5 Tips for Planning Summer Camps Now

Last summer I signed my daughter up for horse back riding camp. Every day, when I picked her up and asked if she got to ride the pony or horse, she said, "No, but I got to feed them and I got to hold the barn kitties". This was not the camp owner's fault. My daughter chickened out and decided she liked animal care better than riding. Needless to say, my planning process will be different this year. I think I will make money instead of spend money by letting my daughter do some pet sitting.

If your children are old enough and you want to organize your summer this year so that your kids learn new skills and are kept happy, healthy, safe, and busy while you have time to work in or outside the home, then planning summer camps in February can give you an advantage.

Summer Camp sign up starts in February in many places and some of the best ones get booked up quickly. Here are some tips for getting your kids matched up to the right activity for them and for you.

1) Seek out a local publication or Summer Camp Fair in your area to maximize your time. Take your children with you to witness first hand which camp ideas really light their little faces up. Here are some helpful links:

http://www.kidscamp.com" kidscamp.com nationwide directory of camps by category

bunk1.com A search engine for finding camps

http://www.scouting.orgscouting.org The official site for Boy Scouts of America including camp info.

YMCA.net

Also, check with your church and other churches in your area for VBS (Vacation Bible School) camps.

2) Is the camp accredited? If the camp has a logo that says ACA "Accredited by the American Camping Association" then it is accredited. This means that the camp has lived up to criteria set by an independent association of camping professionals. Camps are evaluated on physical site, health care, program, personnel, administration and many other components. Only about 25% of camps in the US are accredited by the ACA and many that are not, are still excellent camps. Some just choose not to seek accreditations. For more info go to; http://www.acacamps.org

3) Ask what the camp goals are for your children. Dig in and ask why they started the camp and what makes theirs better from others.

4) Ask about the screening and training process for camp counselors. These are the "big kids" or adults that will be in charge of your children. Find out how they are chosen and how many there will be per child.

5) Get references from the camp and from trusted friends or neighbors who have experience with that camp. This is the best way to finalize your decision. Ask the camp for references, but also ask any fellow moms if they have ever tried this camp and what they experienced.

Planning now can help keep some order to your summer and make it fly by with lots of productive time for you as well as allow your children to try some things they would never have had an opportunity to try during the traditional school year. Plus, hopefully, they will go into the next school year with some memories and experiences of a lifetime.

© 2008 Kathy Kline Danner

www.PBandJAHM.com

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