Summer camp,
decoded.
Honest, practical guides for the questions every parent ends up Googling at 11pm. New guides published throughout the season.
How much do summer camps cost in 2026?
Day camps, sleepaway, and specialty — what to actually budget per week.
6 min read →What age should my kid start summer camp?
Day vs. sleepaway, by age — what most kids are ready for, and when.
5 min read →Day camp vs. sleepaway camp: which is right?
Cost, independence, logistics — a calm side-by-side.
5 min read →How to choose a summer camp (a parent's checklist)
The 8 questions that actually matter — before you put down a deposit.
7 min read →Summer camp packing checklist
Day camp and sleepaway packing lists, plus what to skip.
4 min read →Summer camps for anxious or shy kids
Small groups, predictable rhythm, and one warm adult matter more than the activity list.
5 min read →First sleepaway camp: a parent's playbook
Start short, pick familiar, and don't make the pickup promise you'll regret.
6 min read →Good summer camps under $400 a week
The good cheap camps exist. They just don't advertise on Instagram.
5 min read →STEM summer camps for genuinely curious kids
Avoid the camps where kids watch a tutorial and call it coding.
5 min read →Summer camps for teens (that teens will actually go to)
By 13, the camp has to give them something — agency, a skill, or a paycheck.
5 min read →Half-day summer camps for younger kids (4–7)
For most 4–7 year-olds, half-day is the better camp — and the better deal.
4 min read →Outdoor and nature summer camps worth driving to
If the kids aren't muddy by Wednesday, it isn't an outdoor camp.
4 min read →