Bound for Camp

Each summer, more and more families from outside the United States send their children to sleepaway camps here. It isn’t just about keeping kids busy during school holidays. For many, it’s a chance to give them an adventure that feels different from anything they can find at home.

The first thing that stands out is the setting. Camps are often in places that feel far removed from daily life: tucked into forests, beside quiet lakes, or surrounded by rolling hills. For children arriving from bustling cities or countries where the school year leaves little time for outdoor play, the experience can be both surprising and refreshing. They wake up in wooden cabins, spend their days trying new activities, and end their evenings under open skies. By the time they head home, they’ve had a taste of that classic American summer that many of us grew up watching in movies.

What makes the experience even richer is the mix of people. American sleepaway camps are famously diverse, and children who come from overseas quickly find themselves surrounded by peers from different backgrounds. It doesn’t take long for conversations at the lunch table or whispered talks before bed to turn into genuine friendships. For international families, this is often one of the most valuable parts of camp – kids practice their English naturally and come home with connections that reach across borders.

The independence that comes with being away from home is another part parents notice immediately. Children learn to manage themselves in a way they might not at home, from keeping track of their belongings to making choices about how they spend their time. For many, it’s the first real step into feeling grown-up, and parents are often surprised by how much confidence their children bring back with them.

Of course, there’s also the fun of it all. The traditions, the campfires, the team competitions, the endless laughter – it all becomes part of the story kids carry home. Families tell us that their children come back talking not only about the activities but also about the small, in-between moments: a counselor teaching them how to paddle a canoe, a cabinmate sharing snacks from another country, or the thrill of singing along with everyone else on the last night of camp.

For international families, sending a child to a U.S. sleepaway camp is about more than filling a summer break. It’s a way of giving them a different kind of education – one that happens outside the classroom and lasts far longer than the camp itself. That’s why so many parents are willing to send their children across the world for just a few weeks. Because what they return with – confidence, friendships, and memories that don’t fade – feels worth every mile.

At Bound for Kids, we love helping families discover camps that are the right fit. Every child’s summer should be an adventure, and sleepaway camps in the U.S. continue to be one of the most rewarding ways to make that happen.