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By Lily Morgan
Summer camps have come a long way. Not so long ago, you had your basic choices of either a sleep-away camp or the local day camp offered by the Parks and Recreation department. These days you still have those two choices, but in addition, you have sports camp, computer camp, art camp, music camp, and a slew of other specialized camps for kids.
Some things to consider before you get down to the business of choosing a camp are money and time. What kind of budget do you have? Can you afford to send your child to a specialized camp? Do they have sleepover or commuter options? How long do you want your child to go to camp? Do you want him or her to spend the entire summer away? Or, do you just want something for a couple of weeks before you and the family have an official vacation together?
When looking at specialized camps that cater to specific skills such as sports or the arts, you have to take into consideration your child’s talent and enthusiasm for that particular specialty. These types of camps are geared towards refining the raw talent your child might have and teaching them the ins and outs of an ability they might not learn in school. In other words, your child might have to have some base skill level pertinent to the type of camp before signing up.
Choosing a camp is an activity you can do with your child. You can both sit down and make a list of all the things your child wants to experience. Talk over how long a stay your child would enjoy and whether he or she is comfortable with being away from home for more than a night. You may find your child isn’t ready for extended leave of absences from home and becomes quite upset at the idea of camp. In that case, a close-by day camp is a better choice.
After you have your list of ideas and likes prepared, as well as other questions of budget and time set, you can start your search for the camp that fits your criteria. To find a camp, search the internet for the type of camp you’re looking for or contact the American Camping Association. The ACA offers information on all different types of camps across the United States. On their “Find a Camp” page, you can search for camps by the following criteria:
Activity/Targeted Focus
Special Needs
Cultural Focus
Location
Camp Name
Adults and Family
Age group
The ACA’s Camp planner page has topics about safety, how to figure out if your child is ready for camp, tips on packing for camp, how to deal with homesickness and many other bits of information that you, as a parent, would find helpful.
Find out what the camp’s programs are. What kind of accreditation the camp directors have? What certifications and training do the counselors have and how big is the staff? What is the ratio of counselors to children? Are all of their lifeguards certified? Can you call for references and talk to other parents whose children attended that camp?
You and your child can find a camp that fits. Once you do find the right camp, your child will be sure to have an enjoyable and memorable summer. And what will you do with all of your free time? Well, you could redecorate your childs room for a homecoming surprise. That bookshelf could be replaced, and a new bed might be in order too
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