Summer camp in US - tips, advice?

[temporaryname99]

I have also posted this in travel, but I thought there might be British people in the US on this board, so thought I would post here too:

We're going to Oregon this summer - dh is from US and his parents are there. I'd love the kids to experience camp - seems like such a classic American experience for them, as half American kids!
I've seen a couple that look nice, but I don't really know what to look for, or what to ask. The ones I've seen are $500 for 5 nights which is just about affordable.
Before you ask, yes I've asked DH and his parents, as they are actually American, but didn't get much info!
Have anyone's kids done this? Did they enjoy? Anything I should be warned about?
Thanks in advance.

Not very helpfully I am thinking of doing this for the first time this year.
Dc's friends do it. They seem quite themed, so take time to see what focus you want. Some are crafty, some sporty, some quite adventure sports and some religious.
Also some require you to take a lot of extra stuff and some provide them, bedding etc.
The dc I know who go enjoy them.

My kids are half American too and we go to see family every summer. They go to day camps for half day with the local community center. They always ask not to do it because they feel a bit shy, but it gives them a little experience of America and American kids their age without us hovering over them. There are usually loads of different day camps around to support the working parents during summer holds, which is often at least 12 weeks (!).

I would suggest trying to find the local Moms Facebook group and see if you can find first hand reviews.

I did overnight camps from age 9 every summer and have really fun and fond memories of campfires, songs, canoeing on the lake, etc. I would try to find something fun-focused unless they are really passionate about a certain activity. There are loads of camps that are focused on specific sports or music activity, but those can get really intense and competitive.

Thank you for your replies!
Mineymoe, yes, we're definitely going for fun focussed rather than anything specialist, but we want a sleepaway camp rather than a local day camp.

$500 for 5 nights is a good deal. Some of them cost thousands. We paid $570 for 6 nights last year and I thought that was fair value.

To some extent it depends on what your children are like. One of mine loved sleepaway camp and made great friends. The other hated it till the last day, and desperately wanted to come home - but he is a real home body.

Things we thought would be fun, like swimming every day, they didn't particularly enjoy - I think mostly because they did it first thing in the morning when it was chilly. My son loved the cooking and theatre bits of camp which was completely unexpected as he's usually much more sporty than anything else.

I think looking for an Oregon moms FB group and asking there is a good idea. There's probably some kind of official body that represents summer camps in Oregon where you could ask too.

Mine aren't in a rush to do sleepaway camp again tbh. But lots of kids love it.

Happy to provide advice
Depends on your child
Some hate it
Some love it
Most good sleep away camps are about $1000 per week

I can provide suggestions if you want

Hi Lady Brienne and Stupomax
Thanks so much for your replies and sorry for the delay!

Lady Brienne, do you have recommendations in Oregon?