Summer camp isn’t just about crafts, cabins, and campfire songs. It’s a space where curiosity thrives, independence grows, and friendships blossom in unexpected ways. The right camp can shape how a child sees themselves and the world around them for years to come.
In this post, we’re breaking down all the information that parents need to know in order to determine if summer camp is right for this child, and for choosing the best possible camp to meet their unique camper needs.
Why should I send my child to summer camp?
Camp is more than a way to fill the summer: it’s an essential part of a child’s growth. In the right environment, young people learn to take healthy risks, build confidence, and explore new interests without the pressure of grades or performance. Research shows that camp experiences foster social-emotional skills like empathy, cooperation, and resilience: the very traits that help kids thrive long after the season ends.
At Porter’s, we have intentionally designed our summer programs so that every camper becomes part of a vibrant sisterhood: a community where she is seen, supported, and encouraged to explore. Our camps are built on the five tenets of camp culture:
Joy
Growth
Safety
Partnership
Communication
These values create a foundation for authentic learning, belonging, and leadership. Through hands-on experiences, campers explore new passions, ideas and activities and come away with new confidence and curiosity.
How do I know my child is ready for camp?
Readiness looks different for every child. Some are eager to pack their bags, while others need a bit more encouragement about what to expect. Generally speaking, a camper is ready when she can follow basic routines, express her needs to an adult, and show curiosity about spending time in new settings.
Day camps, like Daisy Days, are wonderful first steps, especially for younger children building independence. Our counselors support campers through transitions, encourage friendships, and create moments for gentle growth, all within a lively, fun-filled atmosphere that celebrates curiosity and creativity. Parents often tell us that their child returns home more confident, self-assured, and eager to try new things: indications of readiness that only deepen over time.
When girls are older, Summer in Farmington provides the next level of experience with an overnight option: stepping outside one’s comfort zone, living in community, and being mentored by dedicated counselors and staff who foster independence and connection. Campers learn to advocate for themselves, collaborate across differences, and join a global community of peers.
Should I send my child to day camp or overnight camp?
The best choice depends on your child’s comfort level. Day camps offer the fun and structure of camp life with the familiarity of home each evening; this can be ideal for campers or families trying the camp experience for the first time. Campers can experience a full day of discovery and creativity, before returning home for the evening to recount the adventures from the day.
Overnight camps provide a deeper level of immersion and community living that builds lifelong friendships and a sustained sense of belonging. The residential experience allows campers to immerse themselves in community, build independence under the mentorship of counselors, and expand their global perspective.
Whether it’s a day or residential camp at Porter’s, sisterhood isn’t just a phrase: it’s lived in day-to-day activities, shared traditions, and the joyful connections that define camp life. Both experiences cultivate confidence and joy, just at different stages of a camper’s journey.
Why should I choose an educational camp?
Traditional camps often emphasize recreation and outdoor fun: valuable in their own right. But educational camps can take those experiences further by integrating reflection, leadership, and intellectual curiosity. The result is a more holistic kind of growth: one that connects the mind, body, and heart.
At Summer Explorations, campers dive into hands-on learning that sparks curiosity and invites authentic discovery. Each day is filled with opportunities to experiment, create, and collaborate – from partnering with Motogo to take apart and rebuild vintage motorcycles, to exploring the building blocks of life with scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center, to designing social enterprises with Porter’s faculty that show how business can drive positive change. These camps blend meaningful learning with the joy of summer fun, inspiring girls to think boldly, build friendships, and grow in confidence within a supportive, globally-minded community.
How to choose a summer camp for your family
The best camp for your child aligns with your family’s values, your child’s interests, and their developmental stage. Start by asking what you hope your child will gain: confidence? friendship? leadership? global perspective? Once you identify those goals, look for programs with a clear mission, strong safety practices, and a philosophy that resonates with your own.
At Porter’s, every program is designed with purpose. Our staff are educators, graduates, and current students who understand the developmental needs of each age group. We offer a global community where girls step outside their comfort zones and learn in a new community of peers and mentors. Our residential program fosters community life rooted in joy, sisterhood, and meaningful connections. We invite campers to explore new passions, activities, and ideas in an environment that is safe, inclusive, and intentionally joyful.
When you’re comparing camps, consider asking:
- What kind of community lives in this camp: how will my child connect with peers and staff?
- What mentorship will be in place?
- How does the camp support my child’s curiosity, confidence, and exploration of new interests?
- How inclusive, global, and diverse is the community?
- How does the camp define and cultivate joy and fun alongside growth?
Why choose an all-girls camp?
All-girls camps offer something uniquely powerful: a space where girls can explore freely, build confidence, and develop a deep sense of belonging. Away from outside expectations, they can take healthy risks, try new things, and discover their authentic voices. Research shows that in all-girls settings, campers are more likely to speak up, take the lead, and support one another, laying the foundation for courage, curiosity, and lifelong confidence.
At Porter’s, our all-girls programs are intentionally designed to nurture this kind of growth. Each experience builds on the last, meeting girls where they are developmentally and inviting them to step boldly into new stages of learning and leadership. For our youngest campers, discovery begins with joy. Daisy Days invites girls to explore, play, create, and connect, building confidence and independence in a joyful community that celebrates curiosity. As girls grow, so does their sense of independence and their desire to belong. Surrounded by peers who cheer them on, girls at Summer in Farmington step boldly into new experiences and lasting friendships. In this all-girls community, they discover that leadership, creativity, and courage grow strongest when shared in sisterhood.
For older campers ready to take on a more active role in shaping camp culture, the Leaders in Training (LIT) program transforms experience into empowerment. In this all-girls setting, LITs don’t just learn about leadership: they practice it, mentoring younger campers and modeling the confidence, empathy, and strength they’ve built along the way. Through hands-on coaching and real responsibility, they see the power of women supporting women in action, discovering that leadership isn’t about perfection: it’s about presence, compassion, and community.
Together, these programs form a continuum of learning that honors each girl’s growth, encouraging her to lead with joy, curiosity, and courage at every stage of her journey.
Choosing a camp is an act of trust and hope: trust that your child will be seen and supported, and hope that she’ll discover something new about herself. At Porter’s, we’re honored to be part of that journey. Each summer, our campers remind us that growth often begins with a single brave step into something unfamiliar, and we believe that the lessons learned at camp last long after the final day.
