Summer camps are more popular than ever, so they fill up fast. If you've got the time to pore over camp materials, contact camp directors or even arrange for an off-season tour, all the better. Here's some useful information about camp programs and tips on what to ask in order to find the right camp for your child.
Camp Today
The summer camp experience has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at some of the trends this year, from the camp advisory service Tips on Trips and Camps (www.tipsontripsandcamps.com):
• Specialty camps are on the rise. You can find summer camp program offerings such as rock music,creative writing, culinary arts, aviation, fencing, science, foreign language, horseback riding, tennis, golf, sports broadcasting, skateboarding, robotics and even circus arts.
• Kids at younger ages can take advantage of enrichment programs. Kids as young as fourth grade can live at a boarding school or college dorm, eat in a community dining hall, and take some cool enrichment classes, such as "LEGO Engineering" and the "Science of Superheroes."
• "Taste of camp" sessions give kids an introductory peek at camp life. For the younger child, camps are offering short, introductory sessions ranging from three days to two weeks. Full season camps are offering two-week sessions to allow parents to fit in a residential camp experience and other activities during the summer break.
• There are more camps to choose from if you have a child with special needs. Many mainstream camps are admitting children who are blind, deaf or dealing with conditions like Asberger's syndrome or cerebral palsy. Plus, there are camps specifically dedicated to kids with disabilities such as Prader Willi, Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, and more severe forms of autism.
• More camps are accommodating kids with food allergies. Some have moved to a peanut-free environment, while others have created gluten-free camps for kids with Celiac disease.
• Programs for tweens and teens are growing. There are foreign language programs, marine science sailing programs in the British Virgin Islands and adventure travel programs, all customized by maturity and educational experience.
Look into summer community service programs, as well, to help your teen learn the value of giving back. Or consider a career internship in areas such as archaeology, fashion design or medical research. Career internships on college campuses are available in England, and in many large U.S. cities. And colleges are offering academic programs to give high school students an idea of what it's like to live on a college campus. Programs include SAT prep, sports and leadership sessions. Course studies range from architecture to economics and environmental science.
What's Out There?
• Traditional camps offer a wide range of activities, from athletics to crafts to confidence-building skills.
• Specialty camps meet a child's particular interest, such as drama, music, sports or technology.
• Travel camps take campers on hikes, bikes, horseback or canoe rides in parks or other outdoor sites, including abroad.
• Preschool camps are day programs for children just 2 years and 9 months old up to years old to 4-1/2 years old.
• Special-needs camps are designed to meet the needs of children with physical, mental or learning disabilities. Some camps combine children with and without special needs for all or part of the day. Others focus on kids with a specific disability.
What to Ask About
When considering a particular camp for your child, ask for specifics on the:
√ Background and experience of the director
√ Criteria for hiring staff: average age, experience level, background checks)
√ Ratio of staff to campers: Recommended ratios range from one staff member for every six campers ages 7 and 8 to one staff member for every 10 campers ages 9 to 14 and one for every 12 campers ages 15 to 17.
√ The level of expertise of staff at a specialty camp: For example, a music camp should have professional music teachers instructing campers.
√ The cost: What is the tuition? Are there other expenses? Is financial aid available? Will a trip outside the camp cost extra? Is there a refund policy?
√ The condition and safety of facilities and equipment: There should be no unprotected cliffs, swamps or dangerous water areas; equipment should be in good condition; and safety rules should be in place and enforced. The campsite should have adequate security, etc.
√ How medical care is handled
√ The camp philosophy: a clear statement of goals and a program that meets those goals
√ The variety of activities planned
√ The schedule and pace of a typical camp day
√ The age range of campers
√ The kind of food served
Ask day camp staff about:
√ Camp hours: regular and extended-day
√ Transportation: availability, type of transport and driver experience
√ Whether lunch is provided
Ask overnight camp staff about:
√ The director's availability to campers
√ Supervision
√ How homesickness is handled
√ Condition of living quarters (bathrooms, electricity in the cabins, etc.)
Resources
• American Camping Association (ACA) - 765-342-8456; www.acacamps.org - Offers a searchable database of 2,400 day and residential camps that have earned ACA-accreditation, which assures that the camp is safe and provides a quality program.
• KidsCamps.com - www.kidscamps.com - This nationwide directory of summer camps features day, overnight, sports, arts, special needs programs and more. Entries are not very detailed, but they do provide basic information.
• National Camp Association (NCA) - 800-966-CAMP (2267); www.summercamp.org - Provides parents with personalized guidance and referrals to overnight camps for children worldwide. All camps recommended by the NCA are accredited according to public health regulations and have received a positive evaluation from the NCA and parents.
• SummerCamps.com - www.summercamps.com - Lists 15,000 camp programs, searchable by broad criteria.
• Tips on Trips and Camps - www.tipsontripsandcamps.com - A free summer camp advisory service with offices in several states. This group has plenty of creative, innovative ideas for summer camps and programs. Call-866-222-TIPS (8477) or visit the Web site for more information.
Books
• The Summer Camp Handbook: Everything You Need to Find, Choose and Get Ready for Overnight Camp - and Skip the Homesickness, by Christopher A. Thurber, Ph.D., Jon C. Malinowski, Ph.D., and Mark Scott; Perspective Books, 2000.
• Summer Fun: The Parents' Complete Guide to Day Camps, Overnight Camps, Specialty Camps, and Teen Tours, by Marian Edelman Borden, Checkmark Books, 1999.
© Parenthood.com, used with permission.
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