Hnts in Picking a Summer Camp
Selecting a Summer Camp for your camper takes some work. First think if your going to go to a Coed Camps or a sigle gender like a all boys camp. Each have their own benefit. Maybe a Coed Camp is best for your child. Now work with you child to find a camp that will increase their interests or expose them to new activities. After all that, here are the top 10 questions to ask a summer camp director. This list was compiled by the American Camp Association.
What’s the camp’s ideology? Are you comfortable with this ? Is it a good fit for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? What religious observances or practices are part of the program? I
What does camp do with staff? First aid training? Drug Testing? Do counselors have criminal background checks? What’s the training all about?
What about Staff and Camper return rates? How many counselors are returning this year 50% is a good numbers. How many campers return? Fifty percent is good, and more is better. Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this
What’s the ratio of counselors to campers? ACA guidelines for overnight camps call for a 1:6 ratio for ages 7 and 8, 1:8 for ages 9-14; and 1:10 for ages 15-18. Day camp guidelines call for 1:8 for children ages 6-8; 1:10 for children ages 9-14; and 1:12 for ages 15-18.
What’s the age of Staff ? Eighty percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise.
What medical staff work at the camp and what backup facilities are nearby? The ACA recommends that an overnight camp have a licensed physician or registered nurse on the site every day, and that day camps should have direct phone access. If your child takes medication, has food allergies or a chronic medical condition, be sure you are comfortable that the camp will be able to handle your child’s needs.
How does the camp Punish and Discipline? Know what your camp’s rules are and what breaches would send a camper home. You should be comfortable with these.
What is a day at camp like? This will help you know if your child will find happiness with the level of activity. Is their choice in selecting activities.
How does the camp provide transportation? How often are the van inspected? Who is driving, what’s the training.
Get References and more References, Get the names of parents with children who have attended the camp. They will tell you what makes camp so special and why they want to return.
Need more ideas to help you make a smart decision? Check out Summer Camp Advice A Summer Camp
About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the Directors of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional Children’s Summer Camp in Wisconsin. Boys and Girls ages 6-15 enjoy playing in nature, caring for animals, and learning science. Traditional camping activities include canoe trips and more. SNC is so personal it seems like a Homeschool Summer Camp.
