The American institution of summer camp may never be the same now that preteens and teens start polishing their college-ready skills before puberty—July and August are now viewed as an opportunity to get ahead.
Some traditional sleepaway camps in rural oases have padded their roster of offerings to keep campers (and parents) coming back, but other companies are serving up carefully curated tours of foreign cultures, adventurous itineraries to some of the world’s wonders, or the chance to hone talents from some of the nation’s leading professionals. Of course, those opportunities come with a cost.
On the Equestrian Teen Tour of Russia, campers depart New York City for Moscow, where they’ll sharpen their horse-riding skills in the stables of Stalin’s former estate and spend afternoons sightseeing. Price tag for the week: $8,500. For precocious campers with an eye for business and a life of privilege, the Global Fellows in Social Enterprise program promises to help students polish entrepreneurial and philanthropic skills in six weeks for $25,000. Weekend getaways to the Hamptons are included.
To get a glimpse of some of the grand offerings, The Daily Beast sorted through program guidebooks and brochures to compile a list of some of the priciest options. We ranked the camps based on the average price per week. Most offer four-star-hotel accommodations and immersion in academic or cultural studies, as well as community service, but in order to rank on this list, all the programs had to be offered by an American-based company.
International Riding Camp
Weekly cost: $8,500
Duration: 1 week
Location: Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia
Activities: Morning riding lessons, museum and cultural tours of Moscow and St. Petersburg, ballet and opera performances
Amenities: Four-star-resort accommodations at Stalin’s former estate—with indoor riding ring, stables, and a private lake; includes roundtrip flights from New York City to Moscow and Moscow to St. Petersburg
Weekly cost: $4,166
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: New York
Activities: Classes on entrepreneurship and charitable giving; business-plan competition with coaching from business-strategy experts; four-week internship with a nonprofit; weekend trips to the Hamptons, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires
Amenities: Residency at NYU, with custom travel, entertaining, and restaurant services
Westcoast Connection
Weekly cost: $2,799 (plus airfare)
Duration: 3 weeks
Locations: France, Italy, Switzerland
Activities: Tours of landmarks in Paris, the French Riviera, Versailles, Pisa, Rome, and Florence, plus boating in the Mediterranean, gondola rides in Venice, skiing the Swiss Alps, and classes at an Italian cooking school
Amenities: Four-star-hotel accommodations in most cities, with a pool in Paris, a view of the Tiber River in Rome, and a location in the heart of the historical district in Florence
Education Unlimited
Weekly cost: $2,695
Duration: 1 week
Location: Stanford, Calif.
Activities: Classes in critical reading, problem solving, persuasive writing
Amenities: Students stay on the Stanford University campus, with access to attractions including the Rodin sculpture garden and world-class libraries
Longacre Expeditions
Weekly cost: $2,195
Duration: 22 days
Locations: Ecuador and Peru
Activities: Checking out rare wildlife on the Galapagos Islands, snorkeling in a marine sanctuary, surfing near Isabela Island, touring Cuzco, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, rafting the Upper Urubamba River
Sail Caribbean
Weekly cost: $2,098 (plus airfare)
Duration: 2 weeks
Location: British Virgin Islands
Activities: Scuba and sailing (of course), as well as snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, and wakeboarding in the waters around the islands, optional courses in lifeguard training or keelboat certification, seminars in marine biology and community service to keep local trails in good condition
Amenities: Campers live aboard a monohull sailboat, with dockside socials at night and deck hammocks to sleep under the stars
ActionQuest
Weekly cost: $1,995
Duration: 22 days
Location: Australia and the Great Barrier Reef
Activities: Surfing, rainforest treks, sightseeing in Sydney, sailing, snorkeling, whale watching, community service
Amenities: Campers sleep in hotels and hostels during the nights in Australian cities, and aboard a sailing yacht during longer diving sojourn
High Cascade
Weekly cost: $1,950
Duration: 8 days
Location: Mount Hood, Oregon
Activities: Snowboarding (of course), waterfall hikes, talent show, dance party, skateboard competition, mountain biking, lake swimming, white-water rafting, paintball
Amenities: “Deluxe” vacation condos with double-bed bunk beds, live-in counselors, home-cooked meals featuring favorites like waffles, burritos, pizza, and Thanksgiving dinner
Experiment in International Living
Weekly cost: $1,933
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: Paris, with home stays in smaller French communities
Activities: Sightseeing in Paris, with visits to the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, the Louvre, and the Jardins de Luxembourg, plus biking, boating, and traveling expeditions
Julian Krinsky Camps
Weekly cost: $1,715
Duration: 3 weeks
Location: Haverford, Pennsylvania
Activities: Fitness classes including yoga, cross training, Zumba, sports nutrition, and plyometrics, as well as a campus games night, swim party, and talent show; outings to the King of Prussia Mall, IMAX theater, and bowling alley; weekend trips to New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
Amenities: Air-conditioned dorms on Haverford College campus, with access to athletic fields, computer labs, swimming pool, and tennis courts
