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Camps Around The Corner!

By Tina Serota

     As I sit here looking out my window at the bare tree branches of early winter, savoring the smells of holiday cooking waft from my kitchen (we actually write our columns several months in advance) I find I’m hard pressed to think of anything other than the excitement, the hustle-bustle and joy the holiday season brings. How do I get from “Winter Wonderland,” which is playing on the radio as I write, to “Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy, Days of Summer,” or thoughts of summer camp instead of Santa? It seems that no matter what the season is we as a society are several seasons ahead of real time. Hence, Halloween goes up in the department stores at the end of August and Christmas decorations mix in with Halloween by October eclipsing my personal favorite, Thanksgiving, altogether. That brings me back to starting to plan for our summer camp programs while sipping hot chocolate and watching “White Christmas.” Actually, in talking with people I find that many parents seem to have the same problem when it comes to planning for their child’s summer. The natural inclination is to think about summer activities in April when thoughts of the beach wash away the winter blahs. This is not a good idea if you want your child to go to camp. It seems that in recent years the demand for camp programs has outgrown the supply. Over six million children attend camp each summer. Peak months for registration, believe it or not, are December through March. Many families end up on waiting lists that never open because they failed to plan ahead.

     Families, both parents and children, should begin thinking about how to spend the summer break as early as possible. Choices abound! Will you give your children the summer off and spend it together at home as a family with intermittent vacation time? Will you choose a day camp, theme-based camp, over night camp, or an adventure traveling camp program for your child’s summer activity? With some camp programs you can also choose different sessions, not having to send your child away for the whole summer. Thus, you can vary your child’s activities and offer them several combinations of various camp programs, each with different themes. Or choose my personal favorite, combining home time and camp time.

     Parents and children should begin to research, talk about, visit and determine which summer program best suits their child and their family values. Most parents are looking to foster independence, new friendships, adventure, self confidence and fun when choosing a camp. However, the most important element in a camp is one that best suits your child’s interests, personality, needs, abilities, desires and learning style. Camps can offer purely recreational programs or combine recreation with educational programming. Then there are the specialty camps like the arts camps, horse back riding camps, weight loss camps and sports camps. The list goes on and on. Because of our uniqueness as human beings not every program is for every child. Don’t pick a program based on your friends and neighbors ideas. Siblings may even require different summer choices. The choice for the “perfect” camp program for your child must remain focused on him or her alone. Often parents let convenience, ease of use or looks cloud their judgment in camp selections. Can I send all of my children to the same program? Can I carpool with my neighbors? Does the camp provide transportation, or provide breakfast, lunch and snacks? Are the grounds beautiful enough to impress my friends and associates? Sometimes the choice becomes about the adults rather than the children. This is a sure fire recipe for an eventual disaster of one kind or another. Always remember camp programs can have a significant impact on your child’s emotional growth and well being.

The questions you should be asking are:

1. Does the camp program and philosophy match my child’s interests and social/emotional needs? If your child has a passion for the arts do not send him to a competitive sports camp. Is positive youth development part of the camp philosophy? Is the camp competitive or cooperative in nature and how does that suit your child? Is assertive role modeling, a sense of fair play and positive reinforcement an integral component of camp philosophy?

2. Does the camp staff share your family values? Remember that the staff will significantly influence your child. Are the staffers young with limited life/child experience, or is the staff mature and experienced enough to use sports to teach group cooperation or an art lesson to talk about what makes a good friend? Can the staff handle a bully, or a group of preteens being catty or cliquish? In other words, how do they handle behavioral issues?

3. What is the ratio of counselors to campers? Different ages, abilities and activities should require different ratios.

4. How long has the staff been employed by the camp? What is the turn over of staffers each year?

5. What training and education is required of the staff? What screening procedures are used?

6. How will my child spend her day? What is the daily schedule of activities and how flexible is it to accommodate the children? Is there any down time during the course of the day particularly for young children? 7. What are the safety and medical accommodations at camp? What are the provisions for children with special health considerations (asthma, allergies, medications, special diets, etc.)? Is the staff trained in first aid and CPR?

     As the parent of three grown children I understand that being a parent is the most difficult job you’ll ever have, but looking back I can honestly say that it’s also the best! Whether it’s about summer camp (the one with the door to door bus and all meals served) or where to go on vacation (Canyon Ranch Spa vs. a week with grandma and every cousin in a three bedroom apartment in Ocean City) I know how hard it can be sometimes to consistently put your child’s needs and best interests above all else, including your own desires. This perhaps is one of the hardest parts of parenting. Having said that, when you see the right camp program or combination of summer activities you will know in your heart what choices will give your child the best summer ever! Follow your instincts. Starting now gives you the opportunity to really research summer programs and make a decision that both you and your child can feel good about.

     Tina Serota is the director of Superior Beginnings Private School and Summer Camp. Superior Beginnings has remained on the cutting edge for over 20 yrs receiving high praise from local educators. For more info contact Superior Beginnings (856) 424-7037 phone/ (856) 424-3855 fax/ Tina@SuperiorBeginnings.com.