The sun is out and the summer camps are ready to start. I personally don’t have a great perception of summer camp because of an experience I had when I was a child. I remember being very young – seven or so – and being dropped off with my Strawberry Shortcake Lunch box, excited to meet new kids and run around all day long. What I got instead was a dreary, miserable camp experience. I was picked on, made fun of, and left to sit under a tree when it rained with no end in sight. The days stretched on and I kept going with the hope that “tomorrow couldn’t possibly be as bad as today” but I was wrong. The instructors took “smoke breaks”, the kids were mean and I didn’t learn anything new – except to hate summer camp. When I had my own kids, I decided to look into the camps a little more thoroughly than my over-worked parents had so they could have a better experience than I did.
There are thousands of residential summer camps in North America and it can be difficult and overwhelming to try and figure out the appropriate camp for your kids. Every camp is different, with different activities, varying timeframes, instruction levels and policies; leaving a child in the care of strangers is not something a parent does lightly. Ask questions and weigh the answers carefully for a stellar summer experience.
Which camp is your child most interested in? Many parents pick camps based on cost and availability only without really considering what experience their children would like to have. Ask your child what he or she is truly interested in doing / learning and sit down with them to chat about what’s available in your area.
What is the camp’s bullying policy? Bullying is a widespread problem in North America and it doesn’t stop at summer camp. Many children and parents report that bullying can be worse at camps than it is at school simply because of the change in environment and the close proximity of the children to each other on a constant basis for days on end. Ask questions about the camp’s policies on bullying and their disciplinary tactics.
Are the instructors or camp leaders experienced? Before leaving your child with strangers, find out a little more about the background checks and experience of the current staff. The best summer camps have dedicated, experienced and / or certified instructors, while others are simply municipal employees or people looking for easy summer money. Also, be sure that at least one or more leaders are trained in CPR.
What happens when it rains? Many outdoor camps boast a plethora of rainy-day activities, but parents would be surprised to learn how many actually have no set plans for these unfortunate days! Ask what types of activities your child will be taking part in if such an occasion arises.
How many people will be supervising in total? Find out how many campers there will be and compare it to the number of supervisors. If the number in comparison seems too askew, the supervision will be lacking – this can prove to be dangerous especially when there may be swimming or transportation to different locations.
What is the cost compared to the value? Summer camps that are worthwhile are sometimes a little more expensive than most simply due to training costs, materials, vehicle rentals and other overhead that means a better experience for your child. Make sure that the summer program is worth what you are paying. Loosely calculating the costs of field trips, materials, payment of instructors and rentals and dividing it by the number of children attending may help you really figure out what you’re paying for.
What are the pick-up and drop-off times? Many working parents use summer camp in place of pre school or as a replacement to their usual after school care; they may discount a camp because the camp day is shorter than their work day. Many camps however, offer a pick-up and drop-off time which extends the length of the day and allows parents to get there without missing work. Just be sure that they children will be properly supervised at these times.
Does the camp have references? If the camp can give you at least a short list of references, it is ideal to call a couple of families that have also attended. Online blogs can prove to be useful for this as well.
Summer Camps should be fun and exciting for children and parents alike. Be sure to ask these questions and more to ensure fun is had by all and that your kids will come home safe, happy and healthy.
Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer, web publisher and mother of two. She is currently researching Edmonton after school care and summer camps.
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