Family summer camps

Family camps offer many of the same features as traditional camps. Counsellors engage children in a range of structured activities; other programs are geared to adults. Time is also set aside for parents and their children to participate in activities with other families.

Camps for the whole family

Family camp can still seem like a novel concept, though it’s been around longer than you might think. YMCA Camp Wanakita, for example, has been offering weekly sessions at the end of the summer for more than 30 years. For the past decade plus they’ve expanded the program, and it remains a great example of many of the unique experiences that family camp can offer.

At its simplest, this is the idea: entire families attend camp together, and typically stay within their own cabin. During the day the kids go off and do the kids programming, and the parents go off and do theirs. If they would like to take part in activities together, that’s an option too, but the bottom line is that everyone shares in the experience of a week or two away, and otherwise have a great time doing the things they most want to do. All of the typical activities are on offer, from canoeing to the arts. 

Family values are also boosted at Christian summer camp, closely related to family camps. These camps are a safe bet for parents who want their kids to have fun in a camp environment where their values will be supported.

The benefits

A great feature of many family camps is that families tend to return year after year, going back to the same session. As such, a culture begins to form, with each session taking on it’s own character. And while the families that attend might only see each other for that week of the year, the depth of the friendships that form can be the best benefit of all.

While it’s maybe not the first thing that people think of when they consider summer camp, the concept is growing by leaps and bounds. And rightly so, it’s a great way to spend time together. It’s like a cottage experience, but with friends, and meal prep taken care of, and counsellors to keep the kids busy and active. Win, win, win.