Apr 24, 2025
Lauren Rowello of New Jersey has also given the gift of summer camp to her niece and nephew. “I've paid for their camps a few times, but I suppose that started when they were maybe three and six,” she says. “My youngest kid was attending the day camp that they ended up going to as well which is what gave me the idea to offer it.” She also adds, “They really enjoyed going, which made me feel really good about paying for it.” Besides gifting summer camp to family members, she says, “I've quietly paid for others sometimes too.” When she says quietly, she means that the recipient didn’t know she was gifting them summer camp.
Ways to give the gift of summer camp
American Camp Association suggests creating a summer camp gift certificate and either attaching it to a flashlight or putting in a gift box. They have printable gift certificates online that you can use. The website says, “No matter how it's delivered, imagine the delight when the gift is opened, and the child discovers that camp is in his or her future.”
You can give the gift of camp to someone you don’t know
Many camps, like YMCA camps, offer a program that allows you to pay for a child’s summer camp as a gift, as Rowello did. “I was a single, teen parent and struggled financially in the past, living in some pretty deep poverty when my oldest was really young,” she says. “So I know what it's like to not have that kind of support for my own family and how much I would have appreciated and benefited from it personally. So now when I know of a need that I think we can comfortably address, we just do that.”
Rowello also says that if she knows of a parent who needs help but might not want a hand out she will pay for their kid’s camp without them knowing she paid for it. “I just let them know that I know a free spot is available and coordinate with the camp director so the parents don't know where the scholarship came from,” she says.
The Pittsburgh YMCA offers a program that funds summer camps for kids. Their website says, “Last year our YMCA provided more than $220,000 in scholarships for children from our region who desperately need everything that the camp provides.” If you would like to gift summer camp to a child you can contact your local camps and ask about making a donation.
What can kids gain from a summer camp experience?
American Camp Association conducted research using over 80 camps and family feedback to determine what kids learned while they are at summer camp. They found they learned many different skills and character traits such as:
Learning new skills: Most camps offer activities such as swimming, archery or art. Kids can learn skills like how to swim that often are not taught in school. These skills can be beneficial for developing confidence and possibly a future career. My kids went to surf camp and learned how to surf. When they were able to stand on the surfboard without falling over and ride the wave they felt an enormous sense of accomplishment. Foster agrees and says, “It gives my kids a chance to try new things. Sometimes it's hard for them to commit to lessons or practices for a year, a season or even a 10-week session. But I feel like one week of something new is doable.”
Independence: If your child goes to day camp or sleep-away camp they develop a sense of independence and self-sufficiency from being away from home. They often need to keep track of their belongings such as their bathing suit, lunch, towel, and backpack as they transition to different activities.
Inclusion: When your kid goes to camp often they are there with kids from different races, ethnicities and physical capabilities. These differences can help children to learn about different cultures and be more inclusive of people from various backgrounds.
Friendship skills: When kids go to camp they are often in social situations with kids that they might not know, which require teamwork. This helps them to not only learn how to develop friendships but also how to navigate conflicts in social situations. Often camps offer team sports that teach kids about sportsmanship and working together for a common goal. Rowello says that her niece has trouble making friends, but was able to at camp. “She has a hard time maintaining friendships, but at that camp, she met a friend whom she still loves and spends a lot of solid time with even a few years later.” She also adds, “My nephew just loved being outside and getting messy and playing with other little ones.”
Leadership: Since camps offer a lot of team activities such as sports it allows kids the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. They can also provide a leadership role to younger campers.
Cheryl Maguire is a mom and freelance writer and has been published in the Washington Post, Parents magazine and many other publications.
