The Twenty First Century Summer Camps

Summer camps have changed considerably over the last few decades. For those familiar with some of the older horror movies, summer camps usually bring forth images of lakes and forests. However, much has changed in the modern era and summer camps aren’t the same as your father’s.

Nowadays, summer camps have the look and feel of some campuses. In fact, a summer camp does not necessarily have to do with any outdoor activity at all. For example, there are sports summer camps, such as basketball, swimming, tennis. There are also educational summer camps, where children go to learn a new language or get ahead for the following year. There are music summer camps where a student can learn to play the Ibanez electric guitar.

Aside from the type of camp, amenities also vary. Many camps now being offered are day camps. Here the attendee travels to the camp daily either via camp provided transportation or other means. Other types of camps still offer all inclusive services and many parents need to feel secure that proper health care facilities are available. However, given the technological advance, the sense of abandonment associated with dropping one’s kids off at camp is not as severe. A simple cell phone call or text message usually alleviates many concerns.

Packing for summer camps has also become easier. Long gone are the days of packing separate bags for clothes and books. With products, such as the kindle reader, the camper can have access to all the books he or she will have time to read on one screen. This makes traveling much less cumbersome. However, electrical outlets can become a scarce commodity at times.

Many summer camps, especially the high end ones, offer fully medical and even spa-like services. This is very convenient for most parents, because they don’t have to worry if their child get sick, has an injury, or has any other specific medical requirements. For example, diabetic children can have their insulin shots administered to them by a professional. Other services can also range from a simple acne peel to full makeovers and even weight loss treatments.

Many parents and children are often attracted to camps based on the sporting activities. Single sport camps are for the hard core kids who want to focus on one sport. This can become rather taxing for the average camp go-er who simply wants to have some fun. Swimming laps on a daily basis can become boring after a while.

Suffice it to say, that summer camps have changed over the decades. The programs offered by many camps have also changed. There are camps that cater to almost any interest or curiosity that children may have. Furthermore, technological advancements have helped enhance the overall summer camp experience.