Jet Set Kids: Going to Summer Camp in Style

July 3, 2007— -- Ah, summer camp. Long nights by the lake. Canoeing. Communing with nature. And don't forget the private jet. That's right, the private jet.

This year, Pam and Jim Synk are taking their 12-year-old son P.J. to summer camp in a Beech Jet 400A.

"Wow, this is neat!," exclaimed P.J.

Neat…but not cheap. It costs $8,000 to rent the plane, not including the platter of custom peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. That's an additional $244 paid to an outside company catering the charter.

Believe or not, this is part of a new trend.

"This summer I think we've had between 18 to 20 flights booked for kids to go to summer camp. Now we are still taking flights. People are still calling in," said Joy Eller, chief operating officer of Revolution Air, a jet brokerage company.

Airplane Food: Rice Krispie Treats and Captain Crunch

Revolution Air found a privately owned jet for the Synk family to take them from White Plains, New York to Portland, Maine -- a distance of 249 miles. They also arranged for the catering which included sushi, Rice Krispie treats and a cake for P.J.'s upcoming birthday.

"It's like a dream come true. It really is. An easy comfortable way to go…Blue skies and happy landings," said Eller.

Agents at Revolution Air have accommodated many other requests from their young clientele including Xbox, Gameboy, movies, and Captain Crunch. For an upcoming birthday they are even putting together a supermodel-themed party on board, complete with a manicurist and hair stylist.

Money for Convenience

For the Synks, it's all about togetherness.

"We wanted to create a family memory," said Jim. "The kids grow up so fast, you blink your eye, and you got a 13-year-old boy, and you blink your eye again and they're gone; they live their own life."

"It's all about memories," Pam agreed.

But as memories go, isn't this one a bit over the top?

"Is it excessive? Well, I think it really depends on the individual who is utilizing the service," said Eller. "If in fact it's going to have a big impact on their life and their schedule, for them, I would say it's not excessive. There are people who spend a lot of money for convenience. People have been spending a lot of money on convenience for years and years. This is just another aspect of it."

From Sushi to the Simple Life

They did still sing camp songs on the way. And as they touched down, P.J. said he learned an important lesson… he "love(d) private jets."

Then it was off to Camp Timonous, and a somewhat different experience.

"There's no electricity in the cabins, the boys leave all of their electronic gizmos at home," said David Suitor, director of Camp Timonous, "and we try and instill a little bit of independence in them, and, uh a real love of being outdoors, and investing in this simple life that we have up here."

It's seven weeks of the simple life, and then P.J. heads home. Driving this time.