1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Family Vacations

Great Outdoors

By Teresa Plowright, About.com

2 of 10

Family Summer Camps

photo courtesy of Medomak Family Camp.

We tend to think of "summer camps" as places where kids go "off to camp"; but there's a second type, that welcomes the whole family.

You get the Great Outdoors with all logistics handled, lodgings, meals, daily activities, campfires under the stars... Price can be as low as under $1000 for a week, for a family of four, with meals!

Family summer camps typically have beautiful settings, simple lodgings such as cabins or tent-cabins, meals probably in a dining hall), and many outdoors and other activities.

In fact, activities push the bounds of the imagination: stilt-walking, gourd-painting, night-time flashlight tag... Adults, meanwhile, might get beer-tasting, art gallery trips, massages; who'd predict that, at family camp? Some family summer camps have a special focus, such as the performing arts.

A few examples:

  • Cazadero Performing Arts Camp - In a redwood grove in the Sonoma area of California: art, drama, dance, drums, rock band, salsa, and lots more; each camper can choose up to four classes per day; childcare for ages 1- 1/2 to 5 years old. Stay in tent-cabins, or dorms for 2 or 3 people; or camp.
Medomak Family Camp, Maine- 250 acres; cabins with bathrooms and shower; lots of activities for different ages, including swimming, sculling, etc. on the lake; adult outings such as cheese tastings.

Next Great Outdoors idea -Yellowstone's Lodging & Learning Programs

Explore Family Vacations
About.com Special Features

Find travel inspiration and get the best tips and reviews for your next getaway. More >

The best times to visit East and Southern Africa. More >

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Family Vacations
  4. More Great Places to Go
  5. Great Outdoors
  6. Family Summer Camps

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.