Choosing a Summer Camp

Choosing a Summer Camp

Summer camp can be a rewarding and enriching part of growing up. It offers a time for children to learn about themselves, other people, and about aspects of the world to which they might not normally be exposed. They meet and interact with new children, often from different parts of the city and state, and with different backgrounds. An overnight camp may also be a child's first experience being away from her family for more than just an overnight visit with a friend or a grandparent. Camp can be pure recreation, and it can be educational and a place to learn new skills and proficiencies. Some camps are designed to offer special and therapeutic experiences for children, helping them mature and learn to be more responsible for themselves.

If your child has certain health problems--perhaps asthma, diabetes, or a disability that keeps him confined to a wheelchair--there are camps devoted exclusively to these children. These programs have medical personnel and facilities on-site to ensure that the needs of the youngsters are met. Your pediatrician can help you identify such specialized programs. Keep in mind that some camps "mainstream" children with health problems, mixing them with other children. Youngsters do very well in these settings; this approach provides valuable learning experiences for all campers, whether they have health problems or not.

There are other factors to take into consideration. For example, do the children attending the camp represent a mix of social classes and cultures? How structured is the schedule of daily activities, and how much freedom in choosing activities is best for your child? Also ask whether the camp is accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA), indicating that it has met or exceeded a set of standards that include staff qualifications, first-aid and other health care facilities, and transportation. Inquire about the staff's background and training, and the staff-to-camper ratio. The ACA ratio requirements vary according to the age and health of the children; for instance, for campers with severe mental disabilities, the ratio should be one staff member for each camper. For overnight camp, the recommended ratio is one staff member for every six campers in the seven-to-eight-year-old range; and a one-to-eight ratio for ages nine to fourteen. For day camp, the recommended ratio is one staff member for every eight campers in the six-to-eight-year-old range, and one-to-ten for ages nine to fourteen.

Although middle childhood is the time when most children have their first camp experience, you need to determine whether and when your child is ready. She needs to have the physical and emotional maturity to live away from home for a week or two. Some camps are designed especially for younger children (ages six through nine) and thus are accustomed to giving some extra support to youngsters who may have some fears about being away from home for the first time.

But perhaps the key indicator of readiness is whether she is excited and enthusiastic about attending camp. If you are unsure about your child's readiness, try a day camp first to see how she does. If that turns out to be a positive experience, then you can start thinking seriously about an overnight camp.

As a parent, you are probably the best judge of where your child will be happiest and have the most valuable experience. Ideally, visit the camp and meet the camp director and counselors, and observe the activities that are available. Ask the camp director for the names of parents of past campers whom you can contact to get their impressions and advice.

Here are some resource you can turn to for additional information:

American Camping Association – http://www.acacamps.org
American Lung Association (for asthma camps) – http://www.lungusa.org
America Diabetic Association<