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The Six-Month Countdown
How to Find the Right Camp Right Now
By Christine Tarlecki
for PARENTS EXPRESS magazine
We're right in the middle of winter, but many of us are looking toward the summer and warm weather activities. One very popular activity is summer camp. But since there are so many varieties of camp, how does a family know where to begin?
"The first thing that I would suggest, when a camp idea arises, is to choose a camp together," says Ann Sheets, national president of the American Camp Association (ACA), based in Texas. Sheets says that this should be a family decision, based both on what the child is looking for and what the parents are looking for. The ACA offers the site www.campparents.org, where families can search for a camp if they don't have one they have already chosen.
Things to Keep in Mind
There are 12,000 camps in the country – about 7,000 resident camps and 5,000 day camps – and the ACA has 2,400 different accredited camps in the USA. Parents can search for all kinds of camps that fit their child's needs: day camp, residential camp, religious-affiliated, nonprofit and specialty (including equestrian, bereavement and grief, weight loss, sports, wilderness and visual and performing arts). They can also search by location and name.
While there are unaccredited camps in the U.S., Sheets feels that ACA accreditation is a good indication that a camp is following the health and safety standards that the ACA can set, and it is a good thing to look at first. "Not all of them choose to be accredited, and that's one question parents should especially ask. 'Are you accredited? If not, why not?' 'Why did you choose to not be?' Given the choice, I recommend the accredited camps first," says Sheets. "Some camps may be affiliated with a larger organization and have their own standards to follow, or may be in a state with very high regulations. Some states have very high regulations for camps," she says. "About two-thirds of camps do have accreditation."
Sheets also warns parents to be extra careful to research the camps they are looking into, because they may not be a camp in the full, traditional sense of the word. "Some places use the word 'camp,' but are programs that aren't really the time-honored customary experience," she says. "Parents need to ask what the philosophy is of the camp, and what the camp director's philosophy is. What is the program?"
Questions, Questions
Other good questions to ask include: What is the schedule? Where do the campers sleep? What do they eat? How well staffed is the mess hall? Do they follow dietary guidelines for growing children? How many staff is there? What is the ratio of staff-to-campers?
"It is also important to ask about the training the staff has gotten and how much experience the director has," Sheets suggests. "Above all, ask for references, find other families who have had a child in that camp and talk to them. That is one of the best ways to discover more about a camp. Also, visit the facility and visit with parents and kids who have been there, to find out what their experiences were."
Since you are entrusting your child to other people – either for a week or for the whole summer – parents should ask the staff about their training. "How much training should staff have? Where have they studied, interned or worked?," suggests Sheets. "Directors should have at least a college degree or a bachelor's degree, or some certifications. They should also have a couple of administrative or supervisory seasons in a camp. He or she should be at least 25 years old. Also, if they are working with campers with special needs, we recommend they have 24 weeks of experience (three summers) with that population," says Sheets.
What Do The Kids Want?
In addition to asking all this of any camp, parents should also ask their children what they want to do at a summer camp. Does your child want visual arts or marine science, extreme sports or a computer camp?
There is tremendous diversity in camps now, Sheets explains. There is a camp for every interest. "If a child is really into theatre, we can find them a theatre camp. Family camping has grown a lot. We have seen camps add new activities and programs over the last few years. Lately, there has been a 25 percent increase in computer camps, and day camps have grown popular," she says.
"One interesting new trend is a child attending one week of resident camp," says Sheets. " Traditionally, especially in the northeast, children would attend camp all summer, or half-summer, a month. Now that season is shrinking because there are so many different opportunities for kids. Instead of going to one camp, parents will choose one to three activities children can participate in over the summer."
One of the main things Kimberly and Eric Stovekin, of Allentown, Pa., parents of 10-year-old Garrett, look for in a camp is the educational value. "Garrett gets bored easily, so we look for the education hidden in the fun, such as a wilderness walk to learn about plants, flowers and trees, or a canoe trip to learn a new skill, or fishing or knot-tying," says Kimberly. Garrett attends an accredited camp in the Pocono area. "This past summer he learned to identify animals tracks, poisonous mushrooms (to stay away from!) and how to pack a backpack lightly for a weekend camping trip," she says. "These are the kinds of experiences we want our child to have. Garrett is excited for 'Summer '08' – he wants to learn how to repel down a mountain!"
For the upcoming camp season, ask the right questions, be safe and have fun! We'll see you on the trail!
Christine Tarlecki is a freelance writer from Mont Clare, Pa.
Last Updated: 1/18/2008 4:53:26 PM EST
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