Summer Camps: Then and Now

As KC Parent celebrates its 30^th birthday, we take a look back at how summer camp has changed since 1985.

Diversification

Then:

Summer camp in the 1980s often meant canoeing, hiking, swimming and singing songs around a campfire.

Now:

Camps are more diverse than ever. Kids can attend camps devoted to sports, performing arts, science, technology, nature, religion, arts and crafts, community service, special needs and much, much more.

Length

Then:

Back in the day, camps often lasted a minimum of one week and sometimes the entire summer.

Now:

So many options! Day camps, overnights, weekends, week-long and, yes, even a month or more.

Communication between parents and kids

Then:

Parents sent their kids to camp, wrote letters during the few weeks they might be there and saw them once during family visiting day.

Now:

In addition to snail mail, many camps allow parents and kids to communicate through email, phone and text, and organizers often post daily photos and videos online so parents can see what their kids are doing.

Location

Then:

Camps were typically away from cities, on a property designed solely for camp programs.

Now:

Kids don’t have to travel far to attend summer camp. Programs are located in nearly every city in the metro area. Local museums, theaters, parks departments, nature centers, churches, schools and more offer countless opportunities.

Goals

Then:

While camps did have some educational value, such as learning new skills, the focus was often on having fun and making new friends.

Now:

Studies show that kids lose months of reading and math skills over the summer, and camps have responded by becoming more academic-based. Fun and friendship are still emphasized, of course.

Publicity

Then:

Parents usually heard about camps through word of mouth, brochures and newspaper/magazine ads.

Now:

Entire websites are devoted to helping you find the right camp for your child (ACACamps.org, SummerCamp.com, and FindASummerCamp.com are just a few). KC Parent also has a complete listing of local camps in this issue and online .

Structure

Then:

Programs were often fairly structured, with a set schedule and little in the way of electives.

Now:

Today’s kids want to be challenged and stimulated, so campers often can make their own adventures by choosing which classes to take within a camp.

Menu

Then:

Typical camp food was usually served. Hot dogs, burgers, chips and sodas were common on the menu.

Now:

The focus is on healthier fare, with fruits, veggies and salad bars commonplace. Also, campers will find special accommodations for various food allergies.

Tisha Foley lives in Belton with her family. Her daughter has enjoyed church camp and Girl Scout camp. Her son is just getting to the age where he can attend camp.