Lost River Camps

Summer Camps - overnight & Day Camps & my 8 year old daughter?

My daughter is a 2nd grader and will be turning 8 the end of March. She wants to attend a camp this summer- and when I suggested a Day Camp- she was not happy with that- she said she really really wants to go to an "over-night" camp. I'm fine with that- but does she really understand it's a whole week without mom and dad???? She gets homesick when she goes up north for 3 days with her great grandparents! I remember going to 'overnight' camps- but i was in 5th grade when i attended my first one. Sure I got homesick- isn't that part of the camp experience? However I don't want to pay 600 dollars for her to call me begging me to come get her after being there for 3 or 4 days. Any advice or suggestions? Am I just being a paranoid mother? Thanks in advance! Also- please share your summer camp experiences with your children with me please!

Public Comments

1. I began attending overnight camp at age 8. I think what made it so easy for me was that my mom went to camp when she was a child and we spent a ton of time talking about what camp would be like before I went. We talked about writing letters home, visitor's day, camp plays, canoe trips....by the time the summer arrived I was so psyched to see all of this great stuff in person that I was thrilled to go. Also, camps generally don't let campers use the phone to call home. Camp staff are trained to deal with homesickness and kids are encouraged to write letters at rest hour, make their parent's gifts during arts and crafts, act in the camp play, learn new skills to show mom and dad at visitor's day, and get involved with the other kids in the cabin group. I truly believe camp is the greatest place on earth for a child, having been a camper and a camp counsellor almost my entire life. I remember my first summer at camp like it was yesterday: swimming, tennis, the dining hall, arts and crafts, canoeing, water skiing, my friends. Nothing is better than camp to teach a child independence, bravery, social skills and an appreciation for nature. I definitely encourage you to start talking to your daughter about camp TODAY and I know she'll have a wonderful time.