Day Camp or Overnight Camp?
- The American Camp Association
- May 10, 2016
- 2 min read
Which one is better? Day camp or overnight camp? This frequently asked question doesn’t have a simple answer, it has a few. The question really is: What is best for your child this summer?
What is day camp?
Day camps typically serve children ages 3 to 15 during the daytime. The length of the camp day can vary: half day, school day and extended day are the most common. Sometimes camps provide transportation to day camp and sometimes families provide it. Day camps can be found in a variety of locations ranging from private land to school campuses, from reservations to the activity centers of nonprofit organizations.
Day camps serve the youngest of campers as well as many first-time campers, who might not feel comfortable separating from parents overnight. Campers travel home at the end of the day to rest and refresh. Day camp can be a great introduction to the world of summer camp. But day camp is not just for new campers, experienced campers of all ages find challenging and interesting programming in day camp settings. Families typically choose day camps that are close to home, to work, or somewhere in between.
What is overnight camp?
Overnight camps (also referred to as resident or sleepaway camps) usually serve children ages 6 to 17. Campers sleep away from home for the length of the session.
Overnight campers should be ready to be away overnight. While a successful night or two away from home prior to going to overnight camp is recommended, children need not have been away from home for several nights — just one or two will do. Overnight campers range in age from six or seven at the youngest to 18 at the oldest.
Living, learning, playing and experiencing life together 24/7 is very popular with children of all ages. Being away from their families for the length of the session while on a resident camp adventure creates a sense of independence that’s highly beneficial — and which prepares children and teens well for college and life beyond.
Day or overnight is an important question to ask at the beginning of a camp search. Some children do attend both types of camp in the same summer, but typically families identify the day camp and the overnight camp in separate searches.
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