Do Your Homework: Find the Right Camp for Next Year Now

By Peg L. Smith, CEO, American Camp Association

You may be breathing a sigh of relief that summer is winding down. Between trips to the pool, trips to the zoo, and the constant shuttling to and from Little League practice, you're probably looking forward to the more regulated schedule the school year ushers in. So why, you may be wondering, am I suggesting you start thinking about next summer now?

Camp is a childhood rite of passage that breeds confidence, lasting friendships, and fun—offering the kind of valuable enrichment programs that have all but disappeared from school systems nationwide, including the arts and physical fitness. If your son or daughter will be old enough next year to enjoy the benefits of a day camp or one that offers an extended stay of a week or more, beginning your research now on available options gives you plenty of time to nail down the camp tailor made for your child.

Let your fingers do the walking
The vast majority of camps today have well-organized Web sites that readily identify the kind of camp (day or overnight); ages of children that can attend; whether they are coed or single-sex programs; the activities they offer; and so on. Camp Web sites also provide contact information for the camp director including an e-mail address and phone number. Communicating electronically with the director or other staff members can help you identify the camp's culture and philosophy. And if your child has any special needs, you can hear how those needs will be addressed from the horse's mouth. Feeling comfortable with those who will oversee your child at camp is a must.

Learn from others' experience
Chances are your friends have children who have attended camp. Talk to them. Past happy campers are a great indicator that a camp can provide the enriching, joyful experience you want for your child. Don't be afraid to ask probing and detailed questions; a friend will tell you the truth. If a camp's programs are good but children don't get a lot of one-on-one attention, it may not be your first choice.

Ask a camp's director about the ratio of counselors to campers, how counselors are trained, what medical staff is on hand at the camp, what a typical daily schedule entails; ask your friends these kinds of questions:

• What stuck out as your child's favorite thing about the camp? Any challenges?
• Would you send your child back to the same camp? Why or why not?
• Can we set up a time for the kids to talk to each other about the camp?

Seeing is believing
If a camp you're considering is within driving distance and you have the opportunity, nothing can convey a camp's culture and quality better than seeing it with your own eyes. Make sure you take your little prospective camper with you so he or she knows this is a decision you're making together. Tour the entire facility, the cabins, the cafeteria, the grounds, even the latrines. If you can coordinate with the camp's director to visit when camp is in session, you can see the activities offered firsthand. Better yet, you can see the expressions on the campers' faces. Broad smiles and reverberating laughter are good signs.

Camp is an ideal way to enrich your child's summertime experience, and a little homework on your part now will pay dividends in fun, learning, and lifelong memories. The best camp experience for your child is one born out of an informed family decision.

Peg L. Smith is the chief executive officer of the American Camp Association.