How to Choose a Summer Camp

Finding a Summer Camp for your child takes some work up front. First decide if your going to a Coed Summer Camp or a sigle gender camp, like a all girls. Each have their own benefit. Maybe a Coed Camp is best for your child. Next, help your child to find a camp that will increase their interests or expose them to new activities. After you have 3 or 4, here are the top 10 questions to ask a summer camp director. This list was compiled by the American Camp Association.

What's the camp's ideology? Are you comfortable with this ? Is it a good fit for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? What religious observances or practices are part of the program? I

How does the camp recruit, screen and train its staff? Do counselors have criminal background checks? First aid training? Drug Testing?

What about return rates? How many counselors are returning this year? The ACA says at most camps, 50 percent of the staff returns. If the number you're given is lower, ask why. How many campers return? Fifty percent is good, and more is better.

What's the ratio of counselors to campers? ACA guidelines for overnight camps call for a 1:6 ratio for ages 7 and 8, 1:8 for ages 9-14; and 1:10 for ages 15-18. Day camp guidelines call for 1:8 for children ages 6-8; 1:10 for children ages 9-14; and 1:12 for ages 15-18.

How old are the counselors? The ACA recommends that 80 percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise.

What about Health Care? Overnight camp have a licensed physician or registered nurse on the site daily, Day camps should be have direct phone access. Be sure you are comfortable that the camp will be able to handle your child's special health care needs.

How does the camp Punish and Discipline? Know what your camp's rules are and what breaches would send a camper home. You should be comfortable with these.

What is a day at camp like? This will help you know if your child will find happiness with the level of activity. Is their choice in selecting activities.

How does the camp provide transportation? How often are the van inspected? Who is driving, what's the training.

References,References, References Most important, get the names of parents with children the same age who have attended the camp. They will tell you what makes camp so special

Need more ideas to help you make a smart decision? Check out Summer Camp Advice A Summer Camp Refeence

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the Directors of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional Children's Summer Camp in Wisconsin. Boys and Girls ages 6-15 enjoy playing in nature, caring for animals, and learning science. Traditional camping activities include canoe trips and more. SNC is so personal it seems like a Homeschool Summer Camp.

by: Jeff J. Lorenz

Total views: 6 Word Count: 451 Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 Time: 5:38 PM - 0 comments

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