What age for overnight camp?

My now-11 yr old dd (a 6th grader) wants to go to 5 night church camp this summer. She was interested last year but she was too young for this camp.

I am curious at what age did/would you let your daughter go to a 5 night camp? This camp is for 6th-9th graders, making her the youngest there.

She has done many overnights. I don't worry so much about her getting lonely; I worry about her safety. It's our church's camp and I believe it's very well run. Am I being overly protective?

 

My boys may be going to an overnight boyscout camp this summer for a week. They will be just turned 8. I went away to sleepaway camp for 8 weeks for the first time when I was 8. I would say that if she wants to go, she will have a great time!

 

I think it depends upon the child. It sounds like she is ready to go. If you are comfortable with the surroundings of the camp, and supervision, I'm sure she will be fine. I know I started overnight camp myself around 4th grade. I loved it! BUT that was me.

My girls are 9 and one I would gladly send off to camp, and she would have a blast. On the other hand the other won't even stay the night at my sister's, or at a friends. Unfortunately because of this neither has gone, or will go in the near future, because the one who will go, won't with out her sister. She doesn't want her to miss out on any of the fun.

 

My girls went to a week long Girl Scout summer camp three years ago this summer, so they were 9. They loved it, though one did end up coming home early because she got sick. If you feel this is a well-run camp with an organization you trust, I would let them go. Camp is such a great experience for kids. Oh, and when my girls went, they were the youngest as well.

 

I haven't sent one of my kids off to camp since my oldest 2 just turned 8, but I went to a week long church camp when I was in the 6th grade and loved it. I was always pretty independent so my mom wasn't worried, and my cousin who is the same age went with me so I think that made her feel better too. I think if my kids are like I was once they reach 6th grade then I will have no problem letting them go then too.

 

Annie, who was 6 1/2 last summer, went to a 4 day (3 night) Girl Scout camp. She loved it! Will Jo want to go away? Probably not, but since she would be with Annie, maybe.

It just depends on the kid!

 

My boys went to an overnight camp last summer for 2 weeks and absolutely loved it. They were 8 1/2 and going to the 3rd grade - they were in the youngest group there. They are going next summer for 3 weeks, and I hope will have the same positive experience. My oldest daughter went to camp for the first time after 6th grade, and also liked it. I would say, if your daughter wants to go, let her - it's only for 5 nights after all.

 

My oldest DD went to church camp last summer. She was 9. She had a blast. She had a friend who is 2 years older that went.

 

Mine were 6 for a weekend camp but it was small and the leaders were well known to our boys, then 7 for a week long camp but similar situation. For me it would depend on who was leading it, I sent them young because there was someone they knew they could go to if they had trouble. They were fine though, and they're pretty shy guys. They didn't have a great time but that was because they didn't want to participate in the activities, they're too free spirited!