Choosing a Summer Camp

by Eileen Bailey
Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Eileen Bailey

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Safety. Counselors may or may not be individually trained and certified in first-aid and CPR. You may want to ask about what types of safety training counselors have. You may want to ask about how the camp would react to a serious accident. If there have been accidents in past years, how did the camp handle the situation and what measures have been taken to make sure this accident will not occur again.

What is the camp's policy on discipline? Camps may vary widely on their discipline policies. It is important to ask specifically what discipline measures are used and what infractions would cause discipline measures to be used.

Is the camp accredited? The American Camp Association offers accreditation for summer camps. Safety, camp programs, camp operations and overall ratings can provide you with additional information.

In addition to the above, your child may have special needs that need to be addressed. If so, make sure the camp is equipped to handle your child's disability and that there is appropriate medical staff on hand. If your child needs to take medication on a daily basis, find out how it is dispensed and who dispenses medication.

You may also want to find out what a typical day is like in the camp. How structured is the daily routine? Some camps offer children blocks of free time or allow the campers to choose what activities to participate in. Other camps offer highly structured days. Choose based on what you feel is best for your child.

Websites with Camp Directories

The following resources offer directories for summer camps. Most provide search options that allow you to sort through the thousands of camps around the country to help you find the best possible camp for your child.

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