Find the right summer camp for your child

Ready, set, camp!

There’s a camp that’s ideally suited to every child, providing a summer of growth and fun whether it’s a day or overnight camp, a specialized or traditional camp. With a little help from the camp professionals at the American Camp Association, here’s some sound advice that’ll help you sort through the choices and benefits that camp delivers…

Is your child ready for camp?

Children are ready for new experiences at different stages. Parents know their children best and these questions can help you gauge whether this is the summer your child will start camp…

• What’s your child’s age? Children under 7 may not adjust easily to being away from home. Consider the day camp experience to prepare them for future overnight camp.
• Is your child interested in camp? Does your child talk about camp on a sustained basis or does it take a lot of persuasion from you before she’ll talk about it? Has she said she would like to go to camp?
• Does your child enjoy sleepovers? Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home or been to stay with relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?
• What does your child expect to do at camp? Learning about the camp experience ahead of time allows you to create positive expectations.
• Do you feel positive about camp? If you’re able to share consistent and positive messages about camp your confidence in it as a positive experience will be contagious.

Near or far?

Where do you want your child to go to camp: locally or far away? While each camp experience has something unique to offer your child, this is an opportunity for families to assess what they value for their campers.

Benefits of camp nearby…

• Easier to evaluate and visit.
• Friends and family are likely familiar with camp.
• Minimal travel costs.
• Likely contact with classmates or children from same region.

Benefits of camp far away…

• More choices.
• Different experiences, different geography (for example, mountains or oceans), even different languages.
• Promotes independence, particularly for early and late adolescent campers.
• Diversity of campers.
• Chance for family to visit and vacation at close of camp.

For how long?

Camps offer widely varying options to help parents and children reach their goals for summer fun and exploration. Talking with your child about the goals you both share helps determine which choice is right for you.

Benefits of short sessions (1-3 weeks)…

• First-time or younger campers have a chance to learn new skills.
• Great exposure to camp experience with less expense.
• Minimizes homesickness.

Benefits of longer sessions (4-12 weeks)…

• Bonds develop with other campers and staff.
• Strong sense of belonging to camp community.
• Chance to learn new skills.
• Development of specialized skills.
• Multiple opportunities for learning and enrichment.
• Opportunities to contribute to camp culture.

Boys only, girls only, or co-ed?

Now may be the opportunity to explore the choices and benefits of all boys, all girls, or co-ed camps.

Benefits of single-sex camps…

• Breaking gender stereotypes – girls interact with women in position of authority and boys interact with men who act as nurturers.
• More opportunities to ‘be yourself’ without impressing or competing with the opposite sex.
• Camp philosophy may be tuned into gender strengths and weaknesses.
• Neighboring camps may share activities.

Benefits of co-ed camps…

• Mirrors and prepares campers for everyday living in a co-ed world.
• Allows a brother and sister to attend the same camp.
• Offers diverse points of view.
• Breaks through rigid divisions set up in school when campers participate in equal footing.

Traditional, specialty, and special needs camps

Choices abound when it comes to camp programs. One may highlight a wide variety of activities geared to campers of all ages and skill levels; others, because of their setting and expertise, may concentrate on one or two activities while providing traditional activities as well…

Benefits of traditional camps…

• Wide variety of activities.
• Chance for campers to try new activities.
• Exposure to more campers and staff at varying activities.

Benefits of specialty camps…

• One or two specialized activities (often combined with traditional offerings).
• Expectation for increased proficiency during camping session.
• Deepens knowledge and skill in particular area of interest or ability.

Benefits of special-needs camps…

• Activities geared to campers’ abilities.
• Knowledgeable staff with expertise to understand campers’ strengths and challenges.
• Supportive and fun atmosphere to share with others.

The value of camp for every child

What happens when you make the decision to choose camp? You open up a world of discovery and learning for your child, a world that values children for who they are and who they will become. Camp gives each child a world of good.

Originally printed in CAMP Magazine. Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association ©2005 American Camping Association, Inc.

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