Sport Camps--would You Send Your 14 Yr Old to One Alone?

Yes. Overnight sports camps start about age 9-10. I went to several growing up.

Costs range from a few hundred to a few thousand.

Yup, I would. 14 is a good age for them to go to camp alone, but be someplace where there is structure and supervision.

My daughter has been going to sleep-away camp for 2 weeks every summer since she was 7. Kids have a great time at camp; your son would probably enjoy himself and make a lot of new friends. I went to basketball camp around that age and it was well-supervised and a lot of fun (it was sponsored by Magic Johnson, who used to play for the Lakers, and was in LA).

Most good sleep-away camps cost around $1000/week in our area. If they cost significantly less, then I have found that the food and/or supervision is likely to be subpar.

If he wants to go, he will love it. He will come back very independent and with lots more self confidence.

Just ask him.

I'm glad I'm not the only mom with a 14 year old over 6 feet. My son is almost 6'3". No interest in basketball whatsoever.

Good luck finding the right camp! I just had to chime when I saw your son's height LOL!

My kids started going to summer camp when they were ten.
By the time they were thirteen they were CITs (counselors in training.)
They had the time of their lives!
I myself went to Girl Scout camp at ten, and cheerleading camp at fifteen, and my husband went to wrestling camp from fourteen to sixteen.
And yes, we ALSO had the time of our lives, summer camp is awesome!!!
The sports camps for teens ARE very expensive, but if you can afford it let him go, I'm sure he will love it :)

I started going to camp alone when i was 13 for a week every summer. It was not a sports camp but i dont see the problem as long as it is a good camp with a great reputation and well supervised.

Of course, if he really wanted to go and the money was there.

:)

I wasn't into sports, but I went to both music camp and horseback riding camp and I can tell you those were some of the best times in my life.

So, I would say if you can afford it - or get the money from somewhere (scholarships, bake sales whatever) it would definitely be worth it to him.

You get to be around a group of kids that are all motiviated by the same things that motivate you. And with adults who are there to inspire you and help you achieve beyond what you thought you could do. And you get to do it in an atmosphere that is free from distractions and other things that it's so easy for kids to split their attention.

Just my $0.02

I started going to sleep-away camp, 2 weeks at a time when I was 7.

Why wouldn't you send a 14YO?

She's 14, not 4... she's almost old enough to work, drive, and will be an adult in 4 short years. Why wouldn't you let her do it?

My sister and I went to a church camp for 5 days when we were in 2nd/3rd grade.

My daughter went to Sea World camps for a week three summers in a row. She LOVED them!! Does your son have friends that went to either?

If you aren't comfortable sending him away for a week, see if any of your local sports teams offer a weeklong camp that is just during the day. Those can get pricey too but very beneficial if it is something he is serious about, and he gets to stay home!