Are summer camps worth it?

If you’ve ever opened a camp brochure, done the mental math, and thought, “Is this seriously worth it?” you’re not alone.

Between rising prices, complicated schedules, and the pressure to give kids a “perfect” summer, a lot of parents are quietly searching “Are summer camps worth it?” on their phones and hoping for a clear answer.

Short version: yes, camps can absolutely be worth it, but not every camp, not for every kid, and not for every week. Let’s walk through the real pros and cons, what this looks like in NYC, Boston/New England, and the Twin Cities, and how to be strategic instead of overwhelmed.

And at the end, we’ll share how our upcoming MomBrains Camp Finder aims to make this whole process way easier this upcoming year.

Why Parents Even Ask: “Are Summer Camps Worth It?”

Summer camps can be:

Expensive (especially in big metros)
Logistically complicated (buses, drop-off, pickup, half days)
Intimidating if you didn’t grow up going to camp yourself

And yet, camps promise:

Social skills
Independence
Screen-free time
New interests
A safe place while you work

So…are they delivering?

The Upside: Benefits of Summer Camps for Kids

Across research and real parent stories, a few consistent benefits of summer camp keep showing up:

1. Social skills and confidence

At camp, kids get to practice making new friends, navigating group dynamics, and taking small risks (trying new activities, being away from home).

This is especially helpful for:

Kids who struggle socially at school
Only children
Kids switching schools or moving up to middle school

2. Independence and resilience

Even short day camps teach kids to:

Keep track of their stuff
Follow a schedule without you
Work with new adults and peers
Handle nerves, homesickness, or “this is new and weird”

These are huge life skills that are hard to practice in the comfort of home!

3. Mental health & movement

Camp offers physical activity (running, swimming, hiking, games), breaks from screens, and structure without constant academics, which can get overwhelming.

For many kids, especially those who find unstructured summers hard, camp is a regulating force: predictable routine + fun = fewer meltdowns and less “bored and bouncing off the walls.”

4. Exposure to new interests

Camps let kids test-drive:

Art, dance, theater, music
Coding, robotics, science
Farm life, horses, wilderness skills
Sports they won’t see in gym class
Language in an immersive way

Instead of signing up for a full-year commitment, they try a one-week “mini life.”

The Downside: Real Cons You Should Consider

Camps aren’t magic. There are tradeoffs.

1. Cost (the big one)

In many parts of the U.S., especially big cities, day camps can run from a few hundred dollars to $800+ per week, and overnight camps can easily hit $1,000+ per week.

Multiply by multiple kids + multiple weeks, and it’s… a lot to fit into your normal family budget.

2. Kids can get burnt out

If every week is racing from early departure to long commute and maximizing full, high-energy days, some kids will end the summer exhausted instead of refreshed. Watch for:

Constant complaining
Meltdowns at drop-off
Sleep problems

3. Not every camp is well-run

Reality check: there’s a spectrum. Some camps are thoughtful, safe, and well-staffed. Others are disorganized, understaffed, or unclear on behavior and safety policies.

That’s part of why finding trusted reviews and real parent notes matters so much (and thank goodness you can turn to MomBrains for that).

What This Looks Like in Different Regions

New York City

NYC parents face high prices, limited space, and intense demand (things fill fast).

Common options:

City programs (Parks Dept, DOE programs, YMCAs, JCCs): more affordable, but competitive.
Private camps (Chelsea Piers, dance studios, specialty STEM camps): amazing facilities, usually at a higher price.
“Bus to the country” camps: kids bus out of the city for lakes, woods, traditional camp.

For NYC families, camps are often very worth it for:

Outdoor time
Safe full-day coverage while parents work
Social time beyond small apartments

But picking a few great weeks, not wall-to-wall camp all summer, helps balance cost and burnout.

Boston/New England

Greater Boston & New England have:

Strong day camp ecosystems (YMCAs, town recs, independent schools)
Many nature and farm camps (Mass Audubon, local farms, stables)
Easy access to overnight camps in MA, NH, ME, VT

For Boston-area families, camps can be a way to get kids outside and away from screens with a taste of classic “New England summer” (ponds, forests, boats), acting as a safe bridge between school years while parents work.

Here, the “worth it” often comes down to finding camps that match your child’s personality (nature vs. sports vs. arts) and your town’s logistics (how far, which weeks).

Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul)

Twin Cities parents have:

Strong parks & rec offerings
Y of the North camps (day and overnight)
Nature-based programs (Three Rivers Park District, local nature centers)
Many community-ed and school-based programs

Camps in MSP can be a big win for getting kids outside in the short, precious summers, offering structure for neurodivergent kids who struggle with unstructured breaks, and giving working parents steady coverage.

Here, camps are often worth it when you:

Mix a few weeks of full-day camp with quieter home weeks
Use community-based/parks programs to balance cost with enrichment

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Pros

Kids build social skills, confidence, and independence
Reliable daytime coverage for working parents
Exposure to new passions (sports, arts, STEM, nature)
Less screen time, more movement, and fresh air (especially outdoorsy camps)
A smoother transition between school years

Cons

Too expensive for what your child actually gets out of it
Poorly run, disorganized, or understaffed programs
Overloaded schedule → an exhausted, miserable kid
Commute logistics make everyone stressed
You feel pressure to fill every week “because everyone else is”

So…Are Summer Camps Worth It?

Yes, if you do them intentionally.

Camps are worth it when:

You choose programs that match your child, not someone else’s social media
You don’t overschedule (it’s okay to have chill home weeks!)
You treat camp as a tool, not a trophy; a way to give your child growth, fun, and safe supervision, not as proof you’re a good parent

They’re less worth it when:

You’re signing up out of guilt or panic
You can’t really afford it, and it’s causing financial stress
Your child is clearly telling you with their behavior that they’re done

How MomBrains Is Helping (Camp Finder)

Part of the reason camps feel hit-or-miss is that they’re hard to research well. Info is scattered, reviews are word-of-mouth, and you just don’t know what you don’t know.

That’s why we’re building the MomBrains Camp Finder, launching in January 2026!

Our goals:

Let you search by age, location, dates, price, schedule, vibe
Show big camps and hidden gems (nature centers, farms, art studios, local rec programs)
Include real parent notes and reviews, not just marketing blurbs
Help you compare and plan your summer with fewer tabs and less guesswork

We can’t make camp free (we wish!), but we can make it easier to find the right ones—the camps that are worth it for your child and your family.

Final Thought for Busy Parents

You don’t need a “perfect” summer. You don’t need every week booked. You just need a few good, well-chosen experiences where your kid is safe, cared for, and growing in ways they can’t always get from school or home.

If camp can give you that (and give you a little breathing room, too), then yes, camp is worth it.