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I went to sleep away camp (Girl Scout camp) in elem. school - for a week. Loved it. Doesn't mean I didn't get homesick and wasn't ready to go home but I think it was a good experience. My kids went on overnights to camp from time to time (don't think they ever went that long, but not for any specific reason, just didn't come up). That said, every child is different. If an older child was simply a bit nervous I'd encourage them to go. I don't know that I'd force a child who was terrified at the thought to do it. Depending on the age and how upsetting he/she found the idea of it though, I might start wondering why the separation anxiety and look for ways to work to overcome that.
ETA - to clarify - I am not saying that I think kids "should" or "should not" go away to camp or overnights. My comments are reflective of the topic of either not allowing your kids to go away or keeping them home from what otherwise is an experience they might enjoy simply out of the fear of homesickness.....
Last edited by maciesmom; 05-29-2011 at 10:36 AM..
I remember be away from my parents for school trips on several occasions. The people who got homesick always got over it in a few days once they realized that they were actually having fun. I don't remember a single case of someone actually going back home.
The only time I ever went was when I got talked into going with a friend. My parents didn't really like the idea but they paid the money. I hated most of it.
My parents took us camping themselves and that I enjoyed. I take my kids camping but I won't send them away.
My kids went to sports-themed sleep away camps, baseball, football, etc. They had downtime, but drilling for any sport in June and July takes it's toll. I think they would have enjoyed an all-around camp more, but they chose what they did.
The biggest complaint I heard was that they didn't have access to food 24/7. Nobody ever asked to go back a 2nd year.
Both my sister and I attended summer camp for several years. I started at Girl Scout camp for a week one summer, then my sister got old enough for month-long camp and we were both shipped off to the real deal. Although I didn't get along with some of the kids, the experience itself was something I would hope every mom would want for their child.
Lots of organized activities, a chance to be away from the parents in a strictly controlled "wilderness" environment, amazing food, tons of sports, arts and crafts activities, social dances, hiking, field trips to the state beach, weekly bonfires, the particular type of comeraderie that you can't get inside a school building or from the neighborhood kids or even the church youth group. Boating, sailing an olympic sized pool, athletic competitions against a "rival" camp with a trophy for the winning camp but good sportsmanship culminating in a two-camp bonfire when it's over...
Yes, we were homesick on and off our first year. But the experience, for its own sake, more than made up for those few days during the month that we thought sitting around at home doing mostly nothing would be fun.
Plus, it gave my parents a chance to go on their own vacations, without the kids. And that always meant rejuvenated parents ready and raring to prepare for the next school year.
If we could afford it, we'd send our kids to a one week sleep away camp. I think it's good for kids. I've heard good things about them too. But I don't think kids are deprived if they don't get to go either.
There is a church run camp pretty much only a few miles away from where we live and I thought it would be fun for my daughter to go, so I asked her and she said she didn't think she was ready for that yet, lol. We are moving this Summer so probably next Summer I will sign her up, she will be 10 then.
ETA - to clarify - I am not saying that I think kids "should" or "should not" go away to camp or overnights. My comments are reflective of the topic of either not allowing your kids to go away or keeping them home from what otherwise is an experience they might enjoy simply out of the fear of homesickness.....
This sounds like a legal disclaimer, mm!
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