As the school year winds down, it’s natural to start stressing about the long summer months ahead. What will your kids do all day? When you don’t want them glued to the TV or playing hours of video games, it’s camp to the rescue.

“Going to summer camp offers so many benefits,” says Mary Ellen Folsom, Executive Director of the American Camp Association (ACA) New Jersey Section, “like plenty of exercise, outdoor activities, the opportunity to try new things in a safe environment, and a chance for kids to acquire and practice social skills and build new friendships outside the classroom.” In fact, in a recent study, 92 percent of surveyed campers said that their camp experience helped them feel better about themselves, and 74 percent said that they tried activities at camp they were afraid to do at first.

But making the decision to send your child to summer camp is the easy part; it’s finding just the right program that’s more difficult. Herewith, Folsom shares some of the strategies she uses to help parents narrow their camp searches.

Getting started:
What type of camp are you looking for?

The first choice you have to make when selecting a camp is whether you want a sleep-away or a day program. During this process, remember that no one knows your child better than you do.

“Children under seven tend to do best at a day camp,” says Folsom, “but once a child has had a few positive experiences sleeping away from home, he or she might be ready to spend a few weeks at a resident camp.” If you feel like your child might be ready to sleep away, mention the idea and see what kind of reaction you get. Sometimes if a friend is going, kids are more open to the idea.

Once you determine whether or not your child will sleep away, you need to choose the right type of program. “Bear in mind that not all kids are sports enthusiasts,” says Folsom, “so you need to find a camp where the focus matches your child’s interests.” Most kids typically enjoy a wide variety of activities and crave lots of physical activity, which explains the immense popularity of camps that offer diverse programs that include sports, swimming, music, art, and such fun extras as zip lines, animal care, field trips, and even woodworking. But if your children’s interests are more focused (maybe they like ballet, soccer, or playing chess), then search instead for a specialty camp that emphasizes one particular activity.

It’s also important to examine how structured each camp is. Some kids thrive when they know which activities are coming each day and at what time, while others prefer a more “free-choice” program that lets them direct each day’s events. Remember, too, that just because you loved a certain camp as a child, this doesn’t mean your child will love it also. So try to evaluate any familiar programs as fairly as possible.

Lastly, don’t forget to consider travel time. If your child will be taking a camp bus each day, ask yourself how long of a trip he can realistically handle. Once again, your own intimate knowledge of your child will serve you well here.

If your child is shy and nervous around other kids or gets carsick, a long bus ride is probably not a good idea. But for the outgoing, social kid, time spent on the bus can be a fun, unstructured way to make and enjoy friends.

See for yourself

Once you’ve got a short list of camps to consider, call each program and arrange to take a tour. If possible, involve your child in the process. Taking your child with you on camp tours (especially for sleep-away programs) is a great way to narrow your search, since he or she will likely have a stronger reaction to one camp over the others. As you contact each camp to schedule a tour, you should also prepare a checklist of questions to address at each facility. Never be embarrassed to ask about anything; a good camp should welcome your questions. Here are some key points to consider:

• How does the camp handle discipline? Is the camp’s standard of behavior the same as yours?


• How competitive is the camp’s sports program? If your child is not a star athlete, you want to make sure he will still have fun even if he can’t hit a grand slam.


• What is the background of the camp director?


• What does the camp director look for in his or her staff? What type of training do the counselors receive? What is the rate of counselor return? High employee turnover often indicates a poor quality camp.


• What type of training or certification does the aquatic staff have?


• What percentage of campers returns each year? This is a crucial question, since it’s the ultimate sign of customer satisfaction.
  


• What types of health facilities are on campus? This is especially important if your child has life-threatening allergies or other conditions like asthma or diabetes.


• Can the camp provide you with reputable references?


• What is the camper-to-counselor ratio? A quality camp will have a written policy that governs camper supervision, including a camper-to-counselor ratio for water and non-water activities as well as field trips.
  

• If you’re touring a sleep-away camp, ask about policies pertaining to phone calls, letters home, care packages, and trips to town.


• If your child will travel on a camp bus, ask if there is a written policy on transportation. What are the drivers’ backgrounds? Is there an additional bus counselor that rides with the children? What are the safety procedures in case of a mishap?
  


• The food services at all camps fall under the jurisdiction of the Board of Health, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be happy with the standard of the food. Ask to see a sample menu and, if necessary, inquire about accommodating special dietary needs.
  


• If your child has special needs, be sure to ask about how these issues are handled. For example, is the camp experienced in working with children who have ADHD or Down syndrome? Always clearly communicate what your child’s specific needs are before you commit to a camp.
  


• Find out if the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. This accreditation is the gold standard in camping, since it requires camps to go above and beyond state licensing requirements in more than 300 different areas. ACA accreditation is also totally voluntary, which means that an ACA-accredited camp is confident enough to open itself up to regular peer evaluation. (You can view the requirements for ACA accreditation at the ACA’s Web site, www.campparents.org.)
  

Money matters

Despite the downturn in today’s economy, many day camps and sleep-away camps remain quite costly, ranging anywhere from $3,500 to $11,000 for an eight-week session (with extra charges for field trips and camp gear). Fortunately, it’s not necessary to bankrupt your family in order to provide your child the best summer experience. If your budget is tight this summer, check out not-for-profit camps operated by organizations like your local Y, which tend to be more affordable. In addition, the ACA maintains a list of accredited camps that start at as little as $75 a week.

But what if your child has his or her heart set on attending one of those pricey programs? Many camps offer financial assistance, and it’s certainly worth asking about before you say no. But remember that even when scholarship funds are available, they are usually limited; the sooner you apply, the better your chances of receiving assistance—and delivering a summer experience your child is sure to remember.

Handling Homesickness
Ward off teary phone calls … but be prepared for them, too.

Even the most enthusiastic sleep-away camper can suffer a bout or two of homesickness (in fact, research has shown that as many as 90 percent of campers experience some level of this). But the way you prepare your children for their camping experience and the manner in which you handle teary phone calls will play a big part in determining whether your child’s overall experience is a positive one.

Encourage independence at home during the school year.
Schedule several sleepovers at a friend’s house or a two- or three-night stay at a relative’s house to simulate the sleeping-away-from-home experience.

Involve your child in choosing the camp.
When children feel a sense of ownership over the place where they will be staying, they feel much more secure.

Before your child leaves, talk about the fact that homesickness is normal
and that writing letters and talking about feelings can help.

Try to schedule an outing with another camper in your area so
that your child knows someone when he or she first arrives at camp.

Pack one treasured personal item from home in your camper’s belongings.
Also, send a care package to your child and have it arrive on the first day of camp. Include a note that says how much you miss him or her, but avoid expressing uncertainty about your own well-being. Phrases like “What will I do without you?” can leave a camper anxious about what will go on at home while he or she is away. As Folsom explains, “A parent’s confidence is contagious.”

Avoid making “pick-up deals” to bring your child home right away if he or she gets homesick.
This only serves to undermine a child’s sense that his parents have confidence in his ability to be on his own, and sets up the expectation that the experience will be unpleasant.

If a homesick call does come, stay calm, reassure your child, and put the time frame of her stay into perspective.
As tempting as it is, don’t just rush off to bring her home.

If your child becomes homesick, call the camp director to let her know and ask for her perspective on your child’s adjustment.
Although most cases of homesickness subside in a day or two, some cases are severe. Be sure to ask the director if your child is still eating and sleeping properly. If not, then it’s time to go home.