grow summer after summer. This longevity is one of the most impactful parts of a traditional summer camp experience as kids have the chance to ‘grow up’ together – and many kids who grow up at camp (and adults who grew up at camp) consider their closest friends to be their camp friends.
In most environments other than traditional camp, students will not return to the same program summer after summer – however, there are advantages to these social situations as well. Many companies providing structured community service and adventure trips emphasize the importance of a close group dynamic – and the common shared experience of an adventure or service program can oftentimes help bring kids together. Academic programs may give kids a little more (age appropriate) freedom and downtime, and provide them with a first taste of life on a boarding school or college campus. The length of a program is also worth considering from a social perspective. For kids who can struggle socially, a shorter-term experience – whether at a traditional camp or on a different type of program – might be a major key to success.
Specialization vs. Exploration
Kids today are specializing at earlier ages than ever before. Today’s children are focusing on specific sports year-round – with club team commitments and offseason programs to attend to – or dedicating themselves to particular performing arts with intensive training and performances throughout the year. Traditional camp environments provide a refreshing break from this hyper-specialization, and a sense of exploration that can be positive for child development. Kids at camp can try all kinds of new activities across different areas, including sports, visual arts, performing arts, and much more. Beyond the obvious value in trying new things, this emphasis on exploration also has merits from a child-development perspective. For example, by trying new things, kids build confidence as they develop mastery of new skills and discover hidden talents, and they develop resilience as they learn that it’s okay not to be the best at everything on the first try.
However, occasionally this breadth comes at the expense of potential depth. Many traditional camps will do what they can to accommodate the needs of a camper’s specialization – they may provide individualized instruction outside of normal activity hours, or help a camper craft a schedule that will allow them to spend extra time focused on their activity of choice – but specialization can only go so far in a well-rounded environment. If your child truly wants to immerse themselves in something different – whether that is forensic science, SCUBA diving, or animal conservation – a specialized program may be the only option.
Combination Summers
Part of what makes summer so unique is simply how long it is – many children have around 10-weeks of summer vacation between the final day of school in May or June, and the first day back the following August or September. If you’re unsure of whether a traditional overnight experience or a specialized program is right for your child, combining these experiences can be an enticing option. Of course, if your child is attending a full-season camp, or if the specialized program you’re considering conflicts with the session they attend, combining summer options can be logistically challenging. However, if this is a possibility, it can be a great way to allow your child to react to specialized programming, and for you to get a sense of what experience is best.
Final Thoughts
There is tremendous value to all different types of summer program experiences for kids and young teens. Deciding whether to send your child to traditional camp or a specialized program can be challenging, and it’s important to weigh these different experiences. Each child has different needs and there is no one ‘right’ environment. By approaching this decision thoughtfully and holistically, you can make the decision that will best set your child up for summer success – and position them to maximize the unique benefits a successful summer experience can provide.