Choosing the Best Residential Camp

by Katrina L. Cassel

This year your child is going to camp. He's shown you that he's comfortable staying overnight with friends and relatives, he thrives on new experiences, and both you and your child are looking forward to the experience. Now it's time to pick the camp. Here are some steps to take to choose the best camp for your child:

What do you want from your child's camping experience? Improved self-confidence? Skills development? What does your child want from camp? New friends? Certain activities? Siblings may not want the same things from camp. Among my own four children, three want a camp where they'll be involved in a construction project. One doesn't want to do any hard work. Three want water sports, one hates water. Trying to find one camp that meets all of your children’s desires may not be possible.

Decide the length of the camp and your budget; these are closely related. Residential camps have programs that last anywhere from five days to the whole summer. You may find a church camp for as little as $200 per week, but most camps cost much more. A six-week camp will cost $1,500 and up. Discuss ways that your child can help save money toward camp. If you're thinking of sending your child for more than a week, evaluate his readiness. A child who thrives at a weeklong camp may become homesick during a longer stay.

Do you want a traditional camp, specialty camp or special needs camp? Traditional camps offer a variety of activities such as swimming, crafts, hiking and canoeing. While they will have a nurse, they may not have anyone qualified to deal with special medical or behavioral needs. They won't offer advanced training in any one area.

A specialty camp centers around one main activity such as gymnastics, music, computers or other interests. These camps have specially trained instructors at all ability levels and usually offer other activities during the day as well.

A special needs camp will have counselors trained to help children with specific concerns such as asthma, ADHD, and other medical or behavioral needs. Specialty and special needs camps tend to cost more than traditional camps.

How far away are you willing to let your child attend camp? Consider travel expenses. If you choose a camp that is driving distance from home, you may be able to visit ahead and meet the staff. You'll have less travel expenses. If you choose a camp farther away, you'll have more camps to choose from and your child will experience a new area of the country.

Discuss all of these issues with your child. Once you've agreed on what you want, the search begins. The American Camping Association, ww.acacamps.org, has an extensive directory. You can also find camp listings at www.KidsCamps.com. If you are looking for a church or mission camp, check denominational sites or sites such as www.teenmissions.org or www.lifeway.com/fuge/.

Ask other parents for recommendations. Call or e-mail camp directors. Ask to talk to other families who have sent their children to the camp. You're trusting your children to the camp and are entitled to have all of your questions answered.

Find out the ratio of campers to counselors. How old are the counselors? What training do they receive? How many counselors are returning from last year? Ask about discipline policies. Discuss any special needs your child might have such as medications, food allergies or special accommodations. Do children get a choice of activities? What if your child doesn't want to participate in an activity? How do they handle homesickness?

At the first camp my children attended, I asked questions, but there were some things I didn't know to ask. The camp could give medicine to my ADHD child, but I didn't realize that he would be required to eat everything offered at a meal. He also had to take part in each activity, with no alternative activities for children who didn't want to take part. My son had a miserable nine days while my daughter, at the same camp, loved it and couldn't wait to go back.

Check camp safety. A camp that screens applicants with background checks and fingerprinting is more likely to eliminate unsafe counselors. Children can also be injured during sports such as archery. Find out if counselors are trained in the sports they are teaching and what safety precautions are taken. Check that water activities are supervised. If you don't have a good feeling about the camp, don't send your child.

Camp can be a wonderful experience for children if they attend one that meets their needs. Your child deserves a chance to have fun, experience a variety of activities and make new friends. You need peace of mind that others are caring for your child in the same careful way that you do.

Katrina Cassel, M.Ed., lives with her husband, five of their children, and an assortment of pets in the Florida panhandle.