You have made the decision to send your child to camp but what should you be looking for in a camp program? There are many options to choose from and many considerations to finding the right camp for your child. The American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey recommends considering the following when choosing a camp.
1. Camp mission and philosophy – Ask the camp director what the camp’s mission statement and philosophy are and make sure it reinforces your own family’s values. Ask the director about the type of child that is a successful participant in their program. Questions like these will give families a better understanding of the camp’s position.
2. Program emphasis – Are you looking for a traditional well-rounded experience or a specialty program for your child? Think about what activities are must have’s for your child and make sure the camp offers these activities. Ask how long is each activity and how many electives children get?
3. Camp Director – Find out about the camp director’s background and if he or she is a year-round camp professional or a seasonal employee. Parents also want to make sure they click with the camp director. Speaking with the camp director and asking some key questions is a good way for families to find out about a camp’s philosophy and if it matches your own. Get to know the camp director through phone calls, correspondence and in person. Camp directors will also visit you at your home or you can arrange for a camp tour. You must feel comfortable entrusting your child’s care to this person.
4. Consider your child – Make sure your child is involved in the process of choosing a camp. Search camps online with your child and tour camps together. The more involved children are in the process, the more ownership they feel. This helps ease concerns about camp, and can help make a child’s camp experience more successful.
5. Safety procedures – Ask about the safety measures that are in place. These can include inquiring about medical personnel on property, emergency plans, staff screening procedures, and instructor qualifications.
6. Sensitivity to camper needs – If your child has special requirements, such as food allergies, ADD, etc., ask how the camp handles special considerations. Parents need to be honest and upfront about their child’s special needs and be sure that the camp is able to meet their child’s special requirements.
7. Enrollment options – Ask about the length of the program and if there is flexibility. For day camp, ask about the length of the day, whether there is before and after care and if transportation is provided.
8. Staff composition – Families should ask about who is caring for their child. Inquire about the age of the staff, their experience, pre-season and on-going staff trainings, background checks, the interview process, camper to staff ratios and supervision in cabins and various activities. At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency procedures, communication, behavior management techniques, appropriate staff and camper behavior, and specific procedures for supervision.
9. Day or overnight camp – When deciding between day and sleepaway camp, parents should consider a child’s age and maturity, as well as a child’s overnight experiences and if they have been successful. Children should also be mature enough to go away for an extended period of time and can do certain things independently like showering, getting dressed and brushing their teeth.
10. Outside review – Make sure the camp is inspected each summer by the Department of Health and find out if the program follows a nationally known accreditation process. The American Camp Association (ACA) is a non-profit organization that has the only camp accreditation program in the country. Ask if the program has chosen to participate. ACA accredits summer camps based upon 300 health, safety and program standards. The ACA goes well beyond what is required by the Department of Health and addresses specific areas of programming, personnel, health care, emergency response, management practices and youth development.
Need assistance in finding a camp? Families can contact the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey’s Camper Placement Specialist free, one-on-one advice in finding the right camp for their child. 212-391-5208 searchforacamp.org.
