September 18, 2025
Overnight Camp...The Value Behind the Experience (and Why It’s Worth It)
Ben Moss
We are living in a time of choice
Parents today have an abundance of options. Trying to ensure their kids have the best possible opportunities, experiences and achievement scan be an overwhelming task. Between school, athletics, extracurricular activities–not to mention work and family obligations—today’s families have A LOT going on. Summer schedules are no different and can be filled with camps, museum memberships, sports leagues, family vacations, and even increased screen time. Investment in time, energy and money is high. When the cost of overnight camp comes into play, it’s fair to ask: Should I spend the money when I can keep my child entertained closer to home, for less?
This is a valid question, but truthfully, overnight camp isn’t about just keeping kids busy. It’s about growing and developing them to be the best version of themselves.
The Impact of Independence
Overnight camp offers something the comforts of home or day camp can’t. Overnight camp provides safe, supported freedom to practice independence. From making their own bed in the morning, to establishing a routine and choosing their own activities, campers have license in the direction of their day and their decisions. This kind of self-reliance is impactful and tough to explore at home.
A Screen-Free Break
Let’s face it: most kids (and adults alike) are over connected. Overnight camp offers a rare and powerful digital detox, without feeling like punishment. Instead of dopamine fixes from likes or levels, they get it from belly laughs, shared stories, and late-night campfire moments. In the fresh air, with no phones in hand, kids reconnect with nature, with each other, and with themselves.
Social Skills Beyond the Summer
At overnight camp, kids meet people outside their immediate circle, from different areas, backgrounds, personalities, and interests. They learn to compromise with bunk mates, share responsibility, and support each other through homesickness, camp challenges, and new activities. It’s not always smooth sailing, but that’s the point. Camp teaches empathy, adaptability, and real social resilience–the kind that no rec center or classroom can replicate.
Confidence Personally Earned
Whether it’s learning to ride a horse, shooting a bullseye, climbing a rock wall, or simply speaking up during a campfire, camp encourages kids to try new things in a supportive setting. When they do, they feel the kind of earned confidence that doesn’t come from praise, but from perseverance. That sense of “I did that!” is powerful, and it sticks far beyond the summer.
Lifelong Friendships and a Place That Feels Their Own
Camp friendships run deep. When kids share a bunk, are on a team, or choreograph a talent show performance, they build bonds rooted in shared experience. And those friendships often outlast the summer for years and years to come. Camp becomes a second home–a place where they feel seen, included, and understood.
Is it Worth the Expense?
The answer depends on what you are looking for. If you want to give your child an opportunity for independence, confidence, connection, growth, then overnight camp isn’t just worth it, it’s a transformational investment. It’s not about paying for childcare. It’s about giving your child an invaluable experience that will shape who they become. Because some things, like wide open spaces, trusted mentors, new friendships, and life lessons around a campfire–are priceless.
