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Why I’m Sending My Son Back to Sleepaway Camp
In the evolving landscape of parenting trends—think free-range and slow parenting, or even those nostalgic summers reminiscent of childhood in the ’70s—it’s easy to feel pressure and start questioning our choices. Last summer, I penned a light-hearted piece about sending my son to sleepaway camp for seven weeks, sharing my anxiety about his first extended time away from home. While some readers appreciated my humor, others reacted differently. I was taken aback by the critical comments from some parents: “You’re making a mistake!” “You’ll regret that time lost!” “How could you send your child away for two months?” “Summers should be about family time together!” “They’re only young for a short while!” These remarks suggested that my choice was purely for my own relaxation, which couldn’t be further from the truth. The decision to send him to overnight camp was fraught with its own challenges and concerns.
Both my husband and I work, and while I love the idea of leisurely mornings filled with chores followed by family outings to the beach, I can only manage that during the one week of vacation I get in the summer. Sure, I could have quit my job and homeschooled my kids to create the ultimate summer of unstructured play, but I didn’t. So let’s not judge my choices.
My son thrives on activity—he needs to be engaged, constantly. The idea of a laid-back summer without a schedule wouldn’t work for him. I could have signed him up for a series of weekly sports camps during the 13 weeks he’s out of school, but that would have meant daily logistics I was not up for. Likewise, while I could have explored other avenues for fostering his independence, I chose not to. He needed to learn to navigate social situations, to make decisions independently, and to build confidence away from my watchful eye.
Additionally, living in a big city means he lacks the opportunity to explore nature freely—there are no woods to wander or grassy fields to lay in. Sure, I could have taken him camping for weekends, but after seeing The Blair Witch Project, I preferred to avoid that scenario. He also needed a break from screens, and camp offered him two months without a phone, tablet, or TV. While I could have imposed a strict no-electronics rule at home, I didn’t. So let’s not scrutinize my decisions.
Ultimately, the choices we make reflect our children’s unique needs, which can differ vastly from those of other kids. Our family dynamics shape our decisions as well. Just like any parent, I strive to act in my child’s best interests. For my son, a structured and immersive camp experience turned out to be the right fit. And it was a success—he had an incredible summer.
He swam in the lake daily, camped in teepees, and transformed from a shy child focused solely on baseball into an adventurous kid. I received photos of him playing soccer in the rain, muddy and joyous, celebrating victories with new friends. He painted his face for color wars and shouted team chants until he was hoarse. He gained self-sufficiency, learned to approach unfamiliar kids for games, and enjoyed freedom in a safe environment that allowed him to flourish.
Family decisions are influenced by various factors, including finances, work commitments, and individual personalities. Instead of bickering over parenting styles, let’s celebrate the uniqueness of each child and their summer experiences. Ours is sleepaway camp, and I’m sending him back again this year.
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Summary:
Sending my son to sleepaway camp last year was a decision rooted in his needs for independence, activity, and exploration in a structured environment. While some may judge this choice, it allowed him to thrive, grow, and discover new aspects of himself. Each family’s summer experience is unique, and for us, camp is the perfect fit.