The Camp Game: Where to Invest Your Money and Where You're Getting Played

MamaHen's Real Talk on Youth, High School, and College Recruitment Camps

Y'all, I need to talk to you about something that's costing families thousands of dollars every year, and most parents have no idea they're being taken advantage of. We're talking about athletic camps, and I want to break down the real difference between what matters and what's just a money grab.

Here's the Truth About Middle School Camps

Let me be clear from jump: middle school camps do NOT mean very much. I'm not saying you shouldn't go to any camps. What I'm saying is that you need to understand what middle school camps actually are—they're skill development opportunities. That's it. They're a time for your kid to work on their craft in a structured environment with some good coaches. That's valuable for development, but it's not a recruiting tool.

Too many parents are dropping serious money on expensive overnight camps in middle school thinking their kid needs to be there to get "seen" or to get recruited. Wrong. No college coach is sitting in a middle school camp trying to identify future D1 athletes. They're not looking at 12, 13, or 14-year-old kids and making recruiting decisions.

Save your money.

When Camps Actually Matter: High School

Now, fast forward to high school. This is where camps completely change purpose. By the time your athlete is in high school, especially junior and senior year, camps become something very different. They become tryouts.

This is the shift that a lot of families don't understand. A high school camp isn't just about skill work anymore. Colleges send coaches to these camps. They evaluate players. They identify talent. They offer scholarships based on performance at high school camps.

That's why the game completely changes in high school.

The Money Makers vs. The Real Opportunities

Here's what I want you to understand: there are camps designed to develop your child, and there are camps designed to make money off your desperation as a parent.

The expensive overnight camps? A lot of those are money makers. They're not bad—the instruction can be solid—but they're businesses. And they market themselves in a way that makes parents feel like if they don't attend, their kid is falling behind.

Meanwhile, team camps in high school? Those work. Here's why: your kid is on a TEAM. There's continuity. There's a coaching staff that knows them. There's consistency. And the colleges know that if a kid performs well at their high school team camp, that performance means something because it's being evaluated by people who know the real level of competition and the real talent pool.

The Investment Strategy That Actually Works

Let me give you the real playbook for camps:

Middle School:

• One day camps? Yes, fine. Good for skill development.

• Expensive overnight camps? No. Your money is being wasted.

• Multiple camps? Unnecessary. One good camp a summer is plenty.

• Team camps if your high school offers them? Do it. This is where value starts.

High School:

• Team camps: YES. This is where scouts come. This is where it matters.

• Select or showcase camps: Maybe. Be selective and research the reputation.

• Overnight camps: If they're reputable and have college coaches attending, potentially worth it. But be smart about it.

• Multiple quality camps: This starts to matter now.

The Bottom Line on Spending

Don't throw money at every camp that comes across your feed. Don't feel pressured by other parents who are doing it. Don't buy into the FOMO of athletic training.

Here's what actually moves the needle: skill development on your team, consistent play during your high school season, and performance at high school camps where college coaches are actually evaluating.

What Colleges Are Actually Looking For

Coaches don't care that your middle schooler went to some expensive overnight camp. They care about:

• How does your kid perform in real games?

• How do they perform against quality competition?

• What do their coaches (who know them) say about them?

• How do they perform when being directly evaluated?

• Do they fit what we're looking for?

A high school team camp where your kid plays well in front of their own coaching staff and college scouts? That tells them everything. A highlight from a showcase camp against kids they don't know? That means significantly less.

The Real Talk

Parents, I know you want the best for your kids. I know you're looking at other families spending thousands on camps and wondering if you're doing enough. But I'm here to tell you: you don't have to do that. You don't have to go broke funding your athlete's dream.

Be smart about it. Invest in skill development when they're young. When they hit high school, shift your focus to performing with their team and attending the camps where scouts are actually watching.

Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for not spending money you don't have on camps that don't matter.

The Money Should Follow the Results

Here's how I think about it: if a camp is actually recruiting-relevant, colleges will be there. If it's a legit opportunity, you'll know because college coaches will be attending. If it's just a money maker trying to get parents to invest, they'll use marketing and FOMO to convince you.

Do your homework. Ask other parents. Ask your coach. Ask the colleges you're interested in. They'll tell you which camps matter for your kid's position and your kid's skill level.

Final Thoughts

You don't have to break the bank for your athlete to get recruited. You have to be strategic. You have to be in the right place at the right time with the right performance. And that happens more at a quality team camp in high school than it ever will at an expensive overnight camp in middle school.

Stay blessed, stay smart with your money, and remember—college coaches are watching. They're watching your kid play against their real competition, in their real uniform, in real games. That's what matters.

💕