The Best Summer Camp in America (1)- Choosing the right summer camp is a family decision

The Best Summer Camp in America

Choosing the right summer camp is a family decision
This is the first article in a series of ten on “Choosing the Best Summer Camp in America”.

Choosing a summer camp should be a family decision
I was listening to a syndicated radio show as the host said how “awful it is to send your kids away to summer camp”.  I agree.  “Sending kids to camp” against their wishes is not the right way to begin a positive and enriching camp experience.

When choosing a summer camp, include your child in the decision. Picking a camp and sending your child away without involving her in the decision is the best way to send her to the worst camp in America.

Make a List of Summer Camp Programs
There are plenty of wonderful camps that specialize in particular activities- adventure, computers, or sports to name a few.  Start by sitting down with your children and make a list of camp activities that sound interesting to them.  If he wants to learn rock climbing, canoeing and soccer, there’s a camp for him.   If she is intrigued with drama, mountain biking and ceramics, there’s a camp for her.  Lots of them.  Keep in mind, the best camp for your daughter might not be the best camp for your son.

Odds are that your child has several friends that attend camp already.  Just because a friend likes a camp doesn’t mean it will be the right fit for your child.  Attending camp with a friend can add to the experience but can also detract from the experience.  When choosing a camp, be sure your child considers the program as part of the decision, not just if his friend attends.

Swimming at campFind Summer Camps Everyone Can Agree On
There are factors in choosing a summer camp that don’t generally matter to kids, but will matter greatly to parents.  Kids want a fun experience.  Parents want positive role models, solid values, and an enriching experience for their child.  Discerning parents, along with their child, will often make a list of six or seven camps that are of interest to the future camper, then let the child pick from two or three that match the parent’s criteria.

Don't Wait to Plan Ahead - Great Summer Camps Book Fast
Start the process early. Exceptional camps may fill some sessions as early as September (yes, almost a year before the summer camp season). Many families will begin the camp search a full year before they are planning for their child to attend.

Follow these ten considerations and you will find the best camp for your child:

1.     Make it a family decision
2.     Camp philosophy
3.     Camp program
4.     Cost
5.     Location
6.     Camp size
7.     Camp staff
8.     Standards & accreditation
9.     References
10.      Facility

It may not be the same camp that I would choose for my son or that your neighbor would choose for their daughter, but it will be the best summer camp for your child!