Choosing a Sleep Away Camp
- Details
- Parent Category: Advice - Childcare and Education
- Category: Summer Camps
Parents agree: sleep-away camps are some of the best ways to increase your child's self-reliance, problem-solving skills, and love for the great outdoors! Not to mention getting them off your iPad. But not every camp is for everyone-- here are some tips on how to find your kid the perfect camp!
Also, check out our summer sleep-away camp recommendation section.
If you are considering sleep-away camp, assess you and your child's needs. "Traditional" camps remain the most popular, but each year new specialty options emerge-- from rollerblading camp to scuba camp to language camp. The biggest factor in your child's camp experience is the composition of their camp-mates, so be sure to consider the age-range, gender, and diversity of the camp! Other important factors: your child's interests and hobbies, the length of the camp session, the distance from home, and the cost.
If you want to start researching on your own, a good starting point is the American Camping Association's website, where you can access a camp-planning calendar, browse through camp options by multiple criteria, and check camp accreditation.
Once you've narrowed down your top choices, it's a great idea to interview camp directors! Here's a helpful list of questions to ask:
- What is the camp's philosophy?
- How long have you owned and run the camp?
- Where do most of your campers come from?
- How do you handle homesickness?
- What is the camper/counselor ratio?
- How much selection is there in the schedule? How structured is the schedule?
- What are the evening activities?
- What is the level of competition?
- Will my child's special needs be met (i.e. allergies)?
- What types of trips are there? How do they travel there?
- What is the telephone/email/visiting policy?
Good luck in your search, and here's to some happy campers!