While growing up, hearing someone talk about summer camp conjured up images in my head of camping, swimming, hiking and possibly doing a few crafts.

There were, of course, sports camps where young athletes could hone their skills on the courts or the fields.

I always wanted to attend Camp Greenville or Camp Thunderbird. The brochures from those camps made them look so cool, with their water skiing and swimming. But with a lake in my background, those were activities that I already participated in a lot, and my parents felt I didn’t need to go away to camp to enjoy them any more.

Instead, there was the local YMCA’s day camp. To me, it was just as good. It offered canoeing, sailing, swimming and all sorts of sports activities. Looking back, it proves that I didn’t have to go far away from home to a high-dollar camp to have fun.

When I look through our annual Palmetto Parent camp guide, it’s amazing to see what is offered or what someone calls a “camp.”

But that comes with the terminology people use these days. Camp for some does not involve being outdoors at all, but instead revolves around a special interest. If a child wants to participate in something and it’s available to them, that’s great.

Children can go to camp for more intense schooling in academic fields — there are camps for chemistry, science and history. There are camps that teach kids how to play chess. There are camps where children learn how to cook. There are camps for photography buffs.

These days, there is a camp for just about any activity in which a child may be interested, whether is athletic, intellectual or just plain fun.

This is where a problem can arise for some families. My wife, Lori, and I have two daughters, Sam and Robin. Their interests generally revolve around something athletic, but they also enjoy the outdoors.

This love for the outdoors took center stage many years ago when Sam was invited by her best friend from church to attend Asbury Hills Methodist Camp. The day Sam got home from camp that first year, she was already talking about attending the following summer.

Sam’s love for Asbury Hills was infectious in our house. Robin wanted to go, but she was too young during Sam’s first few years. When she was finally able to go, she, too, fell in love with the place.

Sam graduated from being a camper to a counselor. While the pay isn’t great, she realizes that enjoying what she’s doing is just as important. Sam loved it so much that she thought about majoring in a program in college that would enable her to work at camps. She changed her mind about that career choice after getting to college, but her love for camp has never wavered.

Whether camper and counselor, Sam and Robin have made some great friends and some great memories. Their experiences prove that children can step into an unknown world and grab a tight hold onto something.

If your child wants to attend cooking camp, chess camp or band camp, consider letting them give it a try.

You never know what they may get out of it.