What Should Parents Invest In?
Every year when the calendar hits August, stores begin their promotions and parents flock to back-to-school sections as they prepare for the new school year.
Kids fall over from the binders, pencils, folders and notebooks all purchased from their school district’s shopping list as parents add odd items they think might come in handy.
This is an annual tradition going back decades, but what about when schools let out and kids get excited to ditch the books and head off the summer camp?
That time of the year is a core component of many children’s summer experiences, and for some summer camps, like outdoor adventure camps, there’s just as big of a list to prepare for outdoor fun as there is for school in the fall.
Grabbing Gear
When it comes to adventure camps, there’s a rough standard for essentials that kids are expected to bring with them as they dive deep into nature.
According to the American Camp Association (ACA), kids are typically expected to bring clothes that can get dirty and wet, closed-toed tennis shoes, head coverings, boots, long pants, a jacket, a swimsuit, towels, reusable water bottles, insect repellant, sunscreen, a duffel bag, a sleeping bag and more to prepare for all the situations they can face while at camp.
Depending on what specific activities are being offered, other camps may require hiking boots, inexpensive backpacks to carry personal items, flashlights, headlamps and warm clothing.
Investing Long Term
If your child has already enjoyed the adventure camp experience once and has plans to go back again—or wants to go on outdoor adventures outside of camp—it might be time for parents to think about investing in some items for repeated use.
A durable water bottle and a water filter is a great start, as those items are typically required for more intensive adventure camps, and you can get some great use out of them on family camping trips as well.
Single-person tents are great for older kids who want to have some independence while camping, and they can save them from the need to share a tent with other kids during camp.
A sleeping bag is another item to consider, as it’s a requirement for outdoor adventure camps, and a good sleeping bag can get years of use providing shelter from bugs and the elements.
A good hiking backpack is another solid investment for a young outdoor explorer, as it can last them years, and these backpacks are fitted to more evenly distribute weight on the back to make hikes easier on the body. They also provide utility from various pockets and pouches.
The ACA has a resource guide online where parents can find items for their kids directly from suppliers, which includes camper gear, accessories, backpacks, sports apparel and more.
Managing the Budget
Outdoor adventure camps are far from cheap, with the cost of sending a child to camp for a week at least several hundred dollars before any outside purchases.
It’s important to note that many camps include all activities, food and transportation in their cost, but be sure to check if there are extra fees for equipment or travel, as this can vary by camp.
Some camps also offer financial aid based on need, which can open up access to these camps for more children.
But the cost of gear is another factor that can leave families out hundreds of dollars and wondering where they can find quality gear that’s affordable.
Everything Summer Camp is one possible resource recommended by the ACA online. It has sleeping bags, cheap camping cookware, backpacks, chairs and more.
Some of these items will be a bit more expensive than what you might find at Walmart or Amazon but could be worth looking into for long-term use, as some of the products are designed for harsher camping conditions.
A good sleeping bag and hiking bag can cost anywhere from $50-$200 each, while cheaper ones are typically under $50. Water bottles can fall between $20-$50 as well, and quality rain gear can cost around $200 for a full set: pants, boots and a jacket.
To help, check and see if relatives or friends have any old, unused gear that they’re willing to donate to cut down on costs.
Overnight Adventure Camps
There are plenty of adventure camps along the East Coast that offer experiences in the woods hiking mountains or spending time by the water. Here are a few to explore.
Calleva
Located in McLean, Virginia, there’s an adventure for campers looking to explore the woods with several programs that include VA Camper vs. Wild Camp, where kids learn shelter and fire building, rappelling and stone tool making with a camp-out night that brings those skills together.
Another featured program is the High Adventure camp, where teens camp out in the Potomac, Maryland, region and travel daily to adventures across the region ranging from canoeing and climbing to caving, hiking and backpacking.
Echo Hill Camp
A more traditional sleepaway summer camp in Worton, Maryland, Echo Hill has a wild side, as it’s located on a 350-acre farm near the Chesapeake Bay, making it perfect for canoeing and mucking about in the swamp, hiking through the woods and across the beaches, an adventure course, fishing, crabbing and sailing.
Campers live in large open-air platform tents, and the facilities are set up to offer outdoor access and stargazing potential for kids to unplug and connect with each other and nature.
Virginia Outside
A camp with a variety of adventure options located in Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Outside includes adventure fishing, mountain biking, tubing, paddling, rock climbing and more.
Fishing is one of the camp’s feature programs that’s been running for more than 15 years at its facility right by the James River. Kids can learn how to fish, what to know about Virginia’s natural waterways and how to be more independent.
The camp also has programs for younger kids to go on nature hikes, play outdoor games, learn about various outdoor safety topics and more.
