Summer camp 2023 is more than just a way to get your child out of your hair for a week or two during summer break (though that most definitely can be a plus). There are so many benefits of summer camp: kids have fun, make new friends, learn new things, and grow into independent human beings.

But there are so many different types of summer camps out there — which is right for your child? But before we get to the planning, let’s break down the summer camp options you and your child have to choose from. Luckily for you, Sawyer makes summer planning simple! You can research camps, read reviews, and book directly on Sawyer.

What are the different types of summer camps?

There are three broad categories of summer camps: day camps, sleepaway or residential camps, and virtual camps.

1. Day Camps
2. Sleepaway/residential camps
3. Day camps vs. Sleepaway camps‍

1. Day camps

‍In a day camp, kids go to a community or recreational center in your area during the day, where they participate in supervised activities and hang out with other kids. At the end of the day, they go home to sleep at night.

2. Sleepaway/residential camps

In a sleepaway or residential camp, kids stay away from home overnight, often at a location in the wilderness. During the day, they participate in supervised activities and socialize, and at night, they sleep in cabins or even under the stars.

3. Day camps vs. Sleepaway camps

The main difference between day camps and sleepaway camps is the type of environment your child will be immersed in. Of course, there's the obvious difference of your child's length of stay, but there's more to that. Day camps are typically familiar environments relatively close to home, whereas overnight camps provide an entirely new setting. Overnight camps are typically further away from home and provide campers the chance to build life management skills. Day camps lend themselves to be slightly more familiar, and in fun locations like schools or recreation centers closer to home.

Both options are ideal and recommended for campers of all ages and abilities!

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What activities can be done in summer camp?

Across the three broad categories of summer camps, there are programs that focus on every interest under the sun. Here are just a few of the activities that your child can explore in summer camp.

Academic enrichment camp

‍This doesn’t mean your child will be trapped in a classroom at camp against their will while they’re on summer break. Instead, academic enrichment camps give your child the opportunity to dive deeper into a subject that genuinely excites them—whether that’s STEM, leadership, or even economics, philosophy, or politics (for older kids)—and meet other kids with the same passions.

Sports camp

Summer camp is a great place for kids to get active. And if your child has been looking for the chance to become an athletic superstar (or just to have fun playing a lot of their favorite sports), there’s a camp for that. Basketball, football, baseball, martial arts, horseback riding—your child can attend a camp focusing on one sport or go to a camp offering a wide variety of physical activities.

Art and crafts camp

‍Band camp and theatre camp are two of the classic summer camps for kids. And now there are also camps focusing on everything from painting to dance to filmmaking and beyond. Your artistically-inclined child could create their masterpiece this summer at camp.

Nature/adventure camp

‍The Platonic ideal of a summer camp for many Americans is a cluster of cabins out on a lake in the forest (complete with fire pits and a tire swing).  And indeed there are plenty of camps where your child can go hiking, canoeing, and exploring in nature.

STEM camp

From robot building to coding classes, STEM camps are becoming increasingly more popular during the summer. Camps like these can take place both virtually and in-person, and are a great way for children to develop creativity and critical thinking skills.

Performance

Whether you're searching for theatre sessions or ballet classes, the world of performing arts is vast! The summer is a great time to immerse your child into an extra-curricular arts program.

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How long is a typical summer camp?

There are summer camps of all lengths. Sleepaway or residential camps often last several weeks, while day camps and virtual camps are more commonly limited to a smaller number of hours, days or weeks. You can also find self-directed virtual camps that give parents and kids the freedom to either follow a provided schedule or create your own.

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What is the best summer camp?

The best summer camp for your child is whatever camp excites them most and works for their temperament. Ask them what kind of activities they’d like to do at camp, and look through the options together. Also, check in with them about how independent they’re feeling. If they’re eager to spend some time on their own, try a sleepaway or residential camp. But if they’re not sure if they’re ready to leave home yet, you can start out with a day camp. And of course, if in-person gatherings aren’t safe yet, there are plenty of great virtual camps online—like these virtual summer camps from top providers on Sawyer!

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Ready to start planning summer camp 2022?

We put together a checklist to help you plan:

• What type of camp are you looking for? Is it an in-person camp or virtual camp?
• If you're looking for in-person camps, what kind of camp is it? A drop-in camp for a half-day, a full-day camp, or a full-week camp, or sleepaway?
• What do you want your child to learn in camp? Decide on the category — whether it's STEM and dance, or academic and outdoors, Sawyer will help connect you with hundreds of educators and camps.
• Make sure camps in your area are operational and following the guidelines that the CDC puts in place. If you have questions about summer camp and COVID-19, we put together a COVID-19 resource guide to help.
• Decide your budget. Camp costs range from free activities, to hundreds of dollars a week. With options for all families available, it's beneficial to decide how much you're willing to invest in summer programming, and plan a variety of camps and activities with budget in mind.
• It's possible to write off the costs of some of your summer camp costs. To learn more about that, and the answers to eight common questions, read more in our summer camp 2022 and taxes blog.
• Start getting ready for summer camp by practicing separation and helping your child get excited!

By the way, if you’re an educator looking for solutions that make running camps fun — Sawyer for camps can help you out!