Real Estate and Reston, VA: I Wish I Could Be My Kids: Going away to Summer Camp

I always wanted to go to summer camp. I never did.  When my kids got old enough to express an interest, I was right there asking for recommendations and finding the right place for them.

We have done our share of sports camps and arts camps and even day camps. I was looking for a good, old-fashioned sleep away camp. You know the kind: lakes, and horses, dances and bonfires.

We sent our girls to an all girls camp in West Virginia, Camp Rim Rock. They loved it there in the hills of West Virginia. They learned horse back riding, did arts and crafts, hiked, camped and had a wonderful time. When they were in their early teens and asking about a co-ed camp, I reminded them of the freedom that comes with not caring how you look when you head to breakfast; they agreed and continued to go there.

When it came time to send my son to camp, we could not find an all-boys camp that was within 4 hours, so he went to the co-ed Camp Twin Creeks, also in West Virginia. He is there for his 4th year and will return home from 2 weeks there tomorrow. He loves it at Twin Creeks and has asked if he can continue on to become a Counselor-in-training and later a Counselor (we'll see if the passion lasts). It is a good old fashioned camp. They have all the activities you would expect and more.  I love that they post daily photos and videos so that I can see that he is alive and well! They have a nifty system set up where I can email him and then he writes me back and they email it to me.  Nothing like the old-days of delayed gratification. This way we can stay in closer touch (although we don't write daily).

If you are thinking about Sleep-Away camp for you children, I would highly recommend checking out these two options. I think you will be happy with the quality of the camps and your children will be happy to have a good, old-fashioned summer camp experience!