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Yes! We know sending your child away to camp or off to a summer program is a big financial commitment. That’s why we provide our service at no cost to you. This way, you can put your money towards giving your child the gift of summer. 

If you pick a camp or program recommended by Summer 365, we receive a commission from that camp or program after your child attends. There is never an obligation once you receive information. Working with us will not affect your tuition, and our recommendations are never influenced by commissions. 

Our Summer 365 Advisors take pride in detailed research and time spent getting to know each camp and program in our network. To ensure our service remains free, remember to call us before contacting any camps and programs!

Absolutely. Let’s grab a cup of coffee or tea sometime. 

Not a local? We’ll schedule a video conference with you via Google Chat or Skype. We’re happy to work according to your schedule. After all, getting to know our clients is really important to us—it’s one of the things we love most.

Good choice. We’ll make this process easy and fun—just give us a call or submit a contact form online. We’ll begin with a phone consultation and get the ball rolling. And once that ball is rolling, we don’t stop it until we help select the best, personalized summer experience for your kid.

Each summer we lace up our hiking boots and travel the country—visiting our Summer 365 network of sleepaway camps and programs. We get a first-hand look at their activities, their facilities, unique features, and what’s new. We love visiting the directors and seeing the camps and programs in action.

With a range of costs available, camp is certainly a financial investment. Every client’s budget is different, and we ensure every detail is taken into consideration. Many camps are willing to work with families when it comes to their financial situation. 

On average, camp can cost $1,800-$2,000 per week. Tuition can vary based on location, session length, and the type of camp. We’re here to help you understand the value of that tuition.

The most common entry point for sleepaway camp is after 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade. But, the good news is that you can start sleepaway camp at any age! If your child happens to be older, don’t let that stop you.

Most sleepaway camps are geared towards children ages 7-16, and because every child is different, we’ll help place or switch a child/teen at whatever age and camp suits them best taking their age into consideration. 

Readiness is an evasive target that does not come with a definitive check list! An important mantra we like to share is that readiness is a goal to work towards and not a destination to arrive at. Check out what Dr. Becky at Good Inside, our parenting guru, shared with us to help families think about overnight camp readiness! 

We work with each family to determine their most important criteria. Beyond getting to know each child and family, there are a few important factors we like to review with each client: 

  • Coed vs. single gender
  • Uniform vs. non-uniform 
  • Program and activities e.g. structured vs. elective programming
  • Location e.g. close driving distance vs. farther drives or planes 
  • Session options e.g. full session vs. flexible sessions vs short session
  • Demographic
  • Facilities and amenities
  • Budget

We know that which factors are considered “important” will vary client to client. And, should you choose to work with us, we’ll guide you on what session length is best for your child.

There are incredible camps all over the country. Each geographic region brings something special and unique to the table. We have visited camps far and wide and can share true insight into some of these differences and defining characteristics.

If it’s possible to visit while it is in session during the summer—absolutely! Visiting camp adds tremendous value for first time campers (and parents who never went to camp or haven’t stepped foot in a camp in quite awhile). It gives you the opportunity to get a lay of the land, feel the unique energy and vibe of the camp, meet Directors and the leadership team in person. It helps children take the conceptual idea of camp to a more tangible understanding of what it’s all about. Sometimes the magic of camp has to be seen (and felt) to be believed. If you can tour in person, you’ll get to SEE campers in action playing sports, creating art, and cultivating friendships; HEAR the cheers and laughter; SMELL the symphony of campfire, sunscreen, and warm chocolate chip cookie aromas; and TASTE the camp food your child will eat. And, to all former campers—the food’s come a long way from what it used to be! Additionally, we help Summer 365 clients plan and schedule their tours including how many to see, when to see them, and an efficient itinerary! 

With that said, if you are unable to do so, worry not! There are so many amazing resources to help you make an educated and informed decision. We set all clients up for success with a game plan whether they visit camps or not! 

For sleepaway camps, we suggest starting around a year in advance, that way, you have the chance to tour a camp that’s in full summer swing! With that said, we whether you are starting half a year or few months before summer starts we will work with you to find the best options and fit no matter the time of year or when you begin! 

Most families look at overnight summer programs for their teens start in the fall or winter proceeding that summer! The fall is when most companies will release their trip/program dates and itineraries. 

We work with families all over the United States—and the world! Each year we typically welcome families from over half the states and about a dozen countries! 

They can! Camps have come a long way in dealing with food allergies including peanut, tree nut, seeds, egg, dairy, soy, and gluten / celiac.  Many camps are proficient in handling allergies with strategic protocols and staff members dedicated to ensuring their campers food needs are safely met. We have helped find camps for children with complicated allergy profiles or who are doing OIT to find a camp that can accommodate their needs and is a mutual good fit for the family and camp. That being said, it’s still important that you have a conversation with your camp owners/managers regarding your child’s needs—that way they are well-equipped to handle all situations and concerns.

Yes! We believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to have a safe, welcoming, inclusive and affirming summer camp experience. We’re here to help navigate the search process to find the one that best fits your child and family.

As you start this process you will undoubtedly get thoughts, feedback and recommendations from family, friends, acquaintances, and perfect strangers. That’s awesome and it’s a good idea… and inevitable! What’s better than someone helping you out in this tough process with their personal experience. Keep in mind, what works for one family or child might not work for you. Pow wow with us, we are here to provide unbiased opinions. 

It’s impossible not to look online and google as much as possible! However with the review sites – there isn’t a zagat or yelp of the camp world that exists. We find the sites that are available like Camp Ratingz are not well managed or maintained with mostly old reviews even if a few are recent. So of course, as with all review sites, you’ll find the most positive and the most negative and often the negative are disgruntled counselors and older campers who need a forum to vent. Our recommendation is take what’s on there with a grain of salt if you do end up browsing around. For a better alternative, we recommend getting references from Summer 365 or directly from the camps or programs themselves, who will gladly connect you with current camp families who will authentically share feedback!