Why Camp Tours are Important

If you are considering day or sleepaway camp for your child next summer, a good way to get a feel for a camp is to tour this summer.  Scheduling camp tours before sending your child to camp gives the future camper and family a chance to see camps in session, which helps parents understand the camp’s culture and program.   It also allows children to feel a part of the process of choosing a camp.  The more involved children are in the process, the more ownership they feel.  This can help make a child's camp experience more successful.  After touring camps, many parents say they just got a feeling about a camp and that's how they knew which camp to send their child to.  Tours also give parents a chance to get to know the camp director and ask him or her questions while in the camp environment.   It is important for parents to make sure they click with the camp director when choosing a camp.

Here are just a few questions to ask yourself while touring a camp

•              Do you get a warm feeling from the camp director?

•              Do you get the sense that the camp director cares?

•              Is the camp director able to answer all your questions and happy to do so?

•              Does the camp’s philosophy match your own family philosophy?

•              Does the camp offer activities of interest to your child?

•              Are the camp staff enthusiastic and engaged with the campers? 

•              What is the feeling you get walking around camp?

Families considering camp for 2015 can call Renee Flax at the American Camp Association, NY and NJ at 212.391.5208 for free, one-on-one advice in finding the right camps to tour for their child.