Is Your Kid Going to Camp?

on April 17, 2009 at 9:42 AM

photo by (my friend!) Peajewel

. Cody and his friends at church camp.

Are you sending the kids to camp this summer? My 5-year-old will be going for the first time this year. Day camp for now, as sleep-away camp is definitely too much at his age. We want him to swim and to go on cool trips, but we also want something that has a little academic enrichment snuck in. And we're thinking about football camp too--something where he can be athletic but also learn the value of team play. The truth is, I didn't realize how involved the hunt for camps would be. There are a lot of things to consider, cost not the least of them.

What I'm discovering about my search for the right camp, is that it is imperative to ask questions. At campparents.org, there's a wealth of info about just what those questions should be. Here are some of their suggested things to ask the camp director whether your child is going to sleep-away or day camp (remember, simply reading the brochure probably isn't quite enough to know the real deal):

What is the camp's philosophy and program emphasis?
What is the camp director's background?
What training do counselors receive?
What is the counselor-to-camper ratio?
What are the ages of the counselors?
What are desired qualities in camp staff?
What percentage of the counselors returned for last year?
How are behavioral and disciplinary problems handles?
How does the camp handle special needs?
How does the camp handle homesickness and other adjustment issues?
What about references?
Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association? Why? Why not?

Have your kids ever gone to camp? Will they go to camp this summer? What kind of camp?

Filed Under: activities, child care, summer break

Comments (7)

nookers

on Apr 17, 2009 at 1:08 PM

Yes my 3 boys will all attend a week of Bible camp up in the Lassen Volcanic National Park area. It's BEAUTIFUL up there, and they love camp.

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Cafe Cynthia

on Apr 17, 2009 at 2:07 PM

My 6 year old will go to our town's day camp, which includes swimming and sports and other activities. The best part is we have the option of doing half-days, which are great for a newbie.

MomOfJandM

on Apr 18, 2009 at 12:26 AM

No camp for us. You forgot to ask if they require all staff members to pass a background check. Just because the counselors check out doesn't mean the janitor isn't a psycho.

Peajewel

on Apr 18, 2009 at 10:53 AM

My son went to church camp (a week long) every year. He loved it. I cried my eyes out the first time I took him because our camp is about an hour away and it was the first time he had left me for that long. He had a blast and loved going every year. It is not just our church there are quite a few "sister" churches that have children that attend. He met some great people. I think it is good for them to go but I do agree you need to check it all out before going. Our church was an easy choice because I grew up there and know a lot of the people already. He even decided to become baptized there the year I was pregnant with my daughter.

MommySJN

on Apr 18, 2009 at 3:52 PM

Good article, I also found a good website called Ask The Camp Director where people can ask questions about different camps and all that. http://www.askthecampdirector.blogspot.com

kathy235

on Apr 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM

my oldest daughter went last year for the first time and my middle girl will be going for the first time this year with her sister they are going to camp assurance, for 3 days and 2 nights. my oldest had a blast last year and is looking forward to going again.

KAITLYNMOM417

on Apr 23, 2009 at 11:08 AM

My daughter went to Girl Scout camp for the first time last summer she loves it . she does a diffrent theme each week. She went for 4 weeks last summer,It is a day camp with stay overs on thursday nights. she had one week of horse back riding.this year she is going for 8 weeksshe has tree weeks of horse back riding she is thrilled.