Tip
Day Sports Camps vs. Overnight Sports Camps: Which is Best for Your Child?
Is your child interested in a sports camp this summer?
Summer sports camp can be an awesome experience for young athletes. Camp is an opportunity to deepen their skills, spend all day playing a sport they love, and build friendships with other athletes who share their passion.
Your child will get the most out of their experience if they choose the right sports camp for them.
When narrowing down your decision, one of the biggest choices is: day camp or overnight camp? Here are a few things to keep in mind to pick the best option for your family and your child.
Day camp or sleepaway camp: a few considerations
Age and experience
There is no magic age when children are all automatically ready for overnight camp. Our youngest sleepaway campers are eight, but the “perfect age” is different for every camper!
Some children are naturally more cautious and reluctant to spend time away from home. Others start begging to be taken to camp as soon as they learn what it is. (Sometimes, kids on both sides of this spectrum even live in the same household!)
For many young people, one of the best signs they’re ready for a sleepaway camp is simply expressing interest in the experience. Another signal to look for is that they’re comfortable speaking up when they need something. Finally, previous positive experiences away from home overnight—such as at a relative’s or a sleepover at a friend’s—mean they’ll likely do well at sleepaway camp, too.
One thing to note is that some young athletes may not ever be interested in overnight camps. This is totally fine! Day camps can be a rich and positive experience too.
Check out this post for more tips on gauging your camper’s readiness.
Budget, logistics, and schedules
Camp can be a fun, memorable, and even transformative experience for your young athlete. But first, it has to work for your family on a practical level. That means the budget, logistics, and camp schedule all align with your family’s needs.
When it comes to budgeting, overnight camps can be pricier than day camps or clinics, so you’ll need to take a look at rates and figure out what works best for your family. One important tip: be sure to keep childcare costs in mind when you’re running your numbers! Skipping a week of sitter payments while kids are at camp can help offset camp fees.
Logistics are another practical consideration when choosing a camp. This is especially important where day camps are concerned. Pick-ups and drop-offs over several days can become a hassle if the camp isn’t in a convenient location, or if the schedule doesn’t work with your other commitments. If you know other families sending their kids to the same camp, a carpool can be a great option.
Finally, make sure whichever camp you choose works for your family’s schedule. Does your child have any training commitments with their team in the summer? Ideally, summer will include a good mixture of restorative downtime and structured activity, so try to keep this balance in mind.
And if there is some overlap between team commitments and camp dates, talk to your child’s coach. They might be more flexible than you think and even appreciate the extra training your child gets at camp.
Your camper’s goals (and yours!)
Finally, when deciding between a day camp and overnight camp, you’ll want to ask your child about their goals for attending camp. What do they want to get out of the experience? Likewise, think about what you’re looking for in a camp.
Whether it’s a day camp or an overnight sports camp, your young athlete will get to build their skills, make new friends, and spend lots of time playing their sport.
But if they’re looking to grow their independence and challenge themselves in a new environment, an overnight camp might be the best option. As researcher and bestselling author Dr. Tina Payne Bryson puts it, “bunks are good for brains,” with the many novel experiences overnight camps provide actually stimulating brain development and helping children grow their communication, empathy, and self-regulation skills.
Making the decision
Still not sure whether to send your child to day camp or overnight camp?
The good news is that whichever option you choose, it’s very likely that your young athlete will have a great time making friends, staying active, and playing a sport they love.
Ready to look at available camps? Search for sports camps near you.