As summer camp costs continue to rise across the tri-state area, some parents are seeking more affordable alternatives abroad to ensure their children have enriching experiences outside the city. Marva Babel, a Brooklyn resident, recently turned to an international option after her family’s budget tightened following the closure of a cocktail bar she co-owned.

For years, Babel paid more than $8,000 each summer to send her 12-year-old daughter, Aleim Tucker, to a traditional sleepaway camp upstate. The camps provided an opportunity for Aleim to disconnect from technology and engage with nature, a priority for her parents. However, after her business closed, Babel found it increasingly difficult to cover such expenses. With Aleim aiming to become a competitive swimmer, Babel sought specialized swim camps locally but found the prices prohibitive.

Following a tip from a friend, Babel explored a swim camp in Morocco’s capital, Rabat, run by a former Olympian. When factoring in flights and lodging, the total cost for the trip was roughly $4,600 to $5,000—about half the price of local camps—while also offering an international cultural experience. “It was much, much, much cheaper... like, crazy,” she said of the costs, noting the camp fee alone was about $800.

Babel’s decision reflects broader trends among tri-state area families grappling with escalating summer camp expenses. Costs for popular sleepaway programs, often located in Maine, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, now average between $14,000 and $17,000 for seven-week sessions, according to Patti Roberts, known as “The Summer Camp Lady.” She has advised parents on camp options for more than 30 years and says tuition fees have climbed sharply in recent years.

Day camps, which provide structured activities and instruction similar to a school day, have also become increasingly expensive, with prices ranging from $10,000 to $12,000. Roberts highlighted the steep cost disparity by noting that the price for summer camps could instead cover renting a house in Tuscany for the season.

For many families, summer camp expenses are not merely discretionary; they serve as an essential form of childcare during working months. Paige Connell, a Boston-based advocate and mother of four who shares insights on social media, points out that summer camp costs are rising faster than daycare fees. She argues that camps are often mistakenly viewed as optional extras, when in fact they are critical for working parents balancing child supervision and enrichment. “Summer camp is incredibly expensive; the cost is rising incredibly quickly,” Connell said. “We look at summer camp as a ‘nice to have,’ and not a necessity — and it absolutely is.”

As families face mounting financial pressures, options like international camps may become increasingly attractive despite the logistical challenges, underscoring the widening gap between the growing demand for youth enrichment and the rising costs of traditional programs in the United States.