What are the great things about sending a child to a traditional summer camp? In the event you decide on a summer day camp or an overnight summer camp?
Positive summer day camp or overnight summer camp experiences could be of tremendous benefit to your son or daughter's development. While at a traditional summer camp, either a summer day camp or overnight summer camp, children find out about themselves, learn to become more independent, are expected to call home up to expectations and help you younger campers.
A good traditional summer camp program might help increase a child's self-esteem, teach them respect for others, enable them to understand self-respect and in addition learn tolerance of others. Living in an organization situation, as in an overnight summer camp, campers figure out how to accept differences such as for example race, religious beliefs and cultural differences. Both forms of traditional summer camps offer benefits that will help your kids grow and mature and broaden their horizons.
When you receive a traditional summer camp's brochure, you'll invariably have questions for the camp director concerning the camp philosophy in adition to that of the director. From that first phone call and/or visit to the web site, you begin developing an impression of what a particular traditional summer camp is similar to and how it's run.
A normal summer camp could be described in nothing significantly less than glowing terms in its brochures. The setting can be absolutely breathtaking. Activities provided by the camp may run the gamut from racquetball to modern dance. In the end, however, it's the human equation of how those activities are operated and conducted that determines the standard of the summertime day camp or overnight summer camp program. Remember the marketing materials for traditional summer camps are designed to make you desire to send your child there!
Get to know the camp director as an individual through telephone conversations, correspondence and when possible, a personal visit. Have the director describe the camp's philosophy and how it is completed by the staff. Learn if you have the option of sending your child for summer day camp or overnight summer camp. Ask how many years the director has been at that camp and also find out the full total number of years she or he has worked as a traditional summer camp director.
How Much Is It Going To Cost?
One of the biggest questions facing parents when they consider sending a kid to a normal summer camp may be the cost. The cost of a traditional summer camp, whether a summer day camp or overnight summer camp, could be substantial especially if there is more than camp-age child. American Camping Association accredited overnight summer camps and summer day camps offer prices to fit every budget. Without always the case, in case a non-traditional summer camp is made for a very specialized band of campers, it could be more costly than traditional summer camps, which are also often called adventure camps.
The cost of a traditional summer camp weekly will most likely also figure into just how many weeks of summer day camp or overnight summer camp your child(ren) will attend. The American Camping Association reports the among its accredited camps, both summer day camps and overnight summer camps, the prices for a week of summer day camp or overnight summer camp ranges from $75 weekly to $650 per week.
There are some ways to save money, even if it is not obvious from reading the camp brochure or visiting the camp's website.
The first question you need to ask is if financial assistance is available to greatly help subsidize the tuition costs. It isn't uncommon for all kinds of summer day camps and overnight summer camps to create aside a certain amount of spots for families who might not otherwise be able to afford to send the youngster to traditional summer camp. Should they don't offer to subsidize the full cost of the camp session, they may pay part of it.
Although scholarships for traditional summer camp programs are often available on the basis of need, there may be extra unclaimed subsidized spots which the camp will allow your son or daughter to fill. You will not know, though, unless you ask. When you are hoping to get a scholarship or other kind of financial assistance, it's wise to use early before all the slots are taken.
Another way to save well on the cost of traditional summer camp is to find out if discount rates are available. Often summer day camps or overnight summer camps will offer a discounted tuition price for early registration, for siblings attending exactly the same camp, or for signing your child up for a specific session of the summer camp program. Again, unless you ask, you won't know very well what your options are.
What is included in the tuition cost?
Typically, transportation is included within the cost for summer day camps. Resident or overnight summer camps may offer transportation from a central location or may require the campers to be sent to the campground. If the overnight summer camp program includes trips, movies, laundry service, snack bar, special equipment or other costs, find out if they are contained in the cost, if your need to pay another additional fee, or should you send extra money with your child to camp.
What's the refund policy?
Refund policies vary greatly from camp to camp. Some refunds cover only illness of the kid, while some gives a total refund if it's requested in front of you certain date. Some camps may return all but a registration or administrative fee and some might not offer refunds at all.
What is the camp's philosophy and program emphasis?
Each traditional summer camp has its own method of constructing programs based on its philosophy. Does it complement your personal parenting philosophy? Will be the activities at the summertime day camp or overnight summer camp of interest to your child? Many traditional summer camps actively promote competition and healthy rivalry among camp teams, as reflected in team sports. For many campers this is pure fun. Some parents believe that learning to be competitive young teaches essential survival skills. However, other parents and educators come in favor of cooperative learning. Research has shown that noncompetitive methods encourage young people to learn more, retain it longer, and develop greater self-esteem and appreciation for others. Knowing your child's personality and style of learning is valuable in choosing the right summer day camp or overnight summer camp.
What's the camp director's background?
American Camping Association (ACA) minimum standards recommend directors possess a bachelor's degree, have completed in-service training within days gone by three years, and also have at the very least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience before assuming the responsibilities of director.
What training do counselors receive?
At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency procedures and communication, behavior management techniques, child abuse prevention, appropriate staff and camper behavior, and specific procedures for supervision. Often traditional summer camp counselors are university students working toward degrees in a variety of sports-related and human services fields.
What's the counselor-to-camper ratio?
ACA standards require different ratios for varying ages and special needs. Generally, the ratios at overnight summer camps range between one staff for each and every six campers ages 7 and 8; one staff for each and every eight campers ages 9 to 14; and something staff for each 10 campers ages 15 to 17. At day camps the ratios range from one staff for each and every eight campers ages 5 to 9 8; one staff for every 10 campers ages 9 to 14; and one staff for each and every 12 campers ages 15 to 17.
Do you know the ages of the counselors?
ACA standards recommend that 80 percent or more of the counseling/program staff be at least 18 years old. Staff must be at least 16 years old and become at least two years over the age of the campers with whom they work.
The number and forms of programs a particular traditional summer camp offers may also impact the ages of the counselors. Academic camps along with other specialty camps may necessitate camp counselors to have a particular level of education or period of time of experience or training.
What percentage of the counselors returned from this past year?
Most traditional summer camps have from 40-60 percent returning staff. If the rate is lower, find out why there isn't a higher number of staff who go back to just work at the camp each year.
How are behavioral and disciplinary problems handled?
Will be the behavioral expectations clearly laid out and open to campers in advance? They should also be reviewed with the campers on the first day of camp. You'll want to know the disciplinary steps which will be taken for violation of the guidelines.
What is the style and personality of the camp director? Just how much authority do the camp counselors have? These are all important questions to ask as you desire to be sure the camp behavior standards and disciplinary policies certainly are a good fit for your child as well as your family.
What if a child becomes ill, is injured or includes a special need?
Find out if trained medical personnel are resident in the camp at all times, especially overnight summer camps. A nurse or other medical professional can tell if a personal injury is serious and requires more intensive medical attention. You'll want a professional available in case a child becomes ill or needs medical assistance in the center of the night.
If your child has allergies or is insulin-dependent, there must be a designated place for the medication to be stored in a locked container. It ought to be administered only by trained staff. If your son or daughter requires a special diet, learn if the camp is able or willing to accommodate their dietary needs. The wrong answer to these considerations can be potentially life-threatening.
A good child who has slept abroad in the past may become homesick, or simply have trouble adjusting to the overnight summer camp during the first few days. Learn from the director how homesickness is handled by the staff and let your son or daughter know very well what their recourse is should they feel lonely or have trouble adjusting.
Is the camp American Camp Association accredited? Why or why not?
American Camp Association accredited camps undergo extensive scrutiny and must meet high standards to be accredited. https://campfirediscoveries.com/ ask over 300 questions about the camp and staff including essential health and safety issues, program quality and the camp's overall operation and functioning.
Think about camp references?
Every summer day camp or overnight summer camp will appear to be a dream when you browse the brochure or go to the website. Ask the director to offer you a list of references including past campers and counselors to check on the camp's reputation.