Picking a Summer Camp

So you are thinking about a Summer Camp for your child. First decide if your going to a Coed Summer Camps or an all boys or girls camp. Each have their own merritt. Maybe a Coed Camp is best for your child. Next, work with you child to find a camp that will increase their interests or expose them to new activities. After all that, here are the top 10 questions to ask a summer camp director. This list was compiled by the American Camp Association.

What's the camp's ideology? Are you comfortable with this ? Is it a good fit for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? What religious observances or practices are part of the program?

How does the Summer Camp get and train its staff? Do counselors have criminal background checks? First aid training? Drug Testing? What's the training all about?

What about Staff and Camper return rates? How many counselors are returning this year 50% is a good numbers. How many campers return? Fifty percent is good, and more is better. Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this

What's the ratio of staff to camper? Guidelines for overnight camps are for a 1:6 ratio for ages for younger children, and 1:10 for older teens.

How old are the counselors? The ACA recommends that 80 percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise.

Is a Nurse at hand? The ACA recommends that an sleepaway camps have a physician or nurse on the site daily. If your camper has medications, food allergies or a medical condition, be sure you ask all your questions and are comfortable.

How does the camp handle conflicts and Discipline? Find out what the camp's rules are and what breaches would result in a camper being sent home. You should be comfortable that the camp's practices are in line with your parenting practices.

What is a day at camp like? This will help you know if your child will find happiness with the level of activity. Is their choice in selecting activities.

How does the camp provide transportation? How often are the van inspected? Who is driving, what's the training.

Get References and more References, Get the names of parents with children who have attended the camp. They will tell you what makes camp so special and why they want to return.

Still looking for ideas to help you make an informed decision? Check out Summer Camp Advice A FREE Summer Camp Directory

Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the Owners of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional coed overnight summer camp near Minong, Wisconsin. Boys and Girls ages 6-15 enjoy playing in nature, caring for animals, and learning science. It's like a Home School Summer Camp. Traditional camping activities include canoe trips, horseback riding, waterskiing and more. Swift specializes in programs for the first time camper! Learn more at Childrens Summer Camp