The weather outside may be frightful right now, but it’s never too early to start thinking about summer sleepaway camps.
Which camps to choose depends on individual interests. Some overnight camps focus on activities like watersports or wilderness exploration, while others offer a more traditional all-around experience.
One of the most popular local experiences is Camp Lutherlyn in Prospect, roughly 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. Newsweek voted it one of the Best Summer Camps for 2023 for good reason.
For the last 75 years, the camp has provided a safe and fun environment for children to have an unforgettable experience. “Most of our programs are Sunday afternoon through Friday evening,” said Deb Roberts, Camp Lutherlyn’s executive director. “We have some day programs and half-week programs for younger campers.”
Families can choose from Classic Camp, Horse Camp, Model Rocketry, Life in the Wild, Arts Camp and Night Owls among the many options. Classic Camp offers everything one might expect out of a summer camp experience—swimming, crafts, evening campfires, group challenge activities and opportunities to discover nature and play outside.
Lutherlyn has a variety of programs going on at the same time, so campers are divided by age group into their programs. Cabin groups and activities are divided into Juniors (4th through 6th grade), Jr. High (7th through 9th grades), and Sr. High (10th grade through just-graduated).
“There is so much to do at Lutherlyn,” said Roberts. “Some of the activities include swimming (in a pool), crafts, archery, a jump pillow, canoeing...a LEGO room, bouldering, nature activities and a whole variety of other games and activities.”
One of their most popular camps is the Horse Camp. Children enrolled in the program spend a week learning about horses, including how to ride or improve their skills.
Families wondering about the camp’s staff-to-camper ratios can rest assured that adequate supervision is provided. Lutherlyn is accredited by the American Camp Association and adheres to the standards set forth by the association. “Our youngest groups have no more than six campers in a cabin and our older groups have no more than eight campers in a cabin,” said Roberts. “Lutherlyn’s staff all go through background checks, mandated reporter training, First Aid/CPR training and two weeks of intense staff training.”
Camp Lutherlyn also accommodates food service and dietary restrictions for its campers. During the registration process, families are asked to complete a food service questionnaire, where they can indicate any food allergies or dietary restrictions. “Lutherlyn’s dining hall is always nut-free, and we are able to accommodate most dietary restrictions and food allergies,” said Roberts.
Campers with specific allergies or who eat a gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan menu can go to a specific doorway in the dining hall to get their meals, which are stored separately in the kitchen and labeled with their names to prevent cross-contamination. “Lutherlyn has a full-time food service manager who contacts families in advance if more detailed information is needed,” said Roberts.
During their children’s stay, families are invited to send mail or messages through Lutherlyn’s website that are printed and distributed at lunch each day. Campers also have time to write letters after lunch each day. “A password-protected photo-share site is used to post photos daily, and Lutherlyn sends a daily email update to families with details of what we are doing at camp that day,” said Roberts.
Registration for Camp Lutherlyn’s summer program opens February 1, 2024. You can sign up by visiting their website at www.lutherlyn.com/summercamp.
Another place local families turn to for overnight summer camps is Camp Fitch YMCA. Boys and girls ages 6 to 17 can connect with other like-minded peers for a week of fun.
The traditional flagship summer camp runs from Sunday through Saturday and allows campers to enjoy all the activities, said Joe Wolnik, summer program director. “Kids can sign up for different activities and exploratory options that give them a choice where to go,” he said. “The magic behind that is you could have a group of kids in the same cabin who could have similar activities or totally different activities. Kids get to mold their experiences to what they want them to be.”
Located right on Lake Erie in North Springfield, Erie County, campers can enjoy traditional water fun activities mixed in with target sports like archery and hatchet throwing. One of the fastest growing and most popular camps is the farming program, said Wolnik. “It has livestock, and the kids get to learn about the work that goes into raising them, with a focus on sustainability.”
Like Camp Lutherlyn, Camp Fitch also offers focused experiences, including:
Tech camps
Equestrian camps
Drone camps
Leadership camps
Campers with health conditions don’t have to miss out on the fun, said Wolnik. Camp Fitch staff accommodates children with various health issues so they can enjoy the experience of camping alongside their peers.
One of their more popular options is Camp Barclay, which is a diabetic-focused week. Children with diabetes can come and do all the same activities as their peers, Wolnik said. “The camp has extra nurses and dieticians on site to monitor their healthcare needs,” he said. “However, campers can come at other times if they want to, and if they need extra help, we can provide it.”
For the first time this past summer, the program hosted two campers who were fully or partially deaf, Wolnik said. “We partnered with the school they attend to bring on their interpreters to help them fully participate,” he said. “We try to find as many ways as we can to accommodate and find community partners to provide the best experience for the kids.”
The camp doesn’t allow technology, including smartphones, during its weeklong programs. “One of the main goals of the camping experience is to disconnect from technology,” said Wolnik. “That can be a scary endeavor for the child and for the parent.” Parents can stay connected during the week by using camp stamps that allow parents to send an email that camp staff print out and deliver to the children. “Kids can respond if parents request it by turning over the paper and writing down their message. Camp staff then scans it and emails it to parents.”
Registration for the summer of 2024 starts soon, Wolnik said. A $75 deposit holds campers’ places on the registry. To learn more or to register, visit www.campfitchymca.org.