At the grand age of seven, both my brothers were packed off to English boarding schools with only a stern matron and iron beds to welcome them. Never did them any harm. These days, however, modern ninnies would never contemplate sending away their darling angels for even a week - let alone a term - at such a tender age. More importantly, the DAs would refuse to go. So how young is too young to pack off your kids in the holidays? Will you be depriving your children of adventure if you keep them tied to your apron strings for too long? Are we breeding a generation of risk-averse adults with all our mollycoddling? Or is the American trend of Camp Grenada more about Hyperparenting creep (one-upmanship in the playground with crossbow certificates or Tai Chi qualifications) than true adventure?

One thing is for sure, that you need to sell a Summer Camp holiday to your children carefully. When I read out the exciting list of opportunities at Camp Beaumont to my son, then aged 7, he replied uncertainly: "Mum, I would be exhausted at the end of the day if I had to do all of that!" However, now that he asks to go to the shop on his own, and finds my presence at the school gates embarrassing, a week away this summer might just make him appreciate home cooking and warm baths.

Below we list some of the main operators in the UK, as well as an up-and-coming niche operator (all are AALA registered, something you should ask if looking at unknown local operators). We would love to know your views on the ideal age for a Summer Camp, and what - if anything - your child got out of it. For those who are thinking of dipping their toe in the water for the first time visit some of the features in our Family Section on Kids Camps.

First up is Camp Beaumont (www.campbeaumont.com or 01603 660333). Having operated for the past 27 years, they are the undisputed King of Summer Camps. However, a week in Beaumont village, recommended for the younger 7 to 10 group, does not come cheap at £450. The Village opens from Easter, is located in the Midlands and has everything from Fencing salons to computer labs and Laser zones, with circus skills and 'Who Wants to Be a Billionaire' quizzes for evening activities. Of the four camps nationwide, Pinewood in Norfolk also takes the younger age group in the Summer, and some parents may see the existence of the older crew, age groups go up to 15 to 17 year olds a disadvantage.

Their not-so-garish competitor PGL Adventure holidays (www.pgl.co.uk or 08700 507 507) come in a little cheaper, and offer similar fare, except in more locations. The West Country, Herefordshire and Wales, as well as Scotland, are popular locations for these outdoor holidays, although I was a little shocked to see "Create Your Own 3-D Video Games" as one of the fifty options in the multi activity week, their most popular week for 7 to 13-year-olds. I think I'd be rather cross if I paid even the minimum of £375 (for Easter holidays, or tented accommodation in the Summer) and my son came back pasty and square-eyed. Mainly children will be encouraged to do abseiling, mountain biking and archery, as we might traditionally expect with the 'Groupies', Group Leaders.

If it's cheap and cheerful that you are looking for, and are not put off by the Christian ethos, there is much to recommend the YMCA day camps (see www.ymca.org), or their residential camp that takes place on a private 400-acre estate bordering Lake Windemere in the Lake District. Run over two weeks in July, (visit www.ymcalakeside.co.uk or call 08707 2783927 to confirm dates), the residential course starts from a reasonable £250 and includes mainly the outward bound, camping, sailing, mountain climbing for the more traditional minded family. If the residential are as good as their London Day camps, it promises to be a high-impact activity-led experience.

Finally, a niche number, which has been recommended to me personally by half a dozen parents. In Borrowdale in Cumbria, a paragliding expert Jocky Sanderson has set up three one-week summer camps for 11 to 16 year-olds, where participants are encouraged to try out old-fashioned outdoor activities such as climbing, abseiling, gorge scrambling and paragliding with a tandem flight (the only summer camp offering this). During the week children learn first aid, mountain rescue and how to recognise fungus, with lectures from the National Trust, and finish the week with a two-day camp in the mountains. Proper boys-own adventure, with boys and girls coming from as far as Switzerland and Holland to enjoy, it can't be beaten for traditional outdoor activities (www.keswickoutdoors.com or email jocky_sanderson@hotmail.com for prices).

Sing after me "Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda. Here I am at Camp Grenada…"

Got a question about family travel? Email our trio of experts at yoursay@timesonline.co.uk - Chloe Bryan-Brown takes care of questions for the 0-6 year olds, Emma Mahony handles the 7-12 age group and Jane Owen the teenage and single mother groups.

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