How to Find Summer Camps

School is just about out and the summer fun starts. For working parents, or parents who may not know exactly how to pull their children away from the television and video games, it is the perfect time to plan for your children to attend summer camp. There are tons of them available, but how do you know which one is best for your children and which one is a credible program? Here are a few steps to consider.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Access to the Internet
• Local Yellow or White Pages

1. This is a time to get to know your child. You should be able to decide what activities and recreational type of programs your child would be interested in. Sit down with your children and discuss their likes and dislikes. Also try to find out areas that your child needs to develop. For example if your child is having problems in math, a good math camp would be an excellent way for him or her to improve and at the same time have fun. If your child is into computers he or she may love Cybercamp which is the nation's largest summer technology program for youth.
2. Once you have decided what kind of camp(s) your child would be interested in, it's time to determine what funds are available. Costs for summer camp can range anywhere from zero to thousands of dollars. If you don't have money set aside for camp, there are a few free summer day camp programs available for low income families. You may be able to find out about these type of programs through your local community centers, family independence agency or public school administrators. Some camps can be very expensive. An easy way to cut down on the cost is to choose a local program in the area. Some churches offer great summer programs that are both local and cost effective. Another factor is the cost is how the duration of the program Some programs last the whole summer while others last for only a few days. More than likely the shorter the program, the less you'll have to pay. Check out local programs through listings in the Yellow or White Pages.
3. Now that you have narrowed down the type of program you want for your child to participate, and you have determined a budget, seek out programs that are age appropriate and credible. These camps can be found by searching on the Christian Camp and Conference Association or other credible associations such as the American Camp Association or the Association of Independent Camps. Call and find out more details about the program. Important questions to ask would be how long the camp has been in existence? How many children are normally in the program? What are the program requirements? Take a look at the camps website if they have one available.
4. After looking on the Internet sites of the camps associations get feedback from friends, family, PTA members and children who have attended summer camps. The best camps can be found by talking with other children who have attended and listen to and gage what their experiences were. Get feedback from parents and schools about their summer camp experiences and stories.
5. Once you have narrowed down your choices, physically go and visit the summer camp(s) and talk with the program coordinator to find out exactly what activities your child will be doing, what are the requirements and job descriptions of those who will be responsible for supervising the children. Ask and look at exactly where your child will be sleeping and what kind of food will the children be eating. What are the meal times and location of where your child will eat. Check out all the facilities and ask the program coordinator how long the program has been running. If the program has been running for a long period of time, the program coordinator should be able to show you photos of the previous events that took place.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask for program brochures and a list of daily activities or agendas.
• Make sure that activities are age appropriate and your child is ready to be away from home.
• Ask about the camps' policies, rules and regulations.
• Inquire about their experience in providing first aid care/treatment and emergency situations.
• If a camp is not listed with an association find out what other credentials are associated with the camp prior to sending your child.
• If there are no valid credentials and the program does not have a history (get valid resources to check and see if the camp is credible), do not send your child to a program that does not have any history, credentials, or valid resources and references.
• Beware of hidden costs or fees.