Why I Send My Children to Sleepaway Camp

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*Thank you to Sharyn Bluestein for this guest post sharing her experiences with sending her children to sleepaway camp.

As the temperatures rose last April, most of the elementary school moms started talking about their summer day camp and daycare schedules. When they asked me what camps my eight-year-old was signed up for I simply said, “He’s going to sleepaway camp for 3 ½ weeks.” The looks on their faces ranged from shock to horror to tears and everything in between. “He’s too young! “ “Don’t you love him?” “How could you send him away?” “Don’t you miss him?” “How do you know he’s showering and brushing his teeth?’

I send away my children to summer camp for 3 ½ weeks because I love them.

Longer overnight summer camp is a return to simpler times by letting kids be kids in our fast-paced digital world. For 3 ½ weeks, my children are screen-free. No texting, TV, video games, or Youtube to get in the way of sports, swimming, and arts and crafts. From gaming to textbooks on IPads, our children spend hours each day in front of a screen. Overnight summer camps give them a full digital detox. It allows them to focus on the friend in front of them – not the friend on the screen. My middle school daughter easily trades her phone for late-night cabin giggles, nature hikes, and best friends that live all over the South. My son gladly trades tv and video games for slides into the lake, campouts, and color war.

At camp, my eight-year-old son must be responsible for himself and his things. If he wants clean socks, he must put them in his laundry bag. If he wants to keep his bunkmates as friends, he must take his turn cleaning the bathroom and sweeping the porch. If he wants a fresh bathing suit, he must rinse it and hang it on the line. Camp teaches basic lessons in responsibility, compromise, and living with people that may be different than you. He came home from camp and eagerly took on more basic responsibilities at home, such as sweeping or packing his bookbag because “Mom I can do it myself!”

Camp gives kids age-appropriate independence. At camp, kids pick their own elective activities- BY THEMSELVES. For my son that usually means ropes course and scoutcraft, and for my daughter dance and something at the art shack. I cannot suggest that my son try horseback riding or my daughter try a traditional sport. They also select what they wear and what to eat at mealtimes. I cannot force them to put on a sweatshirt, pack their lunches, or encourage them to eat more vegetables. These small, but significant freedoms give young children their first tastes of independence. I cannot “schedule a playdate” as they must make their own friends in their age groups. This independence builds positive self-esteem and improves their self-image. Kids know that they can succeed on their own.

Finally, camp gives children a partnership with nature. Camp is a literal breath of fresh air. Away from the city and suburbs, daily multiple car rides, and harsh fluorescent lighting, kids can connect to the world around them in a simpler timeless manner. At camp, they can marvel at wildflowers, laugh in the lake and take in the splendor of a mountain sunset. In today’s fast-paced world- more than ever our kids need the opportunities to step away and truly connect with nature.

There are so many emotions that families experience when considering a longer overnight summer camp for the first time. Just take a deep breath, do your research and talk to friends and family. You may just decide it’s just what your family needs.

So Yes, I LOVE MY KIDS. I love my kids so much that I want to give them more than I can at home. I want to give them peaceful, laugh-filled summers to last a lifetime.

About the Author

Sharyn Bluestein is originally from Columbia, SC but has proudly lived in the Charleston area for 18 years. She is a Mount Pleasant Mom to an 8-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. She is also Director of Family Engagement for the Charleston Jewish Federation and is affectionately known as the Jewish Summer Camp lady.

5 COMMENTS

  1. Love this! I grew up going to camp as well and loved it so much that I became a counselor when I was old enough.

  2. 100% yes!!!! My 11 year old cried for 6 months prior to going to camp. Threw things at us, cursed us, but we made her go.
    Guess what she said at pick up?
    Sign me up for next year!!!

    Camp is a great thing for kids! Dont let them miss out on this experience.

  3. Omigosh, as I was reading this, I was thinking of what camp it could be and I think I recognize some of the faces! My 12 year old daughter is going back this summer. She experienced her first sleep away camp adventure last year and asked us, not even moments after entering the car at end of her session, to sign her up for this year. I personally love the digital detox, although I did stalk the site for pictures and Facebook for videos. 🙂

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