Summer Camp Scramble

In the middle of March it is hard to believe that summer camp programs are filling up. Actually, many families begin enrolling their kids in February for June and July camps. Today, because children's schedules are as hectic as those of their parents it takes research to find the right camp and be sure to sign up early!

There is a camp for everything today. Most camps are segmented by age group and this has special implications for the overnight camps. Beyond age group, there are camps focused on every kind of activity under the sun. If kids are remotely interested you can find a summer camp that will dedicate several hours each day to pursuing that special interest. For example, there are camps in rocket science & propulsion, biology, solar power, and engineering. There are also more typical athletic camps like basketball, baseball and soccer. What is offered in your region will depend on the availability of experts organizing and teaching the camps.

Not all camp directors are equal. Some very specialized camps will have professors and teachers at the helm. Special appearances, like college lectures, can be included to bring in the experts. Other camp directors could be parents, volunteers or even high school or college students. What is the focus of the camp and who will be attracted to working in that camp? It is important to know who will be running the program from an educational standpoint as well as a supervision standpoint.

Supervision is critical when it comes to summer camp. The kids enrolled may not know each other or the camp counselors. In a few short days or weeks they all have to develop into a group that respects each other and the supervisor. Tough task! It takes a special counselor to manage the group dynamics quickly and effectively. Ask the camp coordinator about the counselors, what is their experience with this age group? What is their educational background? What kind of disciplinary policies are there? Similar to the first few weeks of a new school year it takes time to figure out the rules and expectations.

Expectations are really important. When picking a summer camp, be sure to study the program for age appropriateness. How old is your child and what is the age range included in the camp? It is very frustrating for kids, parents and counselors to have children who are too young for the program. On the other hand, if your child is too mature and not engaged in the program it will turn out to be a bad experience for them and a waste of your money.

Summer camp can be very expensive. For example, horsemanship camp is pricey because of the overhead. A soccer camp, on the other hand, requires a big field and a few soccer balls. Unless the instructor is an expert Olympic soccer player I would expect to pay less for soccer camp than gymnastics. Sleep over camp adds cost but also a fantastic growing experience for your child if they are prepared to be away from home for a week or two.

Take some time, now, while winter still holds on to research summer camps for your children. Talk to other parents in the community, check with the local newspaper and ask at school. Of course, no camp is always an option and often the down time is good for the kids and the extra time spent with family is valuable. What works for your family will depend on the cost, availability and household schedule. You can't really go wrong because what your child gets is a summer time experiential learning that can't be found in a classroom.