From Teresa Plowright,
Your Guide to Family Vacations.
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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.

• Read more about Family Summer Camps

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