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Summer Camp-Which One?

Finding the right summer camp for your child.

By Sandy BennettPublished: April, 2006

Finding the right summer camp for your child.

Anna Callanan isn’t sure whether she will enroll her youngest child Nicholas, age 7, in summer camp this year. But if she does, the thirtysomething Los Alamitos mom – who has been through the process several times before with her two older sons, Joey, 14, and Jason, 11 – has a good hunch on what it will be.

Her boys’ camp experience mirrors their interests and passions sports, sports and more sports, from tennis and indoor roller hockey to surfing and junior lifeguard at the beach.

“We pick some programs and then let them choose from those,” she says.

Finding an area of interest for your child and involving him or her in the decision process are key elements when selecting a camp. There are many other areas to consider as well. Industry experts recommend parents allow ample time to decide since this component is critical to a successful camp experience.

“Historically, this is not a decision that parents have taken seriously enough,” says clinical psychologist and camp consultant Christopher Thurber, author of “The Summer Camp Handbook.” “It really is essential.

“Oftentimes I get asked the question, ‘What are the best camps in the country?’ And I certainly have some good ones that I’ve visited...But it’s not really a question of the best camp, it’s the best camp for your child.”

“But it’s not really a question of the best camp, it’s the best camp for your child.”

Camp consultant Christopher Thurber
While firsthand experience generally eases the way, the camp selection process can be daunting. This holds particularly true for parents of new campers. Consider for a moment just the sheer number of programs: There are 12,000 camps in the United States, according to the American Camp Association 7,000 residential camps and 5,000 day camps. Dozens and dozens are offered locally, from sailing and horseback riding to art and music to science and math.

According to Michele Branconier, executive director of the American Camp Association for Southern California/Hawaii, day camps have grown 90% in the past 20 years. Family and specialty camps are also on the rise. Specialty camps tend to focus on one activity, such as dance or martial arts, whereas traditional camps allow campers to participate in a variety of activities based on the child’s age and developmental level. In addition, more and more, special needs camp are being added to the mix.

“While every program is not necessarily for every child, there’s a camp program for every child,” says Branconier.

The choices
Before you can begin to narrow down your choices, you first need to know what choices are available. This is the No. 1 question asked by parents who call the American Camp Association: “How do I find a camp for my child?” Several related resources can help, including the Camp Guide Directory in this issue, which runs through June. Arranged by the type of program, the listing includes the name, address and contact information, along with a description of the program. Camp fairs represent another way to learn about the options available and to meet staff members. Camp shoppers, though, need to begin their search for local fairs in advance since there are few in number and they are often held during the first few months of the year. (Call the American Camp Association, Southern California/Hawaii for dates and locations.)

There are numerous considerations to keep in mind when selecting a camp, such as the preferred length of session. For example, are you looking for an overnight program? Or, something for a few hours a day? (See sidebar on Camp Counsel.)

Narrow down
Once the choices have been narrowed down, Dr. Thurber recommends parents research the camp’s return rate for campers and staff. Both of these, which won’t necessarily be included on the camp’s website or in its literature, serve as key indicators.

“The higher the return rate for campers certainly indicates a great deal of loyalty to the camp, which is often a proxy for quality,” he says. “And a high return rate for the staff again is an indicator of not just loyalty as a proxy for quality, but that is a direct indicator of quality because the more familiar the staff are...the better experience children are going to have.”

Thurber cautions parents to keep in mind that no camp has a 100% return rate. Some participants move, others opt for a new experience and some about 20% he says are too old to return the following year. For staff, an 80% return rate is considered excellent to extraordinary quality, 50-80% very high quality and below 50% average or below quality.

Go for a visit
Just as you would visit a college that your child is applying to, it’s also beneficial to visit a camp in action. Two things to look for: trash and togetherness. While camps can be extremely rustic, peeling paint on walls and trash on the ground shows a lack of upkeep. On the other hand, if the camp owners take pride in the facility, they’re also likely to take pride in the program they run. Also, look for camper-staff interaction.

“If the staff are not hanging out with the campers and actively involved in not just the scheduled activities but the free time, they’re not doing their job,” says Thurber. “Camp is about relationships, not just between peers, but among the staff and campers.”

The payoff
And remember, if you start to get frustrated or discouraged, the process does get easier, and the rewards are great. Anna’s 14-year-old son Joey had such a good experience at junior lifeguards that he has attended the program since he was in the third grade. Last year, Jason started the program.

“It gets easier because they know what they like; they know what to expect; they go back and it’s all the same kids usually,” says the stay-at-home mom. “They come home and they are tired. And they are not bored. Or when I pick them up, we just stay at the beach.

“It gets us out and about, instead of turning on the TV and staying in our pajamas.”

Sandy Bennett is managing editor of OC Family Magazine.

Enrollment trends

More than 11 million children and adults take advantage of the camp experience each summer, according to the American Camp Association. Here are some other figures based on a survey of camp directors:

Female campers account for 55% of total enrollment; male campers, 45%
   •    Approximately 8,700-plus camps are operated by nonprofit groups, including youth agencies and religious organizations; an estimated 3,300 are privately owned, independent, for-profit operators.
   •    The most popular session length is one week to two weeks.

Camp COUNSEL

Questions to consider
   1    What size enrollment will make my child feel comfortable?
   2    How structured do I want the program to be? Does my child like to have lots of choice in the activity schedule?
   3    Is my child ready to sleep away from home for an extended stay? This will help you to select either a resident or day camp setting.
   4    What session length will appeal to my child and to our family plans for the summer?
   5    How will the camp meet my child’s special dietary or physical needs?
   6    What is my budget for camp tuition?
   7    What training does the staff receive on safety, supervision, counseling, problem-solving and other issues unique to working with young children?
   8    Is the price all-inclusive or are there extra charges?
   9    If before- and after-camp extended care is offered, who is with the children and what activities take place?
10 Is lunch served or do campers bring their own sack lunch? Are snacks and drinks provided?
   11 Are campers in a group with a counselor all day? Or, are campers free to go from one activity to another with appropriate supervision? In this case, whom would you talk to if you had a question or concern about your child?
   12 Is an open house offered before camp starts where you can meet your child’s counselor and van/bus driver?
   13 Are parents allowed to drop by for visits or is there a special parent visitation day?

American Camp Association resources

   •    American Camp Association: The nonprofit organization works to preserve, promote and improve the camp experience. Its website offers lots of helpful information and tips for families, such as how to deal with homesickness and what items to pack for residential camp.
www.acacamps.org

   •    American Camp Association, Southern California/Hawaii: 213.483.4300

• “The Summer Camp Handbook: Everything You Need to Find, Choose and Get Ready for Overnight Camp” by Christopher A. Thurber and Jon C. Malinowski; also recently released by Thurber, a DVD/CD series titled “The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success.”

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