Some overnight summer camps have a tightly targeted focus such as religious study, academics, and competitive sports. Camps often focus on specialties including: adventure, art, computer, dance, music, religion, horse riding, sports, theatre, and there are many others. The more artistically minded might think participating in arts and crafts, clowning, drama, photography or dance to be important elements of experiencing a well-rounded camp experience.



Overnight summer camp is also known as a sleepaway camp because campers spend their nights at the camp. Some camps allow both daytime and overnight campers. There are four basic types of camps to choose from for your child or teenager: day programs, sleepaway or overnight summer camp, day programs with trips, and special needs camps. Camps are usually divided by gender - girls only, boys only, or co-ed and again by age group.

Planning early, if possible, can be important. Be diligent in your efforts to visit camps during the peak season to make plans in advance of the next camping year. Beyond the traditional sports like baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, football, and more - there are camps for outdoor enthusiasts that can offer horseback riding, hiking, camping, fishing, and even rappelling. Special needs camps meet the needs of a wide range of children with disabilities; these camps provide an outdoor summer camp experience together with a therapeutic environment.

If you have more than one child, would they benefit from attending the same summer camp together? Make sure to check the camper-counselor ratio to determine the number of campers for each counselor. The reputation of an overnight summer camp can be determined by asking what percentage of the counselors returned from the previous year.

Specialty overnight camps can range from $500 to $1000 a week depending on the program. Get to know the camp director by having them visit you in your home if possible and by phone conversations, email or other correspondence. The best overnight summer sports camps do much more than just improve a camper's golf, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, or wrestling skills - they help each child become a more skillful athlete, a more gracious competitor, a more committed team player, and a more confident person.

Some camps are called adventure camps - having a very specific theme or interest. Many of these programs emphasize skill development and personal growth through the adventures they offer to the camper. College credit courses are very popular at overnight summer camps. They typically offer students the opportunity to explore a pre-college experience; usually, students entering grades 10 through 12 stay in college dormitories and attendance at summer classes run by the college faculty. Visit the camp so you can view campers and counselors in their element, witness activities as they occur, and just obtain an overall feel of the camp, something that cannot be accurately experienced when the camp is closed.

There are many types of sleepaway or overnight summer camps with a focus on education that cater to students with differing ages and academic interests. Try to determine whether the director incorporates a similar philosophy when running the camp as you do in parenting your child or children. And children will get more individual attention and supervision with a lower number of campers per counselor.

Homesickness is a frequent problem among the little campers, but with a caring camp counselor most campers adjust easily. Think about what you and your child hope they will get from going away to camp. If you spend the time needed to research your options in advance, and include your child in all the decisions, he or she will most likely have a memorable experience that provides wonderful opportunities to grow while having a lot of fun and making new friends. And last but not least, if you think there's a possibility you might have to cancel an overnight summer camp reservation, camper's insurance would be a good idea.