You are considering a summer camp, but how to choose? There’s a camp that is ideally suited for every child, providing a summer of growth and fun whether your child attends a day or overnight camp, a specialized or traditional camp. With a little help from the camp professionals at the American Camp Association, here’s some sound advice that helps parents sort through the choices and benefits that camp delivers. As spring approaches, parents and children can look forward to planning for the future—a future that includes the opportunities for exploration and discovery that arrives with summer camp.
How to Decide When Your Child is Ready for Camp
Children are ready for new experiences at different stages. Parents know their children best and these questions can help gauge whether this is the summer your child will start camp.
What is your child's age, and what is your perception of his or her readiness level? Children under 7 who have not had overnight experiences may do better with a day camp as their first camp experience. If you think your child might not be ready for an overnight camp experience, consider the day camp experience to prepare him or her for future overnight camp.
How did your child become interested in camp? Does your child talk about camp on a sustained basis? How much persuasion is necessary from you?
Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home? Visiting relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?
What does your child expect to do at camp? Learning about the camp experience ahead of time allows you to create positive expectations.
Are you able to share consistent and positive messages about camp? Your confidence in a positive experience will be contagious.
A Camp for Every Child—The Perfect Fit
Camp can last for just a few days or stretch to all summer long. It’s well worth the trouble to investigate the variety of choices offered by camps before your child packs a backpack. These questions help you consider the options.
Near or Far?
Where do you want your child to go to camp? Locally or far away? While each camp experience has something unique to offer your child, this is an opportunity for families to assess what they value for their campers.
Benefits of Camp Nearby
Easier to evaluate and visit
Friends and family are likely familiar with camp
Minimal travel costs
Likely contact with classmates or children from same region
Benefits of Camp Far Away
More choices
Different experiences, different geography, e.g., mountains or oceans—even different languages
Promotes independence, particularly for early and late adolescent campers
Diversity of campers
Chance for family to visit and vacation at close of camp
Session Length Offers Another Choice
Camps offer widely varying options to help parents and children reach their goals for summer fun and exploration. Talking with your child about the goals you both share helps determine which choice is right for you.
Benefits of Short Sessions (one-three weeks)
First-time or younger campers have a chance to learn new skills
Bonds develop with other campers and staff
Great exposure to camp experience with less expense
Minimizes homesickness
Benefits of Longer Sessions (four-twelve weeks)
Strong sense of belonging to camp community
Chance to learn new skills
Development of specialized skills
Multiple opportunities for learning and enrichment
Lifelong friendships
Opportunities to contribute to camp culture
Boys Only, Girls Only, or Co-ed?
Now may be the opportunity to explore the choices and benefits of all boys, all girls, or co-ed camps.
Benefits of Single Sex Camps
Breaking gender stereotypes—girls interact with women in position of authority and boys interact with men who act as nurturers
More opportunities to “be yourself” without impressing or competing with the opposite sex
Camp philosophy may be tuned into gender strengths and weaknesses
Brother or sister camps may share activities
Benefits of Co-ed Camps
Breaking gender stereotypes—girls interact with women in positions of authority and boys interact with men who act as nurturers
Mirrors and prepares campers for everyday living in a co-ed world
Allows families with a boy and a girl to attend the same camp
Offers diverse points of view
Breaks through rigid divisions set up in school when campers participate in equal footing
A Camp for Every Child—Traditional, Specialty, and Special Needs
Choices abound when it comes to camp programs. One may highlight a wide variety of activities geared to campers of all ages and skill levels, others, because of their setting and expertise, may concentrate on one or two activities while providing traditional activities as well. Parents of children with special needs are pleased to learn about the range of camp activities that help kids be kids first.
Benefits of Traditional Camps
Wide variety of activities
Chance for campers to try new activities
Exposure to more campers and staff at varying activities
Benefits of Specialty Camps
One or two specialized activities (often combined with traditional offerings)
Expectation for increased proficiency during camping session
Deepens knowledge and skill in particular area of interest or ability
Benefits of Special Needs Camps
Activities geared to campers’ abilities
Knowledgeable staff with expertise to understand campers’ strengths and challenges
Supportive and fun atmosphere to share with others
The Value of Camp for Every Child
What happens when you make the decision to choose camp? You open up a world of discovery and learning for your child, a world that values children for who they are and who they will become. Camp gives each child a world of good.
For nearly one hundred years, the American Camp Association has been serving the camp community and families considering camp. Please visit our family resource Web site, https://www.acacamps.org/campers-families, to learn more about the camp experience, search the Find a Camp database, and explore the world of child and youth development.
For more information about child development and the camp experience, please visit our family-dedicated Web site, https://www.acacamps.org/campers-families or call our toll-free number, 1-800-428-CAMP (2267).
Originally printed in CAMP Magazine, reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association © 2005 American Camping Association, Inc.
About ACA
The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization; 10,000 members strong, it is actively working with over 2,700 camps. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy and evidence-based education and professional development, and is the only national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. For more information, visit https://www.acacamps.org/campers-families.
