| What are the benefits of sending a child to a | | | | What is the camp's philosophy and program |
| traditional summer camp? Should you select a | | | | emphasis? |
| summer day camp or an overnight summer camp? | | | | Each traditional summer camp has its own method of |
| Positive summer day camp or overnight summer | | | | constructing programs based on its philosophy. Does |
| camp experiences can be of tremendous benefit to | | | | it complement your own parenting philosophy? Are |
| your child's development. While at a traditional | | | | the activities at the summer day camp or overnight |
| summer camp, either a summer day camp or | | | | summer camp of interest to your child? Many |
| overnight summer camp, children learn about | | | | traditional summer camps actively promote |
| themselves, learn to be more independent, are | | | | competition and healthy rivalry among camp teams, |
| expected to live up to expectations and help out | | | | as reflected in team sports. For many campers this is |
| younger campers. | | | | pure fun. Some parents feel that learning to be |
| A good traditional summer camp program can help | | | | competitive at an early age teaches essential survival |
| increase a child's self-esteem, teach them respect for | | | | skills. However, other parents and educators are in |
| others, enable them to learn self-respect and also | | | | favor of cooperative learning. Research has shown |
| learn tolerance of others. Living in a group situation, | | | | that noncompetitive methods encourage young |
| as in an overnight summer camp, campers learn to | | | | people to learn more, retain it longer, and develop |
| accept differences such as race, religious beliefs and | | | | greater self-esteem and appreciation for others. |
| cultural differences. Both types of traditional summer | | | | Knowing your child's personality and style of learning |
| camps offer benefits that will help your children grow | | | | is valuable in selecting the right summer day camp or |
| and mature and broaden their horizons. | | | | overnight summer camp. |
| When you receive a traditional summer camp's | | | | What is the camp director's background? |
| brochure, you will invariably have questions for the | | | | American Camping Association (ACA) minimum |
| camp director about the camp philosophy as well as | | | | standards recommend directors possess a bachelor's |
| that of the director. From that first phone call and/or | | | | degree, have completed in-service training within the |
| visit to the web site, you begin developing an | | | | past three years, and have at least 16 weeks of |
| impression of what a particular traditional summer | | | | camp administrative experience before assuming the |
| camp is like and how it's run. | | | | responsibilities of director. |
| A traditional summer camp may be described in | | | | What training do counselors receive? |
| nothing less than glowing terms in its brochures. The | | | | At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety |
| setting can be absolutely breathtaking. Activities | | | | regulations, emergency procedures and |
| offered by the camp may run the gamut from | | | | communication, behavior management techniques, |
| racquetball to modern dance. In the end, however, | | | | child abuse prevention, appropriate staff and camper |
| it's the human equation of how those activities are | | | | behavior, and specific procedures for supervision. |
| operated and conducted that determines the quality | | | | Often traditional summer camp counselors are college |
| of the summer day camp or overnight summer camp | | | | students working toward degrees in various |
| program. Remember the marketing materials for | | | | sports-related and human services fields. |
| traditional summer camps are designed to make you | | | | What is the counselor-to-camper ratio? |
| want to send your child there! | | | | ACA standards require different ratios for varying |
| Get to know the camp director as a person through | | | | ages and special needs. Generally, the ratios at |
| telephone conversations, correspondence and if | | | | overnight summer camps range from one staff for |
| possible, a personal visit. Have the director describe | | | | every six campers ages 7 and 8; one staff for every |
| the camp's philosophy and how it is carried out by | | | | eight campers ages 9 to 14; and one staff for every |
| the staff. Find out if you have the option of sending | | | | 10 campers ages 15 to 17. At day camps the ratios |
| your child for summer day camp or overnight | | | | range from one staff for every eight campers ages |
| summer camp. Ask how many years the director has | | | | 6 to 8; one staff for every 10 campers ages 9 to |
| been at that camp and also find out the total number | | | | 14; and one staff for every 12 campers ages 15 to |
| of years he or she has worked as a traditional | | | | 17. |
| summer camp director. | | | | What are the ages of the counselors? |
| How Much Is It Going To Cost? | | | | ACA standards recommend that 80 percent or more |
| One of the biggest questions facing parents when | | | | of the counseling/program staff be at least 18 years |
| they consider sending a child to a traditional summer | | | | old. Staff must be at least 16 years old and be at |
| camp is the cost. The cost of a traditional summer | | | | least two years older than the campers with whom |
| camp, whether a summer day camp or overnight | | | | they work. |
| summer camp, can be substantial especially if there is | | | | The number and types of programs a particular |
| more than camp-age child. American Camping | | | | traditional summer camp offers may also impact the |
| Association accredited overnight summer camps and | | | | ages of the counselors. Academic camps and other |
| summer day camps offer price ranges to fit every | | | | specialty camps may require camp counselors to |
| budget. While not always the case, if a non-traditional | | | | have a particular level of education or number of |
| summer camp is designed for a very specialized | | | | years of experience or training. |
| group of campers, it may be more expensive than | | | | What percentage of the counselors returned from |
| traditional summer camps, which are also often called | | | | last year? |
| adventure camps. | | | | Most traditional summer camps have from 40-60 |
| The cost of a traditional summer camp per week will | | | | percent returning staff. If the rate is lower, find out |
| probably also figure into how many weeks of | | | | the reasons why there isn't a higher number of staff |
| summer day camp or overnight summer camp your | | | | who return to work at the camp each year. |
| child(ren) will attend. The American Camping | | | | How are behavioral and disciplinary problems handled? |
| Association reports the among its accredited camps, | | | | Are the behavioral expectations clearly laid out and |
| both summer day camps and overnight summer | | | | available to campers in advance? They should also be |
| camps, the prices for a week of summer day camp | | | | reviewed with the campers on the first day of camp. |
| or overnight summer camp ranges from $75 per | | | | It's also important to know the disciplinary steps that |
| week to $650 per week. | | | | will be taken for violation of the rules. |
| There are some ways to save money, even if it is | | | | What is the style and personality of the camp |
| not obvious from reading the camp brochure or | | | | director? How much authority do the camp |
| visiting the camp's website. | | | | counselors have? These are all important questions to |
| The first question you should ask is whether or not | | | | ask because you want to be sure the camp behavior |
| financial assistance is available to help subsidize the | | | | standards and disciplinary policies are a good fit for |
| tuition costs. It's not uncommon for all kinds of | | | | your child and your family. |
| summer day camps and overnight summer camps to | | | | What if a child becomes ill, is injured or has a special |
| set aside a certain number of spots for families who | | | | need? |
| might not otherwise be able to afford to send their | | | | Find out if trained medical personnel are resident in |
| child to traditional summer camp. If they don't offer | | | | the camp at all times, especially overnight summer |
| to subsidize the full cost of the camp session, they | | | | camps. A nurse or other medical professional will be |
| may pay part of it. | | | | able to tell if an injury is serious and requires more |
| Although scholarships for traditional summer camp | | | | intensive medical attention. You'll want a professional |
| programs are usually available on the basis of need, | | | | available if a child becomes ill or needs medical |
| there may be extra unclaimed subsidized spots which | | | | attention in the middle of the night. |
| the camp will allow your child to fill. You won't know, | | | | If your child has allergies or is insulin-dependent, there |
| though, unless you ask. If you are hoping to receive | | | | should be a designated place for the medication to |
| a scholarship or other type of financial assistance, it's | | | | be stored in a locked container. It should be |
| a good idea to apply early before all the slots are | | | | administered only by trained staff. If your child |
| taken. | | | | requires a special diet, find out if the camp is able or |
| Another way to save on the cost of traditional | | | | willing to accommodate their dietary needs. The |
| summer camp is to find out if special discounts are | | | | wrong answer to any of these considerations can be |
| available. Often summer day camps or overnight | | | | potentially life-threatening. |
| summer camps will offer a discounted tuition price for | | | | Even a child who has slept away from home in the |
| early registration, for siblings attending the same | | | | past may become homesick, or simply have trouble |
| camp, or for signing your child up for a particular | | | | adjusting to the overnight summer camp during the |
| session of the summer camp program. Again, if you | | | | first few days. Find out from the director how |
| don't ask, you won't know what your options are. | | | | homesickness is handled by the staff and let your |
| What is included in the tuition cost? | | | | child know what their recourse is if they feel lonely |
| Typically, transportation is included as part of the | | | | or have trouble adjusting. |
| cost for summer day camps. Resident or overnight | | | | Is the camp American Camp Association accredited? |
| summer camps may offer transportation from a | | | | Why or why not? |
| central location or may require the campers to be | | | | American Camp Association accredited camps |
| delivered to the campground. If the overnight | | | | undergo extensive scrutiny and must meet very high |
| summer camp program includes trips, movies, laundry | | | | standards to be accredited. Accreditation reviewers |
| service, snack bar, special equipment or other costs, | | | | ask over 300 questions about the camp and staff |
| find out if they are included in the cost, if your need | | | | including essential health and safety issues, program |
| to pay a separate additional fee, or if you should | | | | quality and the camp's overall operation and |
| send extra money with your child to camp. | | | | functioning. |
| What is the refund policy? | | | | What about camp references? |
| Refund policies vary greatly from camp to camp. | | | | Every summer day camp or overnight summer camp |
| Some refunds cover only illness of the child, while | | | | will sound like a dream when you read the brochure |
| some will give a total refund if it is requested prior to | | | | or visit the website. Ask the director to provide you |
| a certain date. Some camps may return all but a | | | | with a list of references including past campers and |
| registration or administrative fee and some may not | | | | counselors to check the camp's reputation. |
| offer refunds at all. | | | | |