https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:50:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp/page/2#post-2602895 Thu, 11 Aug 2016 20:18:49 +0000 HLK208 2602895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was 11...I think 9-11 is a good age. B was begging me to go this year but I told him maybe next summer 😁 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp/page/2#post-2602883 Thu, 11 Aug 2016 20:10:58 +0000 Mrsbells 2602883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: for me it depends on her level of maturity at that time. I'm hoping that at 13 she should be ready for that but it might be sooner or later. I went to church camps and those sorts of things but I always had an older sibling. The first time I went on my own I was 16 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp/page/2#post-2602855 Thu, 11 Aug 2016 19:47:18 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2602855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went for a week away at bible camp when I was 9 or 10? I always went with a friend I knew though! I went for a couple years and always loved it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2602851 Thu, 11 Aug 2016 19:43:36 +0000 birdofafeather 2602851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: true story, DH wrote his parents a letter the first day saying: come and get me. I'll meet you at the front on Friday (it was maybe a special day or something). </p> <p>When they got the letter a couple days later, they called the camp all worried and the counsellors were like, huh? He sent that?! He's having a great time! He stayed the whole time (4 weeks I think) and went back for like 8 years! I feel like our kids would never have the chance to send a letter like that these days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2602757 Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:54:19 +0000 Finfan 2602757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went for a month straight when I was 9 and 2-3 weeks a summer after that to regular summer camp. I also did sports camps out of town a lot in middle and high school. I've not ever been a homesick kind of person. We will probably send our kids for a week or two a summer, maybe starting around 7-8. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2601506 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 23:34:48 +0000 sapphire 2601506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went after 2nd grade for 4 nights and started going for one week each summer the next year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2601213 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:22:27 +0000 avivoca 2601213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to sleep-away camp for a week starting at age 10 (it was GA camp) and then to church camp in middle/high school. For two summers starting when I was 7, we slept over at my Nana's house during the week and went home on the weekends. My parents couldn't afford full-time daycare for the two of us and DC traffic is crazy, so we stayed the week there. I could see doing something like that once my kids are in elementary school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2601208 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 14:18:55 +0000 BananaPancakes 2601208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to Space Camp in 4th grade. And then to a summer camp every year after that through 8th grade. I think any time my kid thinks he's ready will be fine by me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2601156 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:00:24 +0000 hummusgirl 2601156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The camp we're planning to send our kids to starts with a 10-day session at age 8. I'm counting down the years, haha. My DH and I both went there as campers, met there as counselors, and know the director. The kids have such a great time and form lifelong friendships - we are a total camp family! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2601102 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 11:29:13 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2601102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend just sent her son and daughter for 1 week. They are newly 6 and 8. </p> <p>I will probably never send my kids unless they are desperate to go. I can barely leave them for an hour😬 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2601058 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:13:29 +0000 magnoliamama42 2601058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked as a camp counselor at a sleep away camp in college. It was specifically for under-privileged or abused girls (all were referred by social workers). It was a 10 day camp and our youngest cabin was 6 years old, and that's the cabin I was assigned.</p> <p>The 6 year olds did get homesick, but we had 3 counselors that slept in the cabin with them, and we were very attentive to them. No one was left to cry, and extra special attention was shown to those who were struggling (one on one time during the day, taken to the food hall for milk and cookies and a little chat if they couldn't sleep). </p> <p>I think if it were a camp where I knew the counselors would be so attentive, I wouldn't mind sending mine off at aged 7 - but maybe for not so long for her first time.</p> <p>One time, a mother lied on the forms and got her 5 year old in! We didn't know about it until it was too late, and we couldn't send the child back (mother was very poor, from NYC, the camp was in Maine). So that little one became my shadow throughout her stay. I just took her everywhere with me, got her dressed/showered every day and sometimes slept on the floor by her bed. She actually handled it really well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600965 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 07:33:44 +0000 JenGirl 2600965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think my first sleep away camp was around 7 or 8? I loved it and went to multiple every summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600963 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 07:30:38 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2600963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it at eight years but that seems really young.<br /> They're only going if they beg me. I don't like the Camp Idontwannaseeya mentality I see often around here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600943 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 06:14:25 +0000 ValentineMommy 2600943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600939 Tue, 09 Aug 2016 05:57:28 +0000 maddyz 2600939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went for a week at 8 years old. I thought it was great, the rest of my cabin cried a lot so they moved me in with older girls. I wish I'd been able to go more. Living in NYC I understand the desire to send kids to the woods for a chunk of the summer. My kids might have to settle for getting shipped to the grandparents... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600882 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 21:49:26 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2600882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started when I was 7 - 4 weeks away and only allowed 1 phone call. I was a pretty independent kid, so it was fine. I would probably do the same with my kids, but we will see when they get older if they can handle that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600876 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 21:31:58 +0000 lilyofthewest 2600876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I had just turned 7. I went for one week that summer, two weeks at a time most years after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600787 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 18:23:15 +0000 OldpuebloJenn 2600787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started at 7 for one week, 8 for two weeks then I did three or 4 week stints every year after that. I loved it. I can't wait for my kids to experience the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600785 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 18:19:40 +0000 IRunForFun 2600785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did just one-nighters at Girl Scout Camp starting at maybe 7? Then no other sleep-away camp until high school, but I never asked before that! </p> <p>I'd probably be fine with my kid doing week-long camps at maybe 10? And longer after middle school. If we could afford it, of course!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600783 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 18:14:14 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2600783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started at age 9. But I don't think I'll ever send my kids to sleep away camp! Actually, I'm sure I wont!</p> <p>They will sleep over at my parents', my siblings', and friends whose parents I know VERY well (I can think of two, at this stage). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600756 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 17:32:11 +0000 Corduroy 2600756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went at 7 for about 5 days. I loved it but I remember two girls from my unit were horribly home sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600748 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 17:23:32 +0000 Purpledaisy 2600748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never got to go to sleep away camp and I can't wait to send my kids! I think around 4-5 grade would be a good age to start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600702 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:52:33 +0000 Canoli 2600702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think ever! My husband and I are crazy overprotective! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600676 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 15:17:40 +0000 daniellemybelle 2600676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The camp I went to as a kid started at 7 years old. It was a week long (I think 6 nights). </p> <p>I think it depends on the kid! I believe I was 10 or 11 my first time and I was fine but I remember there being other kids that were very homesick :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600650 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:53:53 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2600650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't remember for sure, but I think I did a 4 week camp when I was in third grade, so maybe 8 or 9. It was awesome.</p> <p>My neighbor and another friend just sent their 8 year olds who are best friends to camp together for 1 week. I haven't talked to them since that, but I think it was a success. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600617 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:20:01 +0000 Andrea 2600617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: all the parents I know seem very happy to have their kids away for that long. Lol. Party time. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600595 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:59:34 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2600595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I did a week in elementary school (6th grade?) and then church camp through middle and high. </p> <p>It all depends on the camp! At some point though, I was very happy to have the experience of sleep away camp before moving away to college. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600586 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 13:55:09 +0000 snowjewelz 2600586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never did it, so I'm not sure if I'd send my DDs away either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600532 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 12:37:06 +0000 Rocker2014 2600532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did one week just before turning 8 - I had a blast but now that seems so young to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-for-sleep-away-camp#post-2600520 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 12:20:26 +0000 psw27 2600520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I did 2 weeks away around age 9 or 10? I loved it! </p>