The 2001 spoof "Wet Hot American Summer" is a fun look at how camp counselors can learn the same lessons in friendship, love and life as their charges. Pictured: Michael Showalter, Christopher Meloni, A.D. Miles. Click through the gallery for more on-screen camp experiences.
The 2001 spoof "Wet Hot American Summer" is a fun look at how camp counselors can learn the same lessons in friendship, love and life as their charges. Pictured: Michael Showalter, Christopher Meloni, A.D. Miles. Click through the gallery for more on-screen camp experiences.
USA Films/CourtesY Everett Collection
Scouts from a local camp are enlisted to find two young lovers who have run away in the film "Moonrise Kingdom," starring Edward Norton, center. From scouting camp to arts camp, there are a ton of summer sleepaway options for kids.
Scouts from a local camp are enlisted to find two young lovers who have run away in the film "Moonrise Kingdom," starring Edward Norton, center. From scouting camp to arts camp, there are a ton of summer sleepaway options for kids.
Focus Features
Twins separated at birth reunite at summer camp and plan to bring their parents back together in "The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. Who knows what lifelong friends kids will meet at camp?!
Twins separated at birth reunite at summer camp and plan to bring their parents back together in "The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. Who knows what lifelong friends kids will meet at camp?!
Mary Evans/WALT DISNEY PICTURES/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection
In the 2003 movie "Camp," young performers practice all summer to stage a musical, showing that camp isn't only about whittling figurines and capturing the flag. Pictured: Anna Kendrick, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin De Jesus and Sasha Allen.
In the 2003 movie "Camp," young performers practice all summer to stage a musical, showing that camp isn't only about whittling figurines and capturing the flag. Pictured: Anna Kendrick, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin De Jesus and Sasha Allen.
IFC Films/courtesy Everett Collection
Summer camps often have a costume competition; if you're not a seamstress, you can farm out the costume creation to someone who is. Pictured: Christina Ricci in 1993's "Addams Family Values."
Summer camps often have a costume competition; if you're not a seamstress, you can farm out the costume creation to someone who is. Pictured: Christina Ricci in 1993's "Addams Family Values."
Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Camp can be the place for romantic lessons and sexual awakenings, as in the 1980 film "Little Darlings." A talk about the birds and the bees might be in order before shipping off adolescent camp-goers. Pictured: Alexa Kenin, Jenn Thompson, Simone Schachter, Krista Errickson, Tatum O'Neal, Cynthia Nixon, Abby Bluestone.
Camp can be the place for romantic lessons and sexual awakenings, as in the 1980 film "Little Darlings." A talk about the birds and the bees might be in order before shipping off adolescent camp-goers. Pictured: Alexa Kenin, Jenn Thompson, Simone Schachter, Krista Errickson, Tatum O'Neal, Cynthia Nixon, Abby Bluestone.
Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
The Olsen twins (Ashley, left, Mary-Kate, right) play the old switcheroo in 1995's "It Takes Two." Obviously camp encourages creativity and role playing.
The Olsen twins (Ashley, left, Mary-Kate, right) play the old switcheroo in 1995's "It Takes Two." Obviously camp encourages creativity and role playing.
Warner Bros./ Courtesy Everett Collection
Meeting characters like maintenance man and country philosopher Ernest can make camp a growth experience for kids. Here in 1987's "Ernest Goes to Camp," Jim Varney takes campers for a spin.
Meeting characters like maintenance man and country philosopher Ernest can make camp a growth experience for kids. Here in 1987's "Ernest Goes to Camp," Jim Varney takes campers for a spin.
Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
This one time, at band camp ... you know the rest. "American Pie" sequel "American Pie: Band Camp" built on the raunchy reputation of its predecessor. But your kids' camp is PROBABLY not like this one. Pictured: Tad Hilgenbrinck, Eugene Levy and Arielle Kebbel.
This one time, at band camp ... you know the rest. "American Pie" sequel "American Pie: Band Camp" built on the raunchy reputation of its predecessor. But your kids' camp is PROBABLY not like this one. Pictured: Tad Hilgenbrinck, Eugene Levy and Arielle Kebbel.
Universal/courtesy Everett Collection
The wisecracking kids of Nickelodeon's early '90s show "Salute Your Shorts" worked overtime making life hard for their counselor "Ug." Pictured: (l to r, top) Venus DeMilo, Michael Bower, Megan Berwick, Blake Soper, Heidi Lucas, Kirk Bailey (bottom) Danny Cooksey, Tim Eyster.
The wisecracking kids of Nickelodeon's early '90s show "Salute Your Shorts" worked overtime making life hard for their counselor "Ug." Pictured: (l to r, top) Venus DeMilo, Michael Bower, Megan Berwick, Blake Soper, Heidi Lucas, Kirk Bailey (bottom) Danny Cooksey, Tim Eyster.
Nickelodeon/Courtesy Everett Collection
Cookies can be contraband at a "fat camp" like the one in the 2010 ABC series "Huge." Parents would be wise to leave them out of care packages. Pictured: Raven Goodwin, Jacob Wysocki.
Cookies can be contraband at a "fat camp" like the one in the 2010 ABC series "Huge." Parents would be wise to leave them out of care packages. Pictured: Raven Goodwin, Jacob Wysocki.
BRUCE BIRMELIN/Disney Enterprises
The practical jokes don't stop in the 1979 camp classic "Meatballs," starring Bill Murray, center. Care packages filled with whoopee cushions and fake spiders would have kept these jokers in business all summer.
The practical jokes don't stop in the 1979 camp classic "Meatballs," starring Bill Murray, center. Care packages filled with whoopee cushions and fake spiders would have kept these jokers in business all summer.
Paramount Pictures