Going to sleepaway camp is a rite of passage for many kids in Boston, Connecticut, and the rest of New England. But the idea of being away from home for more than a couple weeks can be a deal breaker for many kids, especially if they're on the younger side or tend to have separation anxiety. Luckily, many overnight camps offer one- or two-week (or even shorter) sessions that are specially designed to introduce children to the independence and kid bonding of sleepaway without forcing them to "stick it out" for longer than they may be ready to handle.

Established on shorelines and lakefronts across six states, we've rounded up popular overnight summer camps with first-timer-focused starter sessions for children 6 to 12 years old. The only catch may be if you're not sure you can part with your kiddo for more than a night. (Trust me—you can!)

Look to our complete camp directory for more ideas on summer enrichment for kids in Boston and Connecticut.

2021 note: All photos were taken pre-COVID. Summer camp information for the 2021 season is subject to change. Please click the links to the individual camps below to see which ones are offering programs this year.