Planning for Camp Now ????
by Michele Klein

Dear Mom and Dad,
     I'm a little sad. It's the last week of camp. I've made a lot of new friends, learned how to throw a curve ball, and passed the deep water swimming test. I miss both of you a lot but I wish camp would last forever. See you Saturday.
Love,
        Jennifer

If this is the letter you hope to receive at the end of your child's stay at camp then now is the time to begin planning. You ask yourself how can you plan for the hot, hazy days of summer when snow drifts are creeping up to your sill? Yes, this is the time. The majority of summer camps are filling up quickly. You don't want your child to go on a waiting list and miss the best possible summer of his or her life!

If you are ready to begin, you want to be sure that you have time for you and your child to make a well considered decision of where to go. A camp experience may have a significant impact on your child's life. If you wait too long before looking at camps, you will regret the decision you made because it was made at the last minute.

Where can you go for help? Names of camps come to parents in many ways - word of mouth, an advertisement, or an article. These approaches may sound simple and quick, however, their consequences are often less than satisfying. Each family's needs and the interests of each particular child vary. You must begin evaluating such issues as - type, size, cost, location, and philosophy of each camp.

Camp advisory services can provide parents with assistance and specific camp recommendations. National Camp Association provides a free camp advisory service to the public. For further information or assistance call 800-966-CAMP, or local 212-645-0653, by email info@summercamp.org.

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