The old memories of ‘Capture the Flag’, hiking, and sitting around campfires are beloved by most children who attend any type of camp. Whether it is in the summer or winter; camps can have great physical and psychological benefits for children. The fresh air, social interactions, and active playtime offer kids the benefits parents crave and the memories that the children will cherish.
When you start your search to find the right summer camp for your child, there are going to be hundreds of questions being asked from yourself, the camp director, and especially your kid! Start with the simple questions such as: Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association? Do they have all the necessary licenses to be running the camp? However, knowing these answers does not mean that you have found the perfect camp for your child. Make sure you are prepared and in addition to several others, be sure to ask the following:
1) Is my child at the right age, temperament and social level for camp?
Most parents may not be ready to see their kids leave for either overnight or daily camps. However, some parents may forget to make sure that their own child is ready to leave for camp. Camps usually begin to accept children at pre-school ages. Yet, as every parent knows – every child is different. Depending on the type of camp you are considering, assess your child’s maturity and social skill level.
This assessment should be done to ensure a positive experience for both the camp and camper. If you are choosing an overnight camp, think back to the times that your child spent at sleepovers and how they reacted and handled certain situations. There are shorter overnight camps that could give you an accurate indication of how your child will handle a longer and more intense overnight camp.
2) What are the counselors like?
The first question you should ask about counselors is whether or not they are certified to lead children through camp activities. Certain camps accept high school students to work as counselors while others require a college degree. While most camps that employee high school students are both efficient and fun, make sure that the staff is friendly, engaging, and interactive. This counseling position should not just be a job for them if you want the best experience for your child.
The ratio of these counselors to campers does depending on the type of camp. However, ACA accreditation requirements for overnight camp ratios are the following:
Camps for ages 4-5 years old – 1 counselor for every 5 campers
Camps for ages 6-8 years old – 1 counselor for every 8 campers.
Camps for ages 9-14 – 1 counselor for every 10 campers
Use your best judgement to assess the staff and director, and when in doubt, lean towards a different camp. You should be absolute when trusting your child’s health and experience to another.
3) What type of camp will my child enjoy most?
To help ensure for an absolutely positive experience at camp, you will need to ask questions about your child. Sending a child who is passionate about hiking even in the winter, to an arts and crafts indoor camp may not be the best choice. Ask yourself and your child first if they enjoy indoor or outdoor activities more? Do they want to go to a camp to play sports, or should they go to a camp that will focus on academics? Nowadays, camps are not funneled into clear cut categories. There are aviation camps with flight simulators, acting camps with real Celebrity mentoring, spy camps, and even clown camps! Finding out your child’s interests and passions beforehand will save you time, money, and sanity!
4) What conflict resolution and health policies does the camp uphold?
The safety of your child is one of, if not the most important thing. Asking the camp’s staff how they handle certain conflicts can give you a great idea about the camp’s philosophies and their teaching style. You’ll be able to see how well a camp’s preparation and design for a specific incident holds up to their standards. Camp counselors should use most conflicts as a growing experience for the campers to bring them together.
Furthermore, make sure the camp has procedures that they follow regarding safety. All employees should have background checks, be trained in CPR and first aid, and specific activity certification (lifeguards if there will be swimming, etc).
5) Does the camp have any references?
A camp director’s job is to gain as many enrolled campers as they can legally have. This can be a disadvantage as camp director’s may tell you all the answers you want to hear, without any proof. Do your research about the camp. Ask for references from previous camper’s parents (or find your own!), and ask for their return rate for employees and campers. A good return rate will be over 50%, although that may vary depending on the type of camp.
If all else fails, take a tour of the camp while it is in session. This will give you a hands-on experience to see the counselor to camper interaction.
Photo Credits:
Sarah Joy
Camp Seale Harris
Camp Seale Harris
Steve B
Camp Seale Harris
Phong Nguyen
Camp Seale Harris
Camp Seale Harris
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