Cover Feature
55 steps to choose the
perfect summer camp
Editor’s Note: It’s cold and maybe a little hard to imagine your kids running off to play sports, do crafts, shoot a bow and arrow, and swim – things they do at summer camp. But now is the time to start thinking about it. Many camps fill up fast and if you want to find the best one for your children, you need to start looking today. We’ve developed a series of steps you can use when you are searching for a camp or even if you are considering whether to send your children back to a camp they used last year.
STEP
1
What kind of camp do you want?
There are many different kinds of camp available. Think about what you and your child want to accomplish during Summer 2017 and what kind of camp will work best for that goal. Also consider hours of operation, whether you need early and after care, transportation possibilities, and cost. Here is a list of the types of camps from the American Camp Association, New England: Day Camps typically serve children ages 3–15. Session lengths vary from one to eight weeks. Some camps offer up to ten weeks of programming. Before camp and after camp programs are offered for an additional fee at some day camps. Overnight Camps (also referred to as Resident or Sleepaway) usually serve children ages 6–17. Campers sleep at camp for one to eight weeks, depending on the camp’s session length. General Camps offer a broad range of activities. Many provide campers with the opportunity to focus on one or a few areas while encouraging them to try a variety of others. It is sometimes possible to explore an activity or interest in depth within the context of the whole program. Trip & Travel Camps involve outdoor exploration through active sports like biking, hiking, climbing and canoeing. Campers spend most of their time traveling and preparing to travel. 8
Rhode Island Parent Magazine February 2017
Specialty Camps are based in day or resident settings. Popular options for specialization may include horseback riding, the arts, sports, computers, or travel. Programming revolves around intensive exposure to the specialty area. Camps for Special Populations serve specific clientele like children or adults with particular medical conditions, disabilities, or special needs. Some camps focus on campers who share very specific diagnoses, while others are geared to meet a broader array of needs at any one time. Religiously-Affiliated Camps offer religious education formally and informally. Review materials carefully for explanations of how religion influences a camp’s culture to find one with the balance that best matches your family’s own values and beliefs. Family Camp Sessions include family members of all ages from grandparents to infants. Accommodations vary, as do program options and session length. The focus is on being together as a family—to learn, to relax, and to enjoy new experiences and adventures.
STEP
2
Research camp choices
There are many lists of camps out there, but we haven’t found one that lists every camp in RI and southeastern MA. A great place to start is with our 2017 Camp & Summer Program Guide, found throughout this issue. Our Guide is filled with exciting camps of all kinds. Also, check with friends and family for recommendations. Put it out on Facebook – you’ll get lots of information. Here are a few websites that can help with research: American Camp Association, New England: Camps that meet certain requirements can be accredited by this association. They offer a guide to day and overnight camps in RI as well as Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Visit www.acanewengland.org to find their membership guide.