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’s some sound advice that helps parents sort through the choices and benefits that camp delivers. As spring approaches, parents and children can look forward to planning for the future - a future that includes the opportunities for exploration and discovery that arrives with summer camp.
- What is your child’s age? Children under age seven may not adjust easily to being away from home. Consider the day camp experience to prepare them for future overnight camp.
- How did your child become interested in camp? Does your child talk about camp on a sustained basis? How much persuasion is necessary from you?
- Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home? Visiting relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?
- What does your child expect to do at camp? Learning about the camp experience ahead of time allows you to create positive expectations.
- Are you able to share consistent and positive messages about camp? Your confidence in a positive experience will be contagious.
Benefits of Camp Nearby
- Easier to evaluate and visit
- Friends and family are likely familiar with camp
- Minimal travel costs
- Likely contact with classmates or 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 early and late adolescent campers
- Diversity of campers
- Chance for family to visit and vacation at close of camp
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.
Benefits of Single Sex Camps
- Breaking gender stereotypes—girls interact with women in position of authority and boys interact with men who act as nurturers
- More opportunities to “be yourself” without impressing or competing with the opposite sex
- Camp philosophy may be tuned into gender strengths and weaknesses
- Brother or sister camps may share activities
Benefits of Co-ed Camps
- Breaking gender stereotypes—girls interact with women in positions of authority and boys interact with men who act as nurturers
- Mirrors and prepares campers for everyday living in a co-ed world
- Allows families with a boy and a girl to attend the same camp
- Offers diverse points of view
- Breaks through rigid divisions set up in school when campers participate in equal footing
Benefits of Traditional Camps
- Wide variety of activities
- Chance for campers to try new activities
- Exposure to more campers and staff at varying activities
Benefits of Specialty Camps
- One or two specialized activities (often combined with traditional offerings)
- Expectation for increased proficiency during camping session
- Deepens knowledge and skill in particular area of interest or ability
Benefits of Special Needs Camps
- Activities geared to campers’ abilities
- Knowledgeable staff with expertise to understand campers’ strengths and challenges
- Supportive and fun atmosphere to share with others
ACA accredits over 2,400 camps. ACA-Accredited® camps meet up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality. www.ACAnorthland.org
For more information about child development and the camp experience, please visit our family-dedicated Web site, www.CampParents.org
