Several years ago, we had a dilemma about our summer vacation. As parents of three toddlers—a 2-year-old and 3-year-old twins—as well as a 12-year-old, where in the world could we all go for a vacation that would be great for each of us? One of my husband’s grad-school buddies suggested the family camp where his extended family had been going for the past couple of decades.

Wait. A place where families have been going for decades? With kids of all ages? I needed to know more about this place. And the world of family camp opened up for us.

Family Camp Trends and Benefits

Nestled between the vacation categories of do-it-yourself camping and all-inclusive resorts are family camps. These camps combine accommodations, meals, organized childcare, activities and programs for a basic fee. All-inclusive resorts tend to be more posh than most family camps, which range from ‘pitch your own tent’ to basic, comfortable cabins (think “The Parent Trap”).

They’re also becoming increasingly popular. “Family camps is one of the fastest-growing kinds of camp programs,” says Peg Smith, chief executive officer of the American Camp Association. “The number of family camp programs has grown 215 percent in the past 15 years.”

• The University of California Santa Barbara campus.
• Flashfonic

Many camps are privately run by organizations such as the YMCA, 4H, alumni associations or churches. Others are run as part of a city’s parks and recreational division. Some camps have themes such as performing arts, weight loss, historical re-enactments or sports. Still others are geared toward families with children who have certain medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes.

As family camps expand, many have expanded programming and instructional activities as well, says Smith. They’re also tailored to accommodate busy families with short overnight trips, day tours and evening activities. Extended families can reunite without having to act as host; single parents can relax and have fun while their kids play with new friends in kids’ groups; and grandparents can enjoy a special week with their grandkids. 

Smith says that family camps are also good ‘training-wheels’ helping parents “introduce the camp experience to younger children who have yet to experience time away from their parents.”

A Family Camp, Deconstructed

Every family camp has its own flavor and experience. Our family stayed at the Family Vacation Center in Santa Barbara. Part of the UCSB alumni association, the camp is based in campus dormitories several hundred yards from the Pacific Ocean.

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a group of enthusiastic staff, who unloaded our belongings into large laundry carts and scooted them promptly to our ‘home’ for the week.

Accommodations

Our four-bedroom suite had a bathroom and shower as well as a living room, complete with microwave and mini-fridge, which we stocked with our own goodies and drinks. For a week, it was great to have more space than a hotel room. We had daily housekeeping service, but unlike a hotel, we had to bring our own toiletries for the shower.

We were warned that the beds at FVC are hard, so we brought ‘egg crate’ foam, which made for a much more comfortable night’s sleep! We also found that a drying rack we brought to hold all our swimsuits and towels came in handy.

Childcare

Childcare was divided into groups by age, from infants to teens. There is a nursery area for children under 3, which had its own play yard and napping areas (as well as changing areas) for the littlest campers. Other kids played games, made crafts, explored the campus and beach with their counselors, who seemed to enjoy their young charges. (Cheesy camp songs have been passed on to a new generation.) Evening babysitting was not included in the basic cost of family camp, but it was reasonably priced and easily arranged with the staff.