@Rocky, our minor trip was always to the Orange County fair, where we would meet all the other camps, the memories the car stunt shows, demo derby, farm equipment, country music and rides will stay with me forever, I doubt the vaad of the camps today will ever permit this, yet we all grew up and raised yiddisher doros.
Another cost factor that is greater today in the chadishisher velt [with the exception of stoliner camp] is that until 20 years ago they hired bucherim as counselors, now they hire kollel yingerlate who they have to pay a decent salary and fringe, and frankly I think kollel ppl are much less devoted to the campers.