How can you tell what the "right camp" is for your
child?
Parents should know that for every child, there exists a perfect
camp or program. The diversity of camp programs has grown
exponentially over the years. From traditional camps that
focus on camaraderie and spirit to skills-based camps that focus
on improving a child’s ability in a certain area, there
is much to choose from. Finding that perfect camp or program
means being completely honest about what you want for your child
as well as about your child’s interests and limitations.
The first step is to clarify your goals for you and your child.
That includes considering parameters such as length of stay,
budget, location, kinds of activities, and any religious affiliation.
To ensure your child’s success at camp, you need to be
able to articulate what that experience should look like.
According to Abby Shapiro, founder and owner of CampSource,
a free, personalized summer camp and teen program advisory service, "Beyond
doing the appropriate homework, parents can benefit from discussing
these issues with other parents in a group setting because it
helps them discover what their goals truly are. Most parents
have the same issues and concerns in general, but a group discussion
gives parents the chance to hear answers to questions they may
never have thought to ask."
Parents find meeting together in a home format to be warm and
inviting to even the most awkward questions. They
feel they can ask about issues they might be uncomfortable asking
a camp director. Everyone learns from others’ questions.
Parents often say, "I can’t get answers when I don’t
know what the questions are!" Some of these questions
could be crucial to the decision-making process. Discussing
the subject out loud often helps clarify what is important.
Most parents are also reluctant at first to send their child
away for two to eight weeks. Usually it’s the parent who’s
"not ready" —not the child. It’s
good to hear other parents express their reticence. They
hear that they aren’t alone. Also, since camp information
breakfast or evening gatherings are hosted at a home and the
hostess’s
friends are invited, parents meet others in their community who
are going through the same emotions at the same time. The
group becomes a network of friends to check in with on topics
such as letters home, homesickness, and questions like "do
we bring the grandparents to visiting day?" You
can arrange to have coffee with another parent who has just sent
off her son or daughter in the first few days of camp.
Beyond sharing information with other parents as a group, another
source of information is a camp consultant or advisory service. "When
a child finds him or herself in the ‘right’ environment,
so many incredible results can occur. Better communications
skills, increased self-esteem, and a sense of independence are
just some of the life skills children bring home from camp,"
states Abby Shapiro. "The most important thing parents need to
realize is that each child is different—each child’s
needs are different and each child will gain something unique
at camp."
If you use an advisory service, it’s crucial that the
consultants recommending camps have actually visited the camps
they suggest. Through research and camp visits, a camp consultant
can recommend a setting that will be suitable for the child described
by the parent.
Whether talking at a camp information meeting or with a consultant,
there is just so much to consider that questions can go on and
on. Discussion can be quite lively when a child’s happiness
is at stake.
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