Overnight camp for 6 year old? (Austin, Leakey: high school, camps, cost of)

[austinHodge]

I took my 6 year old boy to the Summer camp fair last weekend. We were there to find some day camps that he would enjoy, but he became really interested in some of the overnight camps. Several of these camps have a minimum age of 6 years old. That seems really young for a week-long overnight camp, and I have my doubts as to whether or not he could make it all week. Do any of you have experience sending your 6 / 7 year old child to an overnight camp? Do you know of any we should check into?

[Vector28]

Yep, BTDT. She cried when we left her (for about 5 mins we learned later), and REALLY cried when it was time to say goodbye to her new friends and come home. Later extended to two weeks, it was the high point of her year until high school. Camp Huawni is the only one we have experience with. It's a long haul from Austin. There are others closer that I'm sure are as good.

[clarksvillemom]

6 or 7 years old is too young for overnight camp, no matter what the personality or maturity of your child's age is... just my opinion.

[shankaupas]

My oldest is 10 and he is just now going on overnight camps with the Boy Scouts without us. I think this is probably the right age for this type of experience. I agree that 6 is awfully young.

[Trainwreck20]

We first went as kids when we were eight, which is probably the earliest most camps will take kids. Looking at my kids and my friends kids, this seems to be pretty much the limit that most are ready. Six does seem a bit young...

[jhicks09024]

soliciting? it is a forum i was just asking peoples opinion who gives you the right to delete my thread?

[Vector28]

Oops, I didn't address the age part when I answered. Ours was 9 or 10 when she first went to camp. There was a younger group there, but not my much, so I'll bet 8 was the minimum age to attend.

[capcat]

Six does seem a bit young. But, my daughter attended Laity Lodge Youth Camp for several years and it was the highlight of her summers.

LLYC is in Leakey Texas, on the Frio River. They have two camps, Singing Hills for 7-12 year olds and Echo Valley, for kids through the 11th grade. It's Christian-based, so that may or may not be to your liking. The setting is beautiful...you actually drive down the Frio river (it's shallow) to take your child to the camp site.

Registration has already taken place, and at this point you might have to get on a waiting list. I put this off for several years due to the cost of an overnight camp, however I wish I had enrolled her at a much younger age so she could have had even more great memories of her years at LLYC. Camp sessions are for two weeks, but they have a jam session mid-summer for one week.
Laity Lodge Youth Camp