Choosing a Campy Camp
How to choose a CAMP that will have a positive and meaningful impact on your child.
By Lynda Fishman, M.S.W.
Don't underestimate the value of summer camp. After so many years in the industry, and consulting with hundreds of children, parents and staff members, I truly believe that camp is a great way for kids to build a variety of important skills, gain self-confidence, and grow as individuals - an experience that he or she will never forget. Many successful, accomplished adults credit summer camp with shaping their successes... so don't make light of this important decision.
Some people believe that camp is just for recreation and fun, and that it provides a way for children to spend their summer days with peers, doing activities such as soccer or swimming. In fact, a camp that fits the true definition of "camp" is not only about skill development and recreation but is also extremely valuable in helping children to mature and develop important relationships with peers and adults.
It's critical to choose a good camp and one that is relevant to your child's interests, as well as their physical and emotional needs. Parents should spend time looking at the different options for summer camp in the hope that the experience will be valuable by enriching their child's life.
If you are choosing a camp, make sure that it is campy! In other words, even if your child prefers an indoor experience or chooses to focus on one interest throughout the summer months, that experience can still be campy. Camp should be a refreshing change of pace, surroundings, and atmosphere, providing a wholesome escape from the pressures of school and the distractions of the urban environment. It should not be hectic!
Camp should be a refreshing change of pace, surroundings, and atmosphere, providing a wholesome escape from the pressures of school and the distractions of the urban environment.
Many camps are geared toward the more diversified, well rounded approach, including spirit, interaction, and socializing, where the activities are just part of the entire experience of life lessons.
In any case, camp should have a positive and meaningful impact on children. While fun is undoubtedly important, even fun should be meaningful and it needs thought and planning. Camp is about having SAFE summer fun, getting along with others, developing skills, sportsmanship, and gaining independence and self-confidence, feeling a sense of connection and accomplishment. These are all essential steps in a child's growth and development.
Choosing a camp is an important decision. Parents should have the comfort and reassurance that they have made the best possible choice.
Who is the Camp Director?
It is critical for parents to meet the Camp Director, and ask about their experience as a Camp Director, their reputation and their safety record. The Director's priority and focus should be on safety, leadership supervision, planning, customer satisfaction, and the high level of quality instruction in activity areas. Ask questions related to the Director's philosophy and objectives about running a camp - culture; focus; bullying; communication with campers, parents, staff and community; willingness and ability to assume responsibility for the growth of campers and staff; overall safety; emergency procedures; behavior management techniques. Trust your instincts about this person - their communication skills, confidence as a Camp Director, and presence as a leader, role model and mentor.
Visit the camp and ask about the following:
- Where is the actual camp located?
- What about safety and security?
- Is there public access to the playing areas?
- Is everything on-site or do campers have to bussed to off-site facilities?
- If they are being bussed away from camp, what about the bus supervision, ratios, security, first aid and emergency procedures at these off-site facilities?
- Is there ample shade?
- What do they do on rainy or excessively hot days?
- Is there ample space, safely away from the usual playing areas, for bus drop off in the am and the loading of buses in the pm?
Programs and Activities:
Recognizing that camps are competing with a lot of different interests that kids have today, ask about the camp's programs and activities, and the quality of the leaders running these activities.
Leadership:
What about the camper-to-staff ratios? Ask questions about the hiring practices, training of staff, and systems for providing on-going supervision, coaching and evaluation of staff.
How Big is the Camp?
Ask about the camper enrolment numbers. You know your child better than anyone - would he/she thrive in a large camp, or be better off in one that is small?
For the children lucky enough to attend camp, experts unequivocally agree that camp is far more than just an enjoyable annual ritual.
Lynda Fishman, M.S.W. is the Owner/Executive Director of Adventure Valley Day Camp located in Thornhill, Ontario
