What is Summer Camp?
Just picture it: horseback riding, rock climbing, and sailing all in the same day. Staying up late telling ghost stories with campers by the campfire. Hiking to a private lake nestled in the woods.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of kids ages five to 17 attend summer camp at the thousands of camps located in rural areas across the U.S. The specific activities may vary from camp to camp, but an atmosphere of fun, friendship, and discovery stays the same. Whether the campers attend for one week or eight, campers and staff alike have the chance to try new activities each day, learn important skills individually and as a group, and make friendships that last a lifetime.
Types of Summer Camp
The majority of CIEE placements are in traditional camps—which can be co-ed or serve only female or male campers—where many different activities are offered, from arts and crafts to archery. For many families, it’s a long-held tradition for children to attend the same summer camp their siblings, parents, or even grandparents did when they were young, creating a unique and close community atmosphere.
Specialized camps can take many forms, but are most often associated with a specific organization or religion, such as the Girl Scouts or the Jewish faith, or can be focused on serving campers with a variety of special needs like physical or mental disabilities.