Summer Camp Guides
Practical, no-fluff guides for parents picking summer camps. Written from a parent's perspective, not a camp director's.
Safety & accreditation
1 guideChoosing a camp
4 guidesDay Camp vs. Sleepaway Camp — How to Decide
Two genuinely different experiences, sold the same way. Here's how to figure out which one fits your kid this summer.
How to Choose a Summer Camp for Your Kid
A parent's-eye-view framework for picking a summer camp — start with the basics, filter by interest, check the non-negotiables, and book at the right time.
Questions to Ask Any Summer Camp Before You Enroll
The questions every camp director expects to hear — and the ones that separate well-run programs from sketchy ones. Plus how to read the answers.
Special Needs Camps — What to Look For
Programs that genuinely serve kids with autism, ADHD, learning differences, or medical conditions — and how to spot the ones that don't.
Preparing your kid
2 guidesFirst-Time Sleepaway Camp — How to Prepare Your Kid
The weeks before camp matter as much as the camp itself. Practical prep — sleeping away from home, packing as a team, and the conversation about homesickness.
Summer Camp Packing List, by Age
What to actually pack — and what to leave home — for day, overnight, and specialty camps. Broken out by age band so you're packing for who your kid is now.
Costs & financial aid
2 guidesSummer Camp Scholarships and Financial Aid
Most camps offer financial aid. Most parents don't ask. Here's how to find what's available and apply without it feeling like a college application.
Tax Credits and Dependent Care FSAs for Summer Camp
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit covers day-camp expenses. Dependent Care FSAs let you pay with pre-tax dollars. Here's how to actually use them.