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Camp Pointers From the Pros Directors offer tips on picking the right summer program, whether it’s a day or overnight experience.
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The Go-To Guide: Indoor Play Places 15 spots for family fun featuring go-karts, trampolines, ninja courses and more
By Peter Tonguette
Program directors offer parental pointers on choosing the right summer camp, whether it’s a child’s first experience or they want to try something new.
Parents make impactful decisions for their children all year long, but it’s natural to view summertime as something of a respite—particularly if they have school-age children. However, those weighing whether to send their kids to camp face some tough choices well before the last bell rings in May.
Will their child feel more at home at a day camp, or are they ready to take the plunge into an overnight camp? Do the child’s personality and interests align with a camp tailored to a specific subject, or will they thrive at a broad-based camp with a variety of experiences? What is the right age for a first-time camper?
Summer camp organizers understand that the options can be daunting.
“The camps out there are much more varied and diverse than they used to be,” says Henry DeHart, interim CEO of the American Camp Association. “It’s not just what you see on TV and in the movies anymore. There are day camps, there are urban camps. Imagine the type of camp, and it’s out there.”
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Every child will benefit from a camp experience, but not every child is ready for a camp experience at the same time.
—HENRY DEHART, AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION
Many parents struggle with which type of camp to choose and whether their child will enjoy new activities and experiences. Organizers, however, say that the benefits outweigh any anxiety, especially the parental kind. “Kids think they don’t like structure, but they thrive in structure,” says Alyssa King, director of special programs at Columbus Academy, whose eight-week Summer Experience
is open to children from age 3 through grade 12, including those who do not attend the school.
“There is structure [at the camp], but it’s also fun and it’s also a little bit looser,” King says. “During the school year, they’re hunkered down and doing their academics, and in the summer, they’re able to explore these things that might be lifelong learning and lifelong loves.”
Academy’s day camp mixes programming in the arts, athletics and academics with outdoor free play, field trips and other age-appropriate activities. “We have a little bit of something for everybody—if you want to cook; if you want to do archery,” King says. “I don’t know how many parents I’ve had come back and say something like, ‘Oh my gosh, my kiddo did chess, and he really loved it. Now he’s on a chess team.’”
Is Your Child Ready for Camp?
There is no magic age at which a child might be ready to go to camp, says DeHart. Instead, parents should look for
cues from their kids. “Start with the child: the child’s interests, what their eagerness is to try new things and to make friends and to take risks,” he says. “I believe that every child will benefit from a camp experience, but not every child is ready for a camp experience at the same time, and not every child will want the same type of one.”
For young children, day camps may be a good compromise between going to an overnight camp and staying home for the duration of the summer. A child will have the chance to learn new things and increase their friend base, but can return to the comforts of home at the end of each day. The YMCA of Central Ohio hosts numerous summer day camps where participants can dive into sports, games, creative arts and more.
“Our focus is on helping kids feel like they belong, that they’re achieving new experiences and accomplishing new tasks and new skills that they can learn,” says Marci Hasty, executive director of camping services at the
YMCA of Central Ohio. “We prefer them to be outdoors more than they’re indoors. Fortunately, we have, in most of our locations, capacity to be inside during inclement weather.”
Even for day camp, parents should consider their child’s tolerance for being part of a big group. “Some of our day camps one would consider might be on the larger side,” Hasty says. “We might have upwards of 90 to 100 children in our day camps at some of our locations. Is that going to be a great environment for your child? Are they OK in bigger groups? Are they OK in what might appear to the naked eye to be organized chaos?”
Many parents turn to day camps to solve summer child care needs, but for others, the main driver is a child’s specific interests. At the Lincoln Theatre, the Patternz Summer Camp focuses on creativity. On a rotating basis, the eight-day camp shines a spotlight on dance, music and visual arts. “We hire what we call artist instructors,” says Quianna Simpson, the
theater’s program director. “We often try to make sure that we bring in folks who are actively working as artists inside the Columbus community.”
Patternz campers go on field trips within walking distance of the Lincoln, including to the Columbus Museum of Art, and on Fridays, parents are invited to see examples of their kids’ handiwork. “[Parents] witness what the kids have been learning all week. We turn it into a little show, and they have a great time,” Simpson says.
Simpson says the program draws some children who are deeply involved in a particular area of creative expression, such as dance or theater, but many campers arrive without a particular interest in the arts. “We’re actually a great space for both,” she says. “We have children who come to us and they aren’t overly arts-engaged, but they still find spaces and places to have a good time. … We have noticed, and we have learned, that they do develop at least an appreciation for [the arts].”
Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New Hasty urges parents to consider what their child enjoys, even if those likes haven’t yet been verbalized. If they tried a team sport, for example, did they look like they had fun on the field? In the absence of clearly expressed interests, a broad-based camp may be the best bet.
struggle, a camp that serves 100 kids might be, too, Hasty says. In the end, parents should trust their judgment about their child’s capacity to do things independently and to form relationships with others, she says—especially when it comes to overnight camps.
“Kindergarten, first- and secondgraders [have] just this natural inquisitiveness and curiosity about everything,” Hasty says. “Honestly, at that younger age, they’re really used to the teacher telling them what to do, where to go, what’s happening.”
Parents should keep several additional factors in mind when weighing decisions on overnight camps.
Kids’ preferences should be respected, but parents should not be afraid to nudge them into new experiences. “If you’ve already taken your kid to a dance recital and they cry the entire time, then you might be pushing it,” Simpson says. But, she adds, “I would say sometimes parents do have to lean on the fact that our little ones are looking to us to help them find a way. If you don’t try, then how do you ever know?”
Hasty, whose organization runs YMCA Camp Willson, a 400-acre overnight camp in Bellefontaine, says one consideration is whether a child makes friends easily. “Shy kids can still go to camp, because our counselors are trained to keep an eye on all of the kids and connect with all of the kids. If they see a kiddo is maybe one that hangs back a little bit on check-in day, then they’re going to go above and beyond to make sure that that child feels connected,” she says.
King, of Columbus Academy, sees camp as the perfect setting for kids to branch out. “You can expand on the subjects that they need help with. You can encourage their interests. But exploring new things is really going to make a well-rounded kiddo,” says King, adding that this ultimately helps prepare them for adulthood. “They’re going to live in a pluralistic society that has all types of people and all types of activities and all types of opportunities.”
Camp Willson operates a traditional overnight camp with a wide variety of experiences. Campers ages 6-17 stay for a week at a time, for up to eight weeks. Activities run the gamut from boating and canoeing to climbing walls and archery. Campfires are held at the opening and closing of camp, and games are ongoing.
Still, a child’s personality should be taken into consideration when contemplating camp. If a large classroom is a
Hasty recommends visiting an overnight camp well in advance to familiarize a child with the environment. To that end, off-season camp weekends for kids are available at Camp Willson, as are “family camp” weekends where parents and siblings can participate. Hasty suggests sending a first-time camper with a friend
or an older sibling, even if they are housed in different cabins, to ease anxiety.
DeHart, of the American Camp Association, suggests a tiered approach that begins with day camp and might progress, a summer or two later, to an overnight camp. At the same time, he says most kids are ready for the experience ahead of their parents’ timetable. “In many cases, the child is ready for overnight camp way before the parent,” he says. “We live in the age of parental anxiety, and the parent is not going to be ready as soon as the child is ready in many cases.”
Parents should be aware that it isn’t unusual for a repeat camper’s enthusiasm to wane after a few years. “Once you hit around that 10 or 11 age group, all of a sudden they realize they’re away from their parents and they’re away from their friends,” DeHart says. “Sometimes a 7-year-old is much more eager to go to camp than a 10-year-old is. I would just coach parents to not worry if you’ve sent your child to camp for a couple of years and all of a sudden, they’re hesitant to go back. … That’s a normal age group characteristic thing. You can coach them through that.”
Once a family has agreed to send a child to camp, it’s time to pick a specific program. Asking other parents for recommendations can be a good starting point. Also, research whether organizations your family already has relationships with offer summer programs.
The American Camp Association offers a “find a camp” portal at acacamps.org where people can search 3,900 camps by activities, location and other factors. More than 2,000 of those programs meet ACA voluntary accreditation standards. “A parent assumes if a camp’s in business, it’s run safely, but that unfortunately is not always the case,” says DeHart. “The standards we have developed are what we consider the minimum practices for health, safety and risk management.”
These standards, he says, cover everything from leader and staff experience levels to safety practices for high-risk activities, such as water sports. Accreditation is granted via a peer-review process.
“For me, it’s the first thing a parent should think about,” Hasty says. “Certainly there are good programs that are not accredited, but for us accreditation is
really that hallmark.”
Regardless of accreditation status, parents should ask camp officials about the child-to-staff ratio, the experience of leaders and staff, and the rules on texting and phone usage, DeHart says. Before booking a spot, he stresses, always inquire about the refund policy. “What if your child gets cold feet, or what if he gets sick, or Grandpa has been ill?”
Christina Walls, managing director of education at the YWCA Columbus, says that as parents evaluate camp options, a program with high staff turnover should be a red flag.
“For continuity of education and care, you need to have retention, where staff are staying with the program and the children are getting used to and enjoying the teachers that are leading their programs,” says Walls, whose organization offers eight-week, STEAM-focused summer day camps at seven locations.
Even though parents may feel that researching camp options is a bit like doing homework, the end result can be worth it. “We want to continue learning,” Walls says, “but we still want our children to enjoy a great summer.” ◆
By Heather Lofy
Whether the weather is unfavorable or it’s simply time to get out of the house, the Columbus area has plenty of indoor play place offerings for families to enjoy.
We’ve compiled a list of spots catering to all ages and abilities, including trampoline parks, go-kart tracks, arcades and more. Many also offer classes or party rentals. Before visiting, call or check online to verify prices, hours and other details, such as age and height restrictions. Check out the expanded version of this story at columbusmonthly.com/ columbus-parent to find three additional entertainment categories: Play Cafés, Play Gyms and Shopping Stops.
To suggest a location we should consider adding to our list, send an email to contact@columbusparent.com.
Buckeye Raceway
4050 W. Broad St., Columbus; 614-2727888; buckeyeraceway.com
Have a need for speed? Head to the quarter-mile, indoor course at Buckeye Raceway, boasting European-style performance karts hitting speeds of up to 45 mph. Drivers must be at least 56 inches tall and 12 years old to race at full speed; juniors, who race at half speed, must be over 48 inches and 8 years old. A single race is $21, or snag a three-race pack for $57. Racing is available by reservation or first come, first served. The West Side facility also offers axe throwing and simulation racing (both $15 per person per half-hour) and footbowl, a blend of football and bowling ($10 per person per hour).
3700 Fishinger Blvd., Hilliard; 440-3327501; k1speed.com/columbus-location.html
Hop into an electric go-kart and zip around the indoor, multilevel track at K1 Speed, a recent addition to the Hilliard area. Up to 12 racers can participate at a time, traveling at speeds up to 45 mph. Minimum height requirements are 58 inches for adult racers and 48 inches for juniors, whose cars top out at 20 mph. A single race is $26.95, with discounted two- and three-race packages. Reservations are available for parties of eight or more. You’ll also find arcade games and a café.
Magic Mountain Fun Center
5890 Scarborough Blvd., Columbus; 614490-5071; magicmountainfuncenter.com
Magic Mountain offers a variety of attractions, including an 18-hole miniature golf course, an indoor play area, bumper cars and an interactive arcade with more than 80 games. Go-karts and batting cages operate seasonally. Food and drinks are available. Prices vary by attraction, and packages are offered; note some costs are lower online.
Rule (3)
650 Windmiller Drive, Pickerington; 614864-7853; rule3.com
Rule (3) is a one-stop shop for a day full of activities. The highlight is more than a dozen bowling lanes, but other options include arcade games and summertime sand volleyball. A full kitchen and bar are on-site. Bowling lanes are $24 to $48 per hour; check online for weekly offerings and specials.
Scene75 Columbus
5033 Tuttle Crossing Blvd., Dublin; 614495-8660; scene75.com/columbus
Scene75 Columbus, located inside the Mall at Tuttle Crossing, offers a dozen different attractions, including an indoor roller coaster, go-karts, black-light mini golf, laser tag, a drop tower and more than 200 arcade games. Food options abound at a restaurant, a snack bar and three bars. Pricing is by attraction. Passes, such as the Race All Day unlimited go-kart pass ($15.99 per person per day), are available.
6314 Cosgray Road, Dublin; 614-7913003; sportsohio.org
SportsOhio’s campus, which includes soccer and golf complexes and a field house, hosts a wide range of activities, camps and clinics, such as indoor and outdoor soccer leagues, basketball, lacrosse, dodgeball and volleyball. Golf enthusiasts can take advantage of a heated driving range and a nine-hole, par-3 course, which operates seasonally. FootGolf, which uses soccer balls on a ninehole course, also is offered.
Ten Pin Alley
5499 Ten Pin Alley, Hilliard; 614-3452427; tenpinalley.com
Ten Pin Alley boasts 24 bowling lanes, with online lane reservations to ensure you get your spot. Visitors will also find an action-packed arcade and laser tag. The venue features a restaurant and full bar with a variety of food and drink op-
tions, including pizza, nacho platters and burgers. Lanes are $84 for two hours.
Big Air Trampoline Park
1400 Polaris Parkway, Columbus; 614943-8703; bigairusa.com/columbus
Located at Polaris Fashion Place, Big Air lets the whole family fly high on wall-towall trampolines, with other activities including dodgeball, a battle beam and a zip line. Admission is $24 for one and a half hours, and an all-day pass is $34. There’s a designated toddler time ($12) for kids 6 and younger several times a week. A snack bar offers various food and drinks.
The Bounce
3967 Presidential Parkway, Powell; 614792-2582; thebounceclub.com
This trampoline park offers wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits and a dodgeball area. The Bounce Club also hosts kid and teen nights, sensory-friendly jump time, and cheerleading and fit jump classes. Open jump rates are $11 to $15 per hour. Dodgeball is $11 per hour per person for an eight-person group. Toddler and preschool jump times are available.
Fun City Adventure Park
2570 Bethel Road, Columbus; 614-5250219; funcitycolumbus.com
Fun City’s extensive activities include ninja courses, giant ball and foam pits, a ropes course, a climbing wall, trampolines, slides and arcade games. Admission ranges from $18 to $31 depending on age and how long you play.
3708 Fishinger Blvd., Hilliard; 614-3359864; getairsports.com/columbus 1075 Hill Road N., Pickerington; 614-4901286; getairsports.com/pickerington
Get Air conveniently has a location on each side of Columbus, and both the Pickerington and Hilliard-area locations have trampolines, dunk lanes, tumbling tracks and an extreme trampoline dodgeball court. There’s a separate play area for little ones under 46 inches tall, and a designated toddler time several days a week. More adventurous guests can try the ninja obstacle course with rings to swing and ropes to climb. Open jump rates vary by location. Check the website for online-only deals and special weekly events.
Ninja Citi
2620 Sawmill Place Blvd., Columbus; 614-659-7700; ninjaciti.com
Ninja Citi’s 30,000-square-foot space houses nine ninja courses, two warped walls, a climbing wall, a parkour arena and trampolines. The venue does not serve food, but snacks are allowed in designated areas. The open gym rate starts at $15 for the first hour; 30-day memberships are available.
484 W. Olentangy St., Powell; 614-7923700; recreationsoutlet.com
Not only can you shop for playsets at Recreations Outlet, you can play there, too. Kids can burn off energy on a multitude of slides and swings, as well as with basketball hoops and trampolines. Rates are $9 on weekdays and $12 on weekends and school holidays. Charitable play hours benefiting local nonprofits are $4. Frequent visitors can purchase play passes or an annual family membership.
1220 County Line Road, Westerville; 614508-6088; rockinjump.com/westerville
5625 Shier Rings Road, Dublin; 614-4070095; rockinjump.com/dublin-oh
Each Rockin’ Jump location offers trampolines, dodgeball, climbing walls, slam-dunk areas and a few arcade-style games. Attractions differ slightly between the two sites: Dublin has a warped wall, bungee trampolines and a zip line, while Westerville has an obstacle area. In-house food options include pizza, wings and soft drinks. Junior jumper sessions are scheduled for ages 5 and younger. Open jump rates vary by location.
6314 E. Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg; 614-739-1654; urbanair.com/ohio-reyn oldsburg; and 7679 Plain City-Dublin Road, Dublin; 380-204-6390; urbanair.com/ohio-dublin
Urban Air Adventure Park’s two area locations offer activities for all ages. With trampoline parks, rock climbing walls, zip lines, ropes courses and ninja warrior courses, there’s something for everyone. Younger adventurers have dedicated play areas and activities to keep them entertained. Admission varies based on park and attractions chosen; half-price parent passes are available.