Why Summer Camp Is More Important Than Ever – And Why It’s Worth It

As a camp director, I understand many of the challenges parents face today when considering sleep-away camps for their children. Many parents are understandably cautious about sending their kids away from home, especially with the way the world has changed in recent years. With kids having fewer opportunities to push themselves outside their comfort zones, summer camp has never been more vital for their personal growth and development.

Why Sleep-Away Camp is So Important

Recent research shows that camp is an incredible way to help children develop resilience, independence, and confidence. The structured environment of summer camp allows kids to take on safe, manageable challenges that build their self-trust and social skills, creating lasting memories and bonds with both their peers and the community around them.

At The Refuge at La Foret, we understand that this is a big step for both kids and parents. That’s why we’ve worked hard to create a supportive, nurturing environment with trained counselors who are equipped to handle everything from homesickness to supporting children with unique needs, such as anxiety or neurodiversity. While most of our staff are not mental health professionals, our team receives research-backed training to support children emotionally, socially, and spiritually, ensuring they are encouraged every step of the way without unnecessary stress.

Easing Into the Camp Experience

We also know that camp is not a one-size-fits-all experience. That’s why we’ve introduced several flexible opportunities for families to gradually ease into the world of summer camp. For younger children ages 5 to 12, our Grand Camp allows kids to experience the magic of camp with the support of their families. We also have offered family camps in the past few years where families of all ages can join together, and we’re hoping to announce the introduction of a new day camp next year to give younger campers the chance to experience camp before making the leap to overnight stays.

For middle and high schoolers who are unsure about committing to a full week of camp, we offer youth retreats where they can try just a couple of nights away to see how they feel. These retreats provide a great stepping stone for kids who may not yet be ready for a week-long adventure.

Why Overnight Camp Is Crucial to the Experience

I am very grateful that recently a couple of parents let me know that they had some concerns about their children staying away from home for a week. One suggestion was allowing children to come during the day and return home at night, and this suggestion has come up in previous settings as well. While we understand the desire to make accommodations for kids to leave and return home during camp, we believe that the full sleep-away experience is essential for kids to truly benefit from what camp offers. Sleeping away from home helps kids grow in ways they simply can’t when they’re returning to their parents every night. They learn to build friendships, adapt to new challenges, and gain a deeper sense of independence. Returning home each evening would disrupt this process and could make them feel disconnected from their peers and the camp community.

Safety First

At The Refuge, safety is our top priority. Every member of our staff is thoroughly background checked, and we maintain a strict “rule of three” which ensures that no child is ever alone with an adult or unsupervised. This level of safety simply wouldn’t be possible if children were coming and going throughout the day. Our goal is to create a safe, tight-knit community where kids feel comfortable, confident, and secure – and this requires consistency in both their schedule and their environment.

The Bottom Line

While camp may feel like a big leap for some kids and parents, it’s an investment in your child’s future. The benefits of attending a sleep-away camp – independence, confidence, resilience, and lasting friendships – are truly life-changing. We understand that every child is different, and we’re here to support them through their journey at The Refuge. Whether they start with a family camp, a youth retreat, or individual support plans for a week-long sleep-away camp, we want to make sure every child has the opportunity to experience the magic and growth that summer camp offers.

If your child isn’t ready for an overnight experience just yet, don’t worry – we have options that can help them take the first step. We hope that one day soon, they’ll be ready to join us for the full camp adventure. In the meantime, we’re here to support your family every step of the way.

We look forward to welcoming your family to The Refuge at La Foret!

A quick word from Jack Schott of Summer Camp Society (A National Expert)

The Anxiety Reduction Laboratory (No Lab Coats Required)

Yeah, camp is the perfect controlled (though sometimes completely random) environment to practice handling those unplanned moments in life.

Why? Because camp creates contained uncertainty:

• It’s significant enough to feel real (sleeping away from home, trying new activities)

• Supported enough to be manageable (with counselors, structure, and clear boundaries)

• And it happens repeatedly, allowing for hourly and daily practice

The brilliance of camp programming is that it’s all about navigating the unknown. No weekend workshop or random school field trip can hold a candle to what happens over many days or many weeks at camp.

As one of my favorite psychologists says, “The world teaches your kids to be anxious. Camp teaches them how to deal with it.”

Four friends at Spring Youth Retreat closing circle.