Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Boy Scout Camp -- 4 days of crying?

My DS9 went to a 2 week summer camp this summer. He is pretty shy, but he LOVED it!!!! It was a great confindence builder and he wants to go for the 3 or 4 week camp next year!

I think that a child's personality plays a huge role in determining a good starting age for camp. When we first considered sending our eldest to camp for a week, we thought about how he had handled major new situations in the past. These included the first day of school, the first sleepovers at a friend's house, how he handled his first week of day camp, how he did when taking swimming lessons for the first time, etc. And we also thought about how well he adapts to minor changes as well. For kids who had trouble with situations like these when younger, how do they adapt now?

My eleven-year-old started going to camp last summer, and has loved it both years. I went to camp starting at age 9 and continued through 15. I felt a bit homesick sometimes when I was younger, but the activities that I got to do were the kinds of things that I never would have been able to do daily or weekly at home: sailing, waterskiing, horseback riding, archery, canoeing and capsizing, Christmas in July, etc. I still look back on it as one of the most wonderful experiences of my youth.

Obviously, it's not for everyone, though (see paragraph 1).

Thanks everyone, yes that makes me feel better. Geomamma, no worries!

We are still on for the camp, and he is excited, it really is a learning experience already, just having him think in terms of what to take/and not ...
(should he wear his 'adventure time' "Finn" hat that he sewed up himself?? I voted no, although it is super cool, I think most other kids would see it as just a bit too out there... lol!)

Oh gosh, at 11? I don't think 4 days of crying at age 11 is usual! I went to camp for years as a child and there were a FEW sad criers, always, but a true minority...like 10%, or 20% at most? I started at age 7 and went well into my teens. I suppose kids today may be less independent....I was NEVER homesick.

I plan to send DD to a short camp (4 days, 3 nights) next year, when she's 8. I have no worries. She wanted to go this year!