SummerCamps Selections

By Lonnie Lorenz


It was only a few years ago that you child was happy to hang out in day care and wait for you to come home during the summer months. But now your child is asking to do more this summer. Go to the Grandparents, maybe Disney. How bout Summer Camp? Here are a few thoughts when considering summer camp for the first time.

Without a doubt, the first thing that needs to be considered is your child's preferences. Even if you think you already know what your child likes and prefers, discussing camp with her or him is always the first place to begin. The question that needs to be answered here is this: what does he or she hope to get out of camp? Remember, the kind of experience a camp gives participants will differ depending on what a camper focuses on. If this is the first time that your kid is going to camp, you should know that there are different types of camps that cater to different specific areas of interest. A camp that offers a range of general traditional activities can be the best choice for a child to discover and explore new areas of interest.

Gender is one of the first areas of concern. If your child is a teen or preteen you might consider a single gender camp. Like an all boys or girls. The benefit here is kids can concentrate on themselves rather than the other gender. Coed camps on the other hand are more like the real world and do allow kids the chance to make friends with the other gender.

Camps can likewise be classified depending on a particular theme or activity. There are academic, religious, specialized activity, and special needs camps you can choose from depending on what your child would like to learn or experience and relative to what you know he or she needs. If your child would like to explore or refine skills with a particular sport, for instance, you can find a camp that focuses on it. If your child needs academic work or a religious environment consistent with that at home, there are camps that can be great fun while catering to those needs.

Here is the biggie that most parents forget about, this will be a chance for your child to be away from you and a time for personal growth.This increased independence and improve social skills are areas you should see if your camp directors have a clue about... If not move on. A good camp experience when approached in the right manor can far exceed the particular intentions behind the choice to attend in the first place.

Finally, ask who is in charge on a daily basis. Find out about the background and credentials of the camp director. Ask about how long the director has been at the camp. Ask if the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association, which is an independent organization that reviews camps on standards affecting safety, management, personnel, programming and facilities. Accreditation is voluntary. If the camp is not accredited, ask why. Make sure that even with an accredited camp, you make sure that the program is right for your child and that you do a reference check. The work you put in Now will help ensure a great camp visit.

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