It’s the time of year when parents ask me this question. Whether you are thinking about transitioning from a summer daycamp to sleep-a-way camp, or enrolling for the first time, this can be a daunting task. I have put together some thoughts that hopefully will help you navigate this process.
Understand Your Child: Although going to camp with a friend is helpful, get familiar with what your child truly enjoys and how they behave away from you. They don’t always love what their friends do. If they love excitement and adventure, they might thrive in an outdoor adventure camp. On the other hand, creative children might find their passion in arts or STEM camps. Remember to talk through the options together to make it a joint decision. Making new friends is a part of the magic of summer camp.
Assess Camp Style and Philosophy: Decide whether a day camp or an overnight experience is more suitable for your family. Please do not send your child to a residential camp if they aren’t familiar with sleepovers. You can choose between traditional, sports, academic, or specialized camps. It’s important to check out the camp’s mission to see if it matches your family’s values. It is also important to understand who’s truly running the camp and their credentials.
Consider Practical Aspects: Look into factors like cost, session lengths, location, and scheduling. Please be sure to understand the refund policies and register early to reserve a spot. Inquire about the camper-counselor ratio and see if before or after care services are provided.
Ensure Safety and Accreditation: Confirm the camp’s accreditation and familiarize yourself with their safety protocols, background checks, and training for abuse prevention. Please ask how old the staff is and how much training do they receive. Understand how they deal with medical needs and food allergies. Please ask how far away is the nearest hospital and how do they get there.
Questions to Consider: Ask about how they select their staff, the range of activities offered, how they manage homesickness, behavioral issues and how they communicate with parents. Look into how transportation is handled and ask about a typical day’s schedule to understand how they communicate your child’s progress and behavior.
Include Your Child’s Opinion: For those going to camp for the first time, visiting the camp or watching virtual tours can help ease any nerves. Encourage your child to ask about activities and potential friends or bunkmates. Is there a Rookie Day they can attend and do they have a Big Brother/Sister Program.
I truly believe there’s few better gifts than sending your child to summer camp. I hope these suggestions help ease the pain in finding the right place for you and your children. Please feel free to reach with any questions or call me at 303-377-1805 for more individualized help. Thank you and happy camping!
Mary Stein
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