Camp is an amazing experience that gives children the opportunity to learn new activities, meet new friends, and
learn essential life skills such as self esteem, leadership and confidence. There are many different summer camps for
families to choose from and each camp provides unique programming and
approaches. Parents
should consider what type of program and camp environment will fit with their
child’s interests and personality. With
so many different camp options, what is the best way for parents to find out what
a camp is really like before registering their child for camp?
The
American Camp Association has some tips for parents to help them learn about a
camp’s philosophy and character.
Tour the Camp
A good way for
parents and children to get a feel for a day or overnight camp is to tour the
camp. Scheduling a camp tour over the
summer summer gives the future camper a chance to see camp in action. A tour also gives you a chance to ask the
camp director questions while you are in the camp environment. If it’s not possible to tour the camp during
the summer, schedule a tour in the off season so you can see the facilities and
still get a feel for the camp environment. Camp tours give children the feeling
that he or she is part of the process of choosing the camp and the more
involved a child feels in the decision making, the more successful the camp
experience will be.
Rookie Days
There
are many resident camps that offer Rookie Days which are designed to give
future campers a chance to experience the camp in session by joining in on the
camp activities before going to camp.
While children enjoy the camp activities, parents are taken on a tour of
the camp. Rookie days are wonderful ways
for children and their parents to get a feel for what the camp is like and to
determine if the camp is the right fit.
Talk
to the Camp Director
Parents want to make sure they click
with the camp director. Speaking
with the camp director and asking some key questions is a good way for families
to find out about a camp’s philosophy and if it matches their own. Get to know the camp director through phone
calls, correspondence and in person.
Often times, the camp director will come to your home or you can meet
the camp director at a camp fair or camp open house.
Ask the camp director about the camps’ mission statement and
what type of child is successful at camp.
The more open families are with camp directors, the better informed they
will be when it comes to making a decision.
Look
at website, video and brochures
Parents
and campers should take time to look over a camp’s website, brochure and
video. They will give families a sense
of what a particular camp is like. Many camp websites have photo slide shows,
videos, virtual tours, and maps which will give parents and children a glimpse
of the camp and the camp program. Many
camps also include a sample daily schedule so families can see what a typical
day at camp is like. Camps will also
send you a DVD upon request so you and your child can view the camp and see
campers and counselors engaged in camp activities.
Need help finding the right camp for your child? You can contact the American Camp Association, NY and NJ's Camper Placement Specialist Renee Flax at 212.3915208 for free, one-on-one advice in finding the right day or overnight camp for your child. Click here to search for ACA Accredited camps in the northeast. ACA-Accreditation is a parent’s best evidence of a camp’s commitment to
health and safety and ensures that children are provided with a diversity of
educational and developmentally challenging learning opportunities.
