summer camp that's actually affordable? archived
Boy/girl scout camps are reasonable, as is the Y camp,
My kids went/go to a Jewish run sleepway (we are not religious and I was against it at first but there are many non Jews there) that's very reasonable (about $1800 per 3 week session). It's been in existence almost 100 years, I didn't go but heard of it from HS friends. I
My kids went/go to a Jewish run sleepway (we are not religious and I was against it at first but there are many non Jews there) that's very reasonable (about $1800 per 3 week session). It's been in existence almost 100 years, I didn't go but heard of it from HS friends. I
My son has gone to Camp Lohikan for a few years, and it is considerably less than $1000 per week.
While they aren't overnight camps there are a bunch of great recreational things in SO and I assume MW to keep the kids from going feral. Rocket science camp, etc. We do the pool, a couple camps, and some hockey things to get through the summer because our budget is limited as well. So far our son is still domesticated, mostly.
Have you looked into the YMCA camps? iirc, there's Fairview and Ralph Mason in NJ, and Frost Valley not too far away in NY, and probably others. Back a while, they were lower cost, and offered shorter sessions than some of the private camps.
Peeking at the Ralph Mason website, though, it looks like $825 for one week or $1,450 for 2 weeks.
If your kids join Boy or Girl Scouts, those camps could be considerably less, but might require participation by (some?) parents. Campfire also had camps (coed, I think), not as nearby, but the child didn't have to belong to a troop (or whatever the Campfire designation is).
We were in the same position as you ten years ago or so. It can be a challenge, esp. since a lot of the other kids are out of town for weeks on end. We patched together Adult School courses, swimming, Scout camp, days "down the shore," plus a few 1-week stints at other camps over the years, never long sessions, and not every year, but the kids mostly had a great time at camp when they went.
Enjoy your summer, however it works out!
Peeking at the Ralph Mason website, though, it looks like $825 for one week or $1,450 for 2 weeks.
If your kids join Boy or Girl Scouts, those camps could be considerably less, but might require participation by (some?) parents. Campfire also had camps (coed, I think), not as nearby, but the child didn't have to belong to a troop (or whatever the Campfire designation is).
We were in the same position as you ten years ago or so. It can be a challenge, esp. since a lot of the other kids are out of town for weeks on end. We patched together Adult School courses, swimming, Scout camp, days "down the shore," plus a few 1-week stints at other camps over the years, never long sessions, and not every year, but the kids mostly had a great time at camp when they went.
Enjoy your summer, however it works out!
Can you pm the name of the jewish sleep away camp? We are sending our daughter to one this summer but would love to look into other less expensive options for the future.
Our kids go to Catoctin Quaker Camp in Thurmont, MD about 3 hours away - http://bymcamps.org/programs/catoctin-quaker-camp/ . It is run through the Baltimore Yearly Meeting and is Quaker - but Quakers are not pushy about being Quaker. I would say the majority are not Quaker. It is very nicely done. It is a two week program at $1,300 ($650 a week).
@cleg hey, my husband is a catoctin grad (as are his adult siblings and various cousins and nephews). He loved it. The current director was his camper when he was a counsellor (makes him feel old!). He's a Quaker but they're low key about the whole thing.
I can't wait til our kids are old enough to go!
I can't wait til our kids are old enough to go!
Thanks everyone for these great suggestions! I'm a big fan of the Quakers, I'll definitely look into that. Re the Scouts, I have issues with the Boy Scouts – although I'm pleased to see they raised the ban on gay members – so I can't bring myself to give them my money . In the past we've tried to cobble together different things but it's tough with our work schedules and the weekly travel my husband is required to do for his job. We always manage somehow, but I really want to fit sleepaway camp in!
Jan 28, 2014 at 9:17am Edited
We are signing our son up for Fairview Lake this summer; relatively reasonable (though still a tough nut to swallow) at ~$875/week. Seems like a great camp, nice facility, great programming, nurturing staff, and good Y values. I can't believe my baby is old enough for sleep away camp, but he's excited about it and I am excited for him!
if you have a girl - she can go to GS camp even if she's not a girl scout. Obviously, that does nothing if you have two boys or if you want them together...I just signed up my daughter for two weeks at gs camp - first week as $750 since it was horseback riding, the second week was $500 ish?
A lot of local kids go here and love it: http://www.nj4hcamp.rutgers.edu/Summer%20Camp.html
I may have just let a huge secret out of the bag
I may have just let a huge secret out of the bag
@karenelise, I wonder if we went to the same camp 
I loved my camp experience growing up, but as I've looked at their information now it seems a lot more fundamentalist than I remember!
I loved my camp experience growing up, but as I've looked at their information now it seems a lot more fundamentalist than I remember!
My kids went to Coniston, a fantastic YMCA camp in New Hampshire. The retention rate is something like 99 percent, but at the end of the summer they hold a one-week session that is mainly for new campers, and costs less than $800.
You might also look into Becket (boys) and Chimney Corners (girls), a similar Y camp in the Berkshires.
I know the directors at both. The Y does a great job with camping.
You might also look into Becket (boys) and Chimney Corners (girls), a similar Y camp in the Berkshires.
I know the directors at both. The Y does a great job with camping.
@karenelise if you decide to go Catoctin they fill up quick so as close to Feb 1 as you can get. You can pay in five installments which we have to do with two kids and the older goes for a month. If you send your kid there will be at least two Maplewood kids to look after him.
Crossroads in Long Valley. I went there, sent my son there when he was six, he loved it. Highly recommend it and it's reasonable, though local.
Jan 28, 2014 at 11:47am Edited
I can't speak for Boy Scouts, but any girl can go to Girl Scout camp without any family commitment to Girl Scouts other than payment of the membership fee as part of the camp fee. They do not have to join a troop or participate in any other manner outside of the camp session.
Jan 28, 2014 at 11:53am Edited
Re church camp, we were very happy with Camp Johnsonburg (Presbyterian) for our kids and found it similar in cost (just slightly higher) than Girl Scout camp. For several years, our daughters attended one or more sessions at each. The program is not "intensely religious" but it is a Christian atmosphere. Definitely not fundamentalist.
Several years ago, an MOLer told me about Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA sleepaway camp and I am eternally grateful! Camp is about 90 minutes drive from here in PA...they have a tiered pricing program (lowest price is $783 for the first week of camp; $723 for additional weeks). This will be my son's 4th (or 5th) year at the camp...he loves it! http://www.campspeersymca.org/
I sent my daughter to Camp Foss in New Hampshire, it is a YMCA it is for girls 8-15. Great Camp. She loved horses and they had horses she got to ride and groom. Now it is about $1295 for 2 weeks.
http://www.campfoss.org/index.php
Later I sent her to Pok O MacCready in Willsboro NY (upstate) that is co-ed but that was expensive. I remember there was a dog that barked to let the counselors know if any boy/girl was trying to cross sides. She loved it though, even had a "prom" at the end of the year. I went up for a visit and had to get dress clothes, set me for a loop. If you apply early they will look at your income and give you a break. She loved horses, and if you participated in that you got to go to the equestrian events.
I would inquire on a partial scholarship now if interested and think you are eligible. You never know until you ask.
http://www.pokomac.com/new-families/register/
http://www.campfoss.org/index.php
Later I sent her to Pok O MacCready in Willsboro NY (upstate) that is co-ed but that was expensive. I remember there was a dog that barked to let the counselors know if any boy/girl was trying to cross sides. She loved it though, even had a "prom" at the end of the year. I went up for a visit and had to get dress clothes, set me for a loop. If you apply early they will look at your income and give you a break. She loved horses, and if you participated in that you got to go to the equestrian events.
I would inquire on a partial scholarship now if interested and think you are eligible. You never know until you ask.
http://www.pokomac.com/new-families/register/
Esiders said:
Several years ago, an MOLer told me about Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA sleepaway camp and I am eternally grateful! Camp is about 90 minutes drive from here in PA...they have a tiered pricing program (lowest price is $783 for the first week of camp; $723 for additional weeks). This will be my son's 4th (or 5th) year at the camp...he loves it! http://www.campspeersymca.org/
That might have been me. I met some of my best friends there. Amazing place.
@bak Maybe you should delete your post in an attempt to get the cat back in the bag. ;-) It sounds perfect for my boys, I'm showing the husband toute de suite!
@TarheelsInNj Ha! Were you in the Adirondacks by any chance? The extreme religiosity didn't faze me at the time because it was what I was used to, and I think I just loved being in the woods for two weeks. But no way would I expose my kids to that way of thinking. I'm still recovering...
Yup!! I had a wonderful camp experience but either it's gotten more fundamental since I was there or it just didn't register at the time.
My kids have had great experiences at Camp Celo in NC. It is also a quaker camp but not pushy. My daughter is going on her third year as a counselor and my two boys have also had great experiences there the past couple of years. It's far (near Asheville) but we find it worth it. http://www.campcelo.com/index.htm
Camp Takodah in NH. It's also a Y camp. Can't say enough about it. We are going for winter family camp the weekend of 2/28 if you want to take a weekend to check it out!
Shh.....I'd also love to hear what jewish sleepaway camp it is. We are looking into it for this summer.
I hear YMCA camps are nice, and the ones I know about that friends liked for their kids are in NJ, and here in Maine. Also boy scout and girl scout camps, like those at Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.
I went to a camp in Maine while growing up in Maine called Bishopswood. It's an Episcopal church camp and not at all religious -- a service on Sunday that you can take or leave I think. It was extremely affordable and still is. Only drawback is that some kids from Maine go to camp knowing each other.
I went to a camp in Maine while growing up in Maine called Bishopswood. It's an Episcopal church camp and not at all religious -- a service on Sunday that you can take or leave I think. It was extremely affordable and still is. Only drawback is that some kids from Maine go to camp knowing each other.
Keep in mind I think you can list summer camp on your tax return as a child care expense if the kids are under a certain age. I'm pretty sure about that. You'll need the camp's tax ID number for it.
lisat said:
Keep in mind I think you can list summer camp on your tax return as a child care expense if the kids are under a certain age. I'm pretty sure about that. You'll need the camp's tax ID number for it.
Correct. Also - for children 12 and under, you can use your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account to pay for summer camp.
You can not reply as this discussion is Closed!
karenelise