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Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Mo -- To Which Camp Should my Child Go? There are camp brochures on your coffee table. There are camp brochures gathering in your mailbox. Your child's best friend's mother is ringing your doorbell. She greets you with camp information she gathered to help you. Your well meaning relatives are calling you with recommendations of camps they so fondly remember. Your children are becoming more and more excited with every program you read about and insist that's the camp for them. You go to sleep at night hoping that choosing a camp tomorrow will become easier only to have visions of camp brochures dancing in your head. You tell yourself there must be an easier way. A good camp, whether it be sleep away, travel, or specialty program has the potential to offer your child many positive and enduring outcomes. A camp experience can be fun, healthy, relaxing, and an opportunity to develop skills whether they be athletic or interpersonal and it offers youngsters a chance to become more responsible and independent. Consequently, because a camp experience may have a significant impact on your child's life, it is important for parents to learn how to make a well considered decision about choosing a camp. Keeping in mind the objectives, needs, and expectations of both you and your child, you will find it useful to use National Camp Association's "GUIDELINES TO SELECTING A CAMP". 1. List possible camps. Ask parents about camps, or contact the National Camp Association, which offers a free camp advisory service. Call (800) 966-CAMP, local 212-645-0653 or email info@summercamp.org. 2. Meet with the director of any camp being considered. Ask how long he has held his job. Look for someone who has been in that position for a minimum of four years. Also ask the following questions: 3. What percentage of campers return each year? If most kids are not coming back, there's a reason for it. 4. Who are the staff members? How are they hired? Does the same staff tend to return year after year? Even though most staffers are students, a high turnover indicates a high degree of dissatisfaction. 5. What is the counselor-camper ratio? One staff member for every four children is a good ratio and the accepted norm. 6. What facilities are available? 7. What is the schedule like? Is it a structured program or one that emphasizes choice? 8. What is the camp philosophy? Does it focus more on sports or arts? Is it a diverse program? 9. What is the camp's attitude pertaining to competitiveness? 10. Is the camp accredited by an overseeing organization or by the state? An accredited camp will have stringent standards pertaining to health, safety and general programming, and it will be inspected on a regular basis. 11. What are the sleeping arrangements and toilet/shower facilities like? 12. What medical staff and facilities are available? 13. What is the ethnic and religious makeup of the camp? 14. What is the total cost of the camp, including extras? For more information contact National Camp Association. Also available is our pamphlet: "How To Choose A Summer Camp". ©1992 - 2008 National Camp Association |