Best Summer Camps for Children

Best Summer Camps for Children

Going to summer camp is a great way for children to not only experience the outdoors, but also learn character-building skills, develop self-confidence, leadership, and team-building skills. It’s very difficult to choose which camp you would like your child to attend. There are many factors that play a huge role in choosing the perfect camp, which includes: location, price, ages of campers, type of camp, as well as many others.

If you are a faithful family and would like your child to attend a faith-based camp, there are numerous possibilities around the country for you to look into. Or if you would like your daughter or son to go to a gender-specific camp or a sports camp there are also many options for those.

If you really want to send your child to summer camp but are unsure if you will be able to afford it, there are some camps that offer scholarships or discounts for special circumstances. There are also some camps that were created for children with mental and physical disabilities.

Co-ed Camps

Camps that are co-ed usually provide programs that separate girls and boys from one another, but they come together during meals and other activities. Traditionally, the boys cabins and the girls cabins are separated to different sides of the camp as well.

1. Camp Highlander

This camp was founded in 1957 and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Depending on your child’s age, they provide 2-week camps, 1-week camps, and family camps all summer long. Camp Highlander prides itself on exceptional experiences for your child focusing on independence, self-confidence, and personal accomplishment. As a symbol of Camp Highlander’s values and tradition, the camp bell tolls four times… for Courage. Honesty. Integrity. Faith.

2. Camp Hilltop

This camp was founded in 1924 and is located in Hancock New York, close to the Catskill Mountains. Camp Hilltop allows children of all ages between 6-16 to attend their camp and participate in a wide range of activities. There are over 60 indoor and outdoor activities offered at Camp Hilltop. They have created a safe, non-competitive environment for children to make new friends and enjoy new activities.

3. Camp Killoleet

This camp was founded in 1927 and serves boys and girls of any age between 9-14. Camp Killoleet is located on the edge of the Green Mountain National Forest in Hancock Vermont. The owners of this camp claim that nearly all of the campers return to this camp every year until they reach the age limit. This camp offers many different activities and sports, but they always try to focus on their moto, “the joy of participation rather than winning.” Some of the activities and sports include: exploring local nature sites, canoeing in the Adirondacks, caving and rock-climbing, basketball, soccer, horseback riding, ultimate Frisbee, windsurfing, and dance. There are also many activities for more artsy children such as music, studio arts, and performing arts.

4. Camp Lakota

This camp was founded in 1924 and is located on top of the Wurtsboro Hills in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains of New York. Their name means “friendly and united,” which they take a lot of pride living up to. Campers any age from 6-16 are welcome and this summer camp and there are even some discounted rates for children in some age groups. There is a very strong sense of community and family, which often brings campers back to Camp Lakota every year.

5. Camp Pinehurst

This camp was founded in 1946 and is located along the shore of the Crescent Lake in Sebago Lake region of Raymond, Maine. There are a variety of activities offered to boy and girls from ages 6-14. Children of these ages can go for sessions that last anywhere from 2, 3, 4. 5, or 6 weeks. The staff/camper ration is 1:3 ratio, which means your child will be under close watch at all times. Camp Pinehurst has a camper return rate of 85-90% every year.

6. Camp Tall Timbers

This camp was founded in 1970 and is located in the natural wooded setting of High View West Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Camp Tall Timbers allows children to come starting at at 7. This camp has won several awards and provides each child with an incredible experience. They also host a family weekend to allow parents to join in on all of the fun. Each session lasts from 1-3 weeks.

7. Camp Towanda

This camp was founded in 1923 and is originated in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Campers as young as 6 years old may attend this camp. This camp was originally a boys camp, but in 1942 they began allowing girls to attend as well. They have many activities for children to participate in such as gymnastics, lacrosse, roller skating, martial arts, water skiing, water aerobics, computer graphic design, culinary instruction, and many others.

8. Camp Walt Whitman

This camp was founded in 1948 and is located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Campers learn to improve existing physical skills while developing new skills in sports and activities while focusing on personal development in areas such as leadership, teamwork, and responsibility. This camp was named after the poet Walt Whitman, honoring his poem, “I Hear America Singing,” describing the working men and women of America.

9. Camp Weequahic

This camp was founded in 1953 and is located 2 hours northwest of NYC and 3 hours north of Philadelphia. Camp Weequahic happily hosts children from 2nd to 11th grade. Campers can go for either 3 weeks or for the “Super Six” week experience. Camp Weequahic is focused on their moto, ” Where caring is a tradition.” Campers can enjoy a wide vast of basic camping activities as well as a variety of water activities. Sometimes, they also venture out on other trips to nearby venues.

10. Cheley Colorado Camp

This camp was founded in 1921 and is located in and around the Estes Park Valley, which is surrounded by incredible views and forests. This camp is divided up into groups based on gender and age. Your child must be at least 9 years old to attend this camp. Activities offered at the camp include mountain biking, river rafting, horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, art as well as many more. The camp also provides many challenging opportunities to develop team-building skills as well as cooperation and leadership skills.

11. Falcon Camp

This camp was founded in 1959 and is located in Carrolton, Ohio. Falcon camp provides an incredible camping experience from ages 6-9 for anywhere from 2, 4, 6, or 8-week sessions. Most of the activities are separated by gender, but there are still plenty of co-ed activities. There is a 1:4 staff/camper ratio, which means your child will always have someone keeping a close eye on him/her. Falcon Camp focuses on their motto, “Fun for now, skills for life.”

12. Iroquois Springs

This camp was founded in 1931 and is located in the southern part of the Catskill Mountains, in Rock Hill New York. Children from ages 6-16 may attend this camp and engage in the wonderful activities they offer. They offer sessions that last either 3 weeks or 6 weeks. All campers have the opportunity to shine at Camp Iroquois Springs as they develop self-esteem, learn to make efforts, and develop a healthy attitude.

13. Kupagani Multicultural Camp

This camp was founded in 1951 and is located in Northwest Illinois, less than 2 hours from Chicago. The name, Kupagani, means “raise oneself up.” The boys and girls and primarily held separately from each other. The main values at this camp are to try to do your best at all times and have fun along with staying safe. Campers learn to appreciate and celebrate themselves and to appreciate and celebrate others as well. The staff is great at helping children overcome homesickness and they also offer a discount to families with first-time campers.

14. Mountain Camp Woodside

This camp was founded in 1976 and is located 45 minutes outside of San Francisco near the Silicon Valley. The camp serves boys and girls ages 7-15 and provides small camper/staff ratios. Campers are encouraged to try new activities and make new friends. This beautiful campus is 63 acres and holds an Olympic sized pool, gymnasium, sports field, as well as many other incredible amenities.

15. Raquette Lake Camps

This camp was founded in 1916 and is one of the oldest camps in the country. Boys and girls ages 6-15 are welcome at Raquette Lake Camps. The two camps are split up based on gender for housing, but get to socialize regularly. Sisters and brothers are allowed to each lunch together weekly. The diet at Raquette Lake Camps is nut-free, but are able to accomodate to most other food allergies as well.

16. Rawhide Ranch

This camp was founded in 1963 and is located in San Diego. Children ages 7-15 may attend. At this camp, children are provided with experiences they may not receive at other camps. They are going to be getting a true western experience. They offer western riding experiences, sleeping in a wagon train and taking part in a weekly horse/animal show. Campers also have the ability to participate in normal camping activities.

17. Rockywold Deephaven Camps

This camp was founded in 1897 and is located on Squam Lake in Holderness, New Hampshire. This camping is a very rare experience because you can go with your whole family. Parents and kids both have their own activities planned for them every day specifically geared for them. Children have to be at least 3 years old and can go all the way up to teenagers..

18. Trail Blazers Camp

This camp was founded in 1887 and has been hosting campers in Sussex Country New Jersey for over 125 years. Trailblazers, in Montague New Jersey, provides sleep-away and day camps. This camp believes that every child should have the ability to attend summer camp, even if their parents can not afford it, which is why they offer a number of scholarships. The amount for scholarships varies so if you’re interested, the information is available from the Trail Blazers Administration.