Camp Marymount is a Catholic overnight summer camp located just outside Nashville. We provide acres and acres of fun to children ages 6-16 (including 4th-generation campers!). CLICK HERE to view our dates and rates for next summer.
The Benefits of a Longer Summer Camp Session
There are many reasons parents shy away from sending their child to an overnight camp session that’s longer than one week.
At Camp Marymount, where we offer 2-, 3-, and 5-week sessions, parents have explained their hesitation to sign up for a longer session.
Here are a few:
- “My child has never been away from home before.”
- “My child is too young to be away that long.”
- “My child is ready… but I’m not!”
We asked Jennifer, a Summer 2024 parent, to talk about the extraordinary benefits her daughter experienced from the extended time away at Camp Marymount after a 3-week session. Here’s her story.
Separation Jitters
“Since my daughter was a rising kindergartner, she has attended a variety of summer camps. These have included day camps—both full and half days—as well as some two-day and one-week overnight camps with different organizations. Every year, we discuss which camps she enjoyed enough to repeat and which ones we might not return to. Some camps have become traditions, while others we’ve chosen to discontinue.
“For two years, my daughter had been asking to attend Camp Marymount, but the two-week session always filled up before we could secure a spot. We found other opportunities instead, but she continued to ask about Marymount. I was also nervous about committing to a two-week overnight experience, especially since the one-week overnight camps we tried weren’t a perfect fit—she enjoyed them but never asked to go back.”
Taking the Leap
“As a family with two working parents, we need a summer full of activities and camps. By the third year of trying, the two-week session was again fully booked, so I reluctantly registered her for the three-week camp. It felt like a big step, but I reminded myself that this experience was about her growth—socially, personally, and spiritually.
“To my surprise, she thrived. When I picked her up from Camp Marymount, she cried—not because she was upset but because she didn’t want to leave. She said, “Mom, next summer I want to come for as long as I can. How many weeks is that? I think it’s five. I want to come for all five weeks.”
“Hearing this was astonishing. I’m no child psychologist, but I truly believe the extended duration of this camp made all the difference. With shorter, one-week camps, she would get over her initial homesickness in a day or two, but then it would be time to leave. At Marymount, she had the chance to move beyond those early nerves and fully engage in the camp experience.
“We sent her letters and bunk notes, and as time went on, she wrote back less and less. It was clear she was immersed in camp life and making meaningful connections. Even now, she keeps in touch with the friends she made there. This summer, she will attend Camp Marymount for the full five weeks.”
A “Grow-Up Glow Up”
“When she returned home from the three-week session, we noticed how much she had grown. She was more mature, resilient, and full of joy. She had learned to handle small challenges with grace and seemed spiritually uplifted, often singing and sharing her newfound positivity. When I ask about her time at camp, she simply says, “Mom, it’s just a Marymount thing. You wouldn’t understand.”
“I won’t sugarcoat it—having her away for three weeks was tough. Our family missed her every day. But the experience contributed so much to her development, and I am grateful. If you’re on the fence about sending your child for an extended camp session, I encourage you to take the leap. He or she will come back more confident, happy, and eager to return the next summer.”
Let Them Summer!
Jennifer, thank you for sharing your experience with parents who are curious, but hesitant, about sending their child to a longer summer camp session. We can’t wait to have your daughter back for more Marymount!
When it comes to your child, we invite you to “Let Them Summer!” In addition to the reasons Jennifer so beautifully articulated, we’d also add the following reasons to register your child now:
- When compared to day camp and keeping your child entertained at home, Camp Marymount is surprisingly cost-effective. Check out our subsidized pricing or apply for a scholarship.
- Imagine how incredible you’d feel after a week in nature without any screens. Now multiply that time by 2, 3, or 5 weeks! A screen-free reset is bound to improve your child’s mental and emotional health.
- Making another group of friends allows children to bounce back more easily when social struggles inevitably arise during the school year. Deeper friendships created over a longer camp session add to your child’s social well-being.
Ready to take the leap? Sessions are filling up quickly – reserve your child’s spot now!
View Dates & Rates
About Camp Marymount
Camp Marymount is an overnight summer camp located just outside Nashville. We provide acres and acres of fun to children ages 6-16 (including 4th-generation campers!).
As the only Catholic Diocesan camp in Tennessee, we infuse all the joy to be found in a traditional camp experience with our shared Christian values. Water activities, horseback riding, archery, campfires under the stars, and more. Don’t wait to register!
Give your child the gift of a summer filled with friendship and memories.
It’s an 85-year tradition!
CLICK HERE to view our dates and rates for next summer.