You are considering a summer camp, but how to choose? There’s a camp that is ideally suited for every child, providing a summer of growth and fun whether your child attends a day or overnight camp, a specialized or traditional camp. With a little help from the camp professionals at the American Camp Association, here is some sound advice that helps parents sort through the choices and benefits that camp delivers.
How to Decide When Your Child is Ready for Camp
Children are ready for new experiences at different stages. Parents know their children best and these questions can help gauge whether this is the summer your child will start camp.
What is your child’s age, and what is your perception of his or her readiness level? Children under 7 who have not had overnight experiences may do better with a day camp as their first camp experience.
Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home? Visiting relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?
The Perfect Fit
Camp can last for just a few days or stretch to all summer long. It’s well worth the trouble to investigate the variety of choices offered by camps before your child packs a backpack. These questions help you consider the options.
Near or Far? Where do you want your child to go to camp? Locally or far away? While each camp experience has something unique to offer your child, this is an opportunity for families to assess what they value for their campers.
Benefits of Camp Nearby
- Easier to evaluate and visit
- Friends and family are likely familiar with camp
- Minimal travel costs
- Likely contact with classmatesor children from same region
Benefits of Camp Far Away
- More choices
- Different experiences, different geography, e.g., mountains or oceans—even different languages
- Promotes independence, particularly for adolescent campers
- Diversity of campers
- Chance for family to visit andvacation at close of camp
More Choices
Short or Long? Camps offer widely varying options to help parents and children reach their goals for summer fun and exploration. Talking with your child about the goals you both share helps determine which choice is right for you.
Benefits of Short Sessions (one-three weeks)
- First-time or younger campers have a chance to learn new skills
- Bonds develop with other campers and staff
- Great exposure to camp experience with less expense
- Minimizes homesickness
Benefits of Longer Sessions (four-twelve weeks)
- Strong sense of belonging to camp community
- Chance to learn new skills
- Development of specialized skills
- Multiple opportunities for learning and enrichment
- Lifelong friendships
- Opportunities to contribute to camp culture
Traditional, Specialty, and Specialty? Choices abound when it comes to camp programs. One may offer a variety of activities geared to campers of all ages and skill levels, others, because of their setting and expertise, may concentrate on one or two activities while providing traditional activities as well.
Benefits of Traditional Camps
- Wide variety of activities
- Chance for campers to try new activities
- Exposure to more campers and staff
Benefits of Specialty Camps
- One or two specialized activities
- Deepens knowledge and skill in particular area of interest or ability
The Value of Camp for Every Child
Making the decision to send your child to camp opens up a world of discovery and learning for your child,
For nearly one hundred years, the American Camp Association has been serving the camp community and families considering camp. Visit www.CampParents.org, to learn more about the camp experience, search the Find a Camp database, and explore the world of child and youth development.
For more information about child development and the camp experience, visit www.ACAcamps.org or call 1-800-428-CAMP (2267).
Originally printed in CAMP Magazine, reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association © 2015 American Camping Association, Inc.
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