Camps are fun. I guess. My camps were Camp Fire Girl camps.
I've worked at camps mostly and taken my son along when he was a child many a year. There are also city sponsered day sports camps I took advantage of.

I've never had to spend much money on a camp.

ps. Nice camp links. I think they're great.

I think you and griff are right.

The more logical plus introverted a person is it can be difficult. I am introverted but I am not logical. I just went with the flow so kids were always friendly. I am very visual so I have many good visual memories.

Logical and introverted kids need a lot of structure imo and if the plan isn't laid out just so, or if they are young, or it doesn't make sense in some way it can create a lot of anxiety and one isn't going to remember or learn anything when under pressure. It depends on the kid and type of camp probably.

I went to week long camps twice as a kid. I LOVED them. Anything to get me away from my mother really, but beyond that, there was the thrill of bunk beds, cabins, new people, all sorts of activities, new foods, being away from home, old friends, learning stuff, and being out from under mom's thumb.

I still remember my sleeping bag, an old OLD army bag...camo green, slippery/silky, and smelled funny. No cutesy figures or flannel on that thing.

The one I went to was a church camp, so I did know a few kids from church there. The cost NOW is $475 per week, so your $800/two weeks sounds par for the course.

My own children went to YMCA camp all summer, every summer. Not sleep over camps though, normal day camps. My now 14yr old daughter won a week long scholarship to a big performing arts center here (loads of concerts put on there by big names), for a week. Not sleepover, but I drove her every day. Good thing I was unemployed at the time! She adored it! I could never have paid for it though, mucho out of my price range.

thanks all, this is great :)

I never got to go away to camp, unless you count day camp. I wasn't really sure if it was the money or if my parents just couldn't bear to part with me. ;)

Memory: 13 years old, YMCA day camp, really cute instructor named Brian (I still remember). That week I developed a deep interest in BB gun target practice. :D Totally yummy.

The past 2 years my 13 year old daughter has gone for a week at GS camp, loved it, but finds it a little boring. This year she's eligible for a whole new tier of options, including travel to WV, so we'll see what happens.

Last summer my 11 year old son went for a week at Boy Scout camp, which was a little different because he was with his troop and not a bunch of strangers. He had a great time.

I think they'd both be happy to go to the YMCA camp though. I just can't afford all of it. It'd have to be one or the other. Day camps are fun, though, either through scouts or the Y.

The only time I've ever fired a gun was at camp when I was very young; I think even 5 or 6--it was a .22 rifle (I think) and we fired it at targets lying down.

I was sent to fancy camps in the California hills, non-denominational, non-scouting. It was a status thing, I think, and a chance for my 'rents to get rid of me for 2-3 weeks.

Monster, I'm sure your kids would like it. Scouting camps can be a good deal, if they are good ones.

I am not into scouts in the USA. They have issues. But thanks. It's funny that the YMCA has a C for Christian, but their camps are apparrently non-denominational.

I'm pretty sure that "non-denominational" in this case means "any flavor of Christian you want." From my recollection as a non-religious kid at YMCA camps, the Christianity was definitely there, but they weren't pushy about it.

there are lots of jewe and gays here ...and they have the most money, so here it means there will be space for private reflection (or playing nintendo ds ;) )

What are the issues of scout camps in USA Monnie? Are they different to Brit scouts?

Scouting has a huge anti-homosexuality thing going on among other things. And more religion. it's political for me. many people don't have a problem with it, I do. it took me a long time to realize that the YMCA is actually much less preachy and religious. In fact most people have no idea it's a religious organization.

It appears that the Mormans are the single largest chartered group of scouts. I'd say reactionary politics are going to be in the mix.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America

[tangent]Maybe unfairly, I always saw the various scout organizations as part of American, British, German, and Italian proto-fascism. They promote "civic virtues" which seem easily turned into service to the state. I guess it is a question of balance. In our present political environment, we see a lot of Red-baiting rhetoric from right and a middle-left government that seems content to increase enforced private access to the public and individual purse. The old fascist vs communist construct looks dated as both parties embrace aspects of both systems.[/whoopsie]

I cannot stand pushy Christians, so my children would definately not have gone to the YMCA camps for the last 15 years if they were obnoxious about it.

The YMCA are the only people/organization that I trust to babysit my children. I'm paranoid about the sicko's out there. Good thing they have parent's night out once a month, or my partner and I would never get to go on a date :rolleyes:

I don't do scouts either, perfect organization for pedophiles to hang out in.

My husband loved the scouts, and one of his fellows was an atheist. I think it only became a 'big issue' more recently; it was largely ignored back in our day.

Thirding monnie: I went to Y-camp many summers as a kid (2 working parents = need daycare help!) and never felt any religious pressure of any kind.

Back in the day, it was assumed you were of some religion or another, and they didn't care which, for the most part. They had invocations, convocations and general beseeching for divine guidance and support, assuming no matter what religion you were, it was the same God.