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If you have children that love new experiences and thrive on 'roughing it' in the great wide open, then you might have considered sending them to summer camp. Parents from all over the world decide which summer camps to send their kids every year, whether it be a day camp or a sleep away camp. The following guide will help provide you with information and tips on how to choose a summer camp for your child.
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Introduction
- Do you have children that love the great outdoors? Do they love engaging in a variety of activities, everything from fishing to swimming? Are your kids the type that don't mind being away from you for days or weeks at a time? Do they like new experiences shared with other kids from around the country or even the world? If so, chances are you have considered sending your children to summer camp. This guide will help provide you with all the necessary information on how to choose a summer camp.
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Step 1: Decide What Type of Camp
- Today there are so many types of camps to choose from that many parents feel overwhelmed. While it is important to narrow down your choices, try not to get discouraged. With more variety comes more opportunities! Keep in mind as you narrow your options that there are two main types of camp:
- Day camp - campers attend during the day, but go home at night. These camps may last several weeks or even a month, but only take place during the day.
- Sleep away camp - these are overnight camps. They may last a week or longer, but involve leaving home. Before sending your child to a sleep away camp make sure they don't mind being away from you for long periods of time.
- Once you have determined whether to send your child to day camp or sleep away camp, you can start looking at the various types of camps. The types of camps available include:
- Church camps - these are camps sponsored by various churches and usually are a combination of outdoor and indoor activities with worship studies
- Boy scout or girl scout camp
- Sports camp. This includes camps devoted to football, basketball, baseball, etc.
- School sponsored camps - this includes cheerleading camp, yearbook camp or dance camp
- Exercise and weight loss type camps
- Boot Camps
- Regular camp - this includes camps that feature fishing, hiking, swimming, diving, horseback riding, etc.
- Also keep in mind that some camps are co-ed, while others only cater to boys or girls.
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Step 2: Compose a List of Possible Camps
- Once you have decided what type of camp to focus on, it is time to compose a list of all the options for that particular type of camp. You can:
- Find camp options via the internet. Most camps will have an official website offering further information, but there are also sites that will provide a list of camp names for the type of camp you are looking for as well as the locale you are focusing on.
- Speak to other parents. This is a great method because other parents that you know and trust can often provide the best overall insight for a camp's strengths and weaknesses.
- Talk to people in the related field. For example, if you plan to send your child to a weight loss camp, talk to weight loss experts. If you plan to send your kid to a football camp, you may want to talk to area football coaches.
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Step 3: Research the Camps
- Once you have a working list of camps, you should begin some preliminary research. You should visit the camp's website to get a general idea of costs and what the camp actually offers. It might be too expensive for your needs, in which case you can move on to the next name on your list. However, if the price seems right and you like the general opportunities offered by the camp, then you should contact them directly and get more specific information. You may ask the following questions, or any additional ones you find pertinent:
- Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association?
- What is the camp's philosophy?
- How old are the counselors? The ACA requires at least 80% of the counselors be at least 18 years old.
- What is the recruitment and training process for the staff?
- What is the disciplinary process?
- What are the transportation services provided?
- What does an average day involve?
- What is the camp's approach to safety?
- Can the camp provide references?
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Step 4: Make the Final Decision
- Once you have gotten information on a handful of camps it is time to make that final decision. You may want to talk to your child and get some feedback. After all, they will be the one actually attending the camp. Also, make sure you pay attention to deadlines, as some camps will require you sign-up months or even a year in advance.
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Conclusion
- Choosing the best summer camp for your child is important, as there are so many options depending on where you are located and what type of personality your child has. By following the above tips you should have enough information to make a qualified decision on what type of camp to send your child to.
