AP February 2006 - Overnight Camps from A-Z

by Peggy Middendorf

Your child wants to go to an overnight camp. How do you
decide which is right for you?

Residential camp, whether for one week or the whole summer, is an exciting – and scary – prospect for parents as well as children. Parents want their children to have a positive and safe camp experience at a professionally run camp, but kids just want to have fun. How can parents and kids alike find a camp they can agree on? Here are a few pointers from A to Z that can help narrow the search.

When are kids ready?

Only a parent and child can determine if that child is ready for an overnight camp. Most children are ready by age 11 or 12, and some might even be ready by age 8. A few camps accept children as young as five or six, but this is usually too soon.

Age, personality and circumstance must all be taken into consideration when making this judgment call. Very young children are not yet capable of dealing with overnight camps, but may enjoy day camps. Starting with a day camp will allow your child to have a positive camp experience – in small doses. Young children who have spent many nights away from home will have a better chance of a happy overnight camping experience.

It’s usually best to start younger children off on a shorter stay at camp – one or two weeks at the most. Camping with a friend is also helpful for the first- timer. But older, more experienced children might prefer a month or more to complete various courses, badges, etc.

To the newcomer, spend-the-night camps can seem intimidating at first, no matter what the age. But once you and your child settle on the right camp, some time away from home might be just the ticket to beat the summer bla's, and build self-confidence to boot.

Camp Harrison

10 Questions
to Ask When
Choosing a Camp

Finding a camp that provides the right program for your child isn’t always easy. There are a lot of wonderful camps to choose from. Here are 10 questions that can help you make the best decision:

1. What is the camp’s philosophy?

2. What will my child experience during his camp session?

3. How is the staff screened and chosen?

4. What is the staff-to-camper ratio?

5. Is there a medical professional on staff? How are individual medical needs and emergencies handled?

6. How much is camp registration, each session and other fees?

7. What is a typical day’s schedule? Do campers have a set schedule or can they choose activities?

8. How do you handle homesickness?

9. What are your restrictions, if any, on care packages?

10. How many children are in each group and how many are in each session?

Camp Blue Star

ACA
Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association? Ask your child if he is interested in a camp that specializes in a specific sport or computers or a general “summer-fun” type of camp?

Brochures
Write for brochures and DVDs from camps your child is interested in. Read and compare the brochures to shorten your list of choices.

Cost
What does the camp cost? Is this fee all inclusive? Does the fee include field trips, special supplies or materials fees? How much of a deposit is required to hold your child’s place? What is the refund policy should your plans change or your child changes his mind? Is the camp coed?

Director
What is the director’s background? How is discipline handled? Are disabled or special needs children accepted at camp? Are they separated or main-streamed into camp life?

Equipment
How much equipment and other resources are available for your child? If your child desperately wants to ride horses each day, divide the number of horses by the number of kids using them for an idea of the amount of time your child can use that resource.

Fairs
Attend summer camp fairs and expos to find out about a variety of camps. Explore the possibility of family camp for a different summer experience for the whole family. Does the camp offer financial assistance? How does a camp accommodate your child’s food allergies?

Goals
What are the camp’s goals and philosophy? Make sure they are compatible with your own.

Homesick
How will the camp handle a child who
is homesick?

Insurance
Does the camp offer insurance or does the child need to be covered under your personal policy?

Jobs
Are individual campers responsible for jobs around camp? How are these responsibilities divided and rotated?

K-rations
Do they serve K-rations or gourmet cuisine? Ask for a sample menu for a week.

Location, location, location
Is the camp near home (for first-time campers)? Will my child like a camp located in the mountains or at the beach?

Medical
What type of medical staff does the camp offer? How are medical emergencies handled? A nurse on staff may be fine for most camps but a weight-loss camp might need a doctor on staff at all times.

Numbers
What are the number of children per group? How are the groups divided - by age, skill level or other criteria?

Options
Are there options or choices available at camp? Can you tailor a program for your child?

Packing
What should your child pack for camp? Ask for a specific list of clothing, bedding and special equipment (such as tennis racquet, baseball glove, tap shoes, etc.). Don’t forget to ask how often laundry is done – that will dictate how much underwear and changes of clothes you need to send.

Questions, questions, questions
Don’t be afraid to ask the camp director any question. After all, he and his staff are assuming the responsibility for your child for all or part of the summer.

References
Ask for local references and call them. Ask other parents about their child’s camping experience as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the camp. Call a camp referral service. These services provide information on a multitude of camps, at no cost to parents. What is the ratio of staff to children? The American Camp Association (ACA) recommends one staff person to every six children ages 7-8; one to eight for ages 9-14; and one to 10 for ages 15-17. Is a religious atmosphere important to you?

Staffing
What are the staff’s qualifications and ages? The ACA recommends that 80 percent of the staff be 18 years or older. Ask for a typical camp schedule. What are the session lengths? What is the camp’s safety record?

Training
What training does the staff undergo? Who supervises this training and the counselors on a day-to-day basis? What is the turnover rate of counselors from summer to summer?

Umbrellas
What about umbrella weather? With so many of the camp’s activities dependent on the sun shining, what does the camp offer for inclement weather? Are campers required to wear a uniform? If so, how many should be bought and where can they be purchased?

Visiting
Visit a camp beforehand, if possible. A personal visit can give a parent more information than any video or brochure. Visiting during a summer session is the best opportunity for parents to view the program in progress.

Who’s who
Who teaches classes in specialized areas such as swimming, archery, rafting, rock climbing, computers, scuba diving, sailing, dance, etc.?

eXistence
How long has the camp been in existence? Who owns the camp? What is its background and in which direction does the camp director see it going?

Youth Counselors
Does the camp offer a program for youth counselors in-training for mature older campers? In some cases, youth counselors in-training may have a reduced tuition or attend camp for free.

Zzzzzz
What type of sleeping quarters are available? Will the kids sleep in tents, cabins or under the stars? Will they sleep in beds, cots or sleeping bags? If your child isn’t used to “roughing it,” this is an important issue.

Atlanta Parent Magazine
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