The right age for sending kids to summer camp can vary depending on the child's developmental level, interests, and comfort level with being away from home. In general, most children are ready to attend a sleep-away camp or day camp between the ages of seven and ten.

To attend traditional summer camp, kids between 6 and 17 must have a valid identification card or passport. Some camps also require letters of recommendation from teachers or other authority figures. If your child is over 18 but still considered a “kid,” they may still be eligible for some camps.

Sumner F. Dudley, a young businessman, and seven boys from the YMCA in Newburgh, New York, go on a camping trip. By 1891, there were eighty-three campers. The camp became known as Camp Dudley and is the longest continually operating camp in the United States.

About 20 million children in the United States attend summer camp every year, according to the American Camp Association (ACA). They look forward to spending time there with friends. But with social-distancing rules in effect across the U.S., many summer camps face tough decisions.