Summer Camps Are No Longer Just Log Cabins and Wienie Roasts
Some kids hear the bugle at the crack of dawn during summer
camp. But 16-year-old Amanda Shaw heard the roaring engines of
NASCAR stock cars outside her bunk area at the Atlanta Motor
Speedway. She was attending Race Camp, a summer camp designed
for kids who want to become race-car drivers.
Amanda is one of the 9 million kids who attend one of America's
8,500 summer camps each year. Maybe your child is not into race
cars. Have no fear--there is a summer camp for nearly every
activity, condition, pursuit or theme imaginable!
Perhaps your child is an aspiring Bill Gates or has visions of
playing on stage with Yo-Yo Ma. Computer camps and music camps
are easy to find nation-wide. There is a myriad of camp options
from gardening camps to leadership camps, and from academic
camps to special needs camps (for kids with specific medical
conditions). How do you know which camp is right for your child?
How can you be certain that a camp will be safe and that the
kids will have a fun and rewarding experience? While there is no
simple answer to those questions, many parents take comfort in
American Camping Association (ACA) accreditation. About 2,200 of
the 8,500 summer camps across the country pay to undergo
certification by the ACA in 300 different categories, including:
staff, health, safety and program quality.
The experience your child receives at camp depends on the
camper, the camp and how they mesh. Some important questions to
ask when exploring camp possibilities: What is the camp's
philosophy? What is the camp director's background? What
training do camp counselors receive?
What is the camper-to-counselor ratio? (It should be about 8-1
for residential camps) What are the counselors' ages? (At least
80% should be 18 or older) How many counselors are returning
from last year? (It should be at least 40%) How are behavior
problems handled? Is there a nurse on staff? How are
homesickness and other adjustment issues handled? "Can you visit
your child during the camp?"
The wonderful thing about summer camp is the fact that it gives
kids a taste of independence--some for the first time. Although
this can be frightening at first, such independence challenges
kids to grow as individuals. Without the aid of mom or dad, camp
kids are given an opportunity to make decisions for themselves.
They are also exposed to the freedoms of summer camp which
improves their social relationship skills.
Living, learning, playing, eating, and sleeping with other kids
their own age gives them a chance to improve their communication
and negotiation skills. From late night fireside chats to
squabbles over the breakfast cereal, children are repeatedly
challenged to look beyond themselves and improve their social
skills.
Price? For a lifetime of memories you can expect to pay between
$20 and $100 a day at a residential summer camp, not including
transportation to and from the locale.
After talking to your child about the transition from home to
camp, you might also want to make sure that YOU are ready for
the separation. Some parents often have a more difficult time
with summer camp than do the children.
Best wishes for a safe and exciting and a memorable and
rewarding camping experience!