What is Summer Camp Really Like?

Rival bunks, an overzealous counselor, an animated chef.

Depending on which and how many movies you've watched, your idea of summer camp might be a little distorted.

Do kitchen raids happen? I'm sure they've taken place at certain camps. And is a little friendly competition between campers unheard of? Of course not.

But, usually, Hollywood will be Hollywood, and what is seen on screen rarely reflects real life.

So, then, what is summer camp like?

We've been running summer camps since 1999, and more than 750,000 students have attended our programs. During that time, we've heard some crazy stuff and witnessed zany things. We have also pieced together a pretty accurate picture of what summer camp is like.

Here are the five things to expect.

1. The first day might feel like the first day of school (but the jitters fade fast)

It's natural for campers to feel a bit anxious before their first day, just as they would before a new school year or any experience involving unfamiliar faces.

But while the unknown can be intimidating, think about how long that feeling actually lingers. If campers are welcomed by the right person in an upbeat environment, the anxiety might only last a few minutes.

Prep your child to be on the lookout for:

• Smiling faces at drop-off
• Icebreakers and team-building games
• Small-group activities designed to wash away any apprehension

Want to practice at home? Try a few of these icebreaker games for kids and teens.

2. From there, camp is like hanging out with friends who share your interests

One of our favorite pieces of feedback in student evaluations every year is the camper who found "their people" or who says, in some form, how good it feels to be surrounded by other kids and teens with similar interests and goals.

That's a big part of camp, no matter where your child attends. From roommate assignments to lunchtime hangouts and group activities, there are plenty of chances to bond with new friends and build lasting relationships. (More on that below.)

3. Camp is a whole week to dive into one interest

Every student has an interest, from sports to music, coding, video games, and more. Unfortunately for the development of those interests, they also have lives to live: school, after-school activities, homework, family time, and much more.

So, think about giving your kid or teen a week to explore that interest, and that interest alone. They'll have breaks and free time, but the primary goal of any summer camp is to give them the bulk of the day to focus on the activity they chose.

Just like a baseball camp would have kids on the field playing or doing drills all day, a coding camp takes the same approach. And while a sports camp builds toward a very specific skill, a STEM summer program does the same by having campers work toward completing a project in a particular skill area, whether that's an AI app, a game, or a robot.

4. Camp is a week without parents, where kids solve problems on their own

For many kids, summer camp is the first time they spend an extended period away from their parents (under the guidance of camp staff, of course).

Even if you think your kids are relatively independent compared to their friends, the only true way to put them to the test is to give them actual time away from you.

I mean, if mom isn't present, who is going to tell them to brush their teeth? Without dad around, how will they remember to make their bed?

Camp gives kids the chance to figure it all out for themselves, and they're often faced with decisions and tasks tougher than personal hygiene. It's one of the many summer camp benefits and life skills learned at camp.

5. Camp is not like school

Some camps sound a lot like school, with terms like "students," "courses," and "instructors" often used in marketing materials, so there's no denying the similarities.

But any good camp takes the structure of the real world and more or less "breaks" it for a more fulfilling experience. The difference comes down to a few things:

Bonus: camp is a springboard

We've covered some of the main benefits of camp:

• Gaining like-minded friends
• Deep-diving into an area of interest
• Learning in small groups

Put it all together, and summer camp is really a springboard, a stepping stone, or a jumping-off point, however you want to phrase it.

When your child's session ends, that's really just the beginning, if they wish. They don't have to leave behind the relationships they built, or their learnings, both the good and the bad, from a week full of experiences.

Instead, they leave with:

• A network to call on if they ever need help with a project
• Names to get in touch with if they have a business idea to explore
• Connections when they need an "in" at a company they're eyeing for an internship
• A project to call their own that they can take home and keep tinkering with (many of our courses even include take-home hardware)

What is a typical day at summer camp?

I can't speak for other camps, but here's what a day at iD Tech looks like:

Day camp schedule

Overnight camp evenings

Overnight campers follow the same daytime schedule, plus a morning and evening routine:

Want more than a week? Other ways to camp

• Teen Academies: two-week, pre-college programs for ages 13-18 with deeper dives into topics like AI, engineering, game development, and robotics.
• Online camps: shorter time commitments for families who can't make it to a campus.

Nothing beats experiencing the real thing

Regardless of what you hear, read, or think about summer camp, there is nothing like the real thing.

One of the greatest things about summer camp is that each one is unique. Even if your child attends multiple sessions at the same camp during the same summer, they're going to come away with something different.

The most important thing you can do is plan for summer camp early, ask questions when you have them, and send your kids away with open minds.