Summer Camp Still Matters: Majority of Americans See It as Important for Youth

With summer in full swing and camps across the country buzzing with activity, a new national survey finds that most Americans believe summer camp offers real value for kids—even if not everyone has had the chance to attend.

The Rasmussen Reports survey, conducted June 9–11, 2025, polled 1,177 American adults and found that 60% think attending camp is at least somewhat important for young people. Twenty-two percent said it’s very important, while 38% said it’s somewhat important. Just 30% said it’s not very or not at all important, and 9% were unsure.

Half of respondents said they or someone in their immediate family had attended a summer camp for children, while 45% said no. Six percent weren’t sure. The gap between belief in the value of camp and actual attendance highlights a reality: while summer camp is widely seen as a positive experience, access remains uneven.

Income and education played a significant role in both attendance and attitudes. Among those earning over $200,000 a year, 64% said someone in their family had gone to camp. That number dropped to just 32% among those earning under $30,000. College graduates and those with postgraduate degrees were also more likely to report camp attendance—and more likely to rate it as important.

People who had attended camp themselves were among its strongest supporters. Nearly three-quarters of respondents who had personal or family experience with camp said it was at least somewhat important, compared to just 35% of those who had not. Parents with children still at home were also more likely to value the experience, suggesting that those actively navigating summer planning see real benefits in sending kids to camp.

Views on the importance of camp varied by age, with those aged 40–49 most likely to call it “very important.” Younger adults under 40 were more likely to rate camp as important overall, but older adults tended to be more skeptical. Gender also played a role, with women slightly more likely than men to say camp is somewhat important.

Politics didn’t divide the issue as much as it often does. Democrats, Republicans, and independents all expressed similar levels of support for the idea that summer camp matters. While Republicans were slightly more likely to report camp attendance in their families, Democrats rated camp as “very important” at nearly the same rate.

Despite differences in experience and access, the overall takeaway from the survey is clear: most Americans see summer camp as more than just a way to fill long days. Whether for building independence, learning teamwork, or just enjoying time outdoors away from screens, the tradition still resonates.

In an age when childhood often feels overly scheduled or spent indoors, the idea of camp still holds appeal. For many, it represents a rare opportunity for kids to grow, stretch, and connect with something a little simpler. And as this survey shows, the majority of Americans still believe that opportunity is worth something.