Affluent parents in the United States are spending tens of thousands of dollars on luxury summer camps, with some programs costing more than $150,000 a year. Beyond outdoor activities and keeping children away from screens, the main appeal is building social networks that could later help with internships and jobs.
Rachel Braunschweiger Potash, a mother of two daughters in Florida, said she pays sums equal to a year of private school tuition for summer camp. She said the biggest benefit is that children get outdoor experiences without phones or screens, which frees them from worries about social media posts.
Potash added, "Money comes and goes, but if you are going to spend money, summer camp is one of the things worth investing in." Parents also value what they describe as the priceless influence of camp families and alumni, who can open doors for their children in the future.
These camps can also include luxury extras such as private flights to camp and expensive grooming products, making the experience especially exclusive. A recent study found that 24.6 million parents in the United States want their children to have a structured, screen-free summer, but 38% say cost is a deterrent. As a result, only 13% of children from low- and middle-income families attend camps, compared with 45% of children from wealthy families.
