Cheryl Maguire
WHAT TYPE OF CAMP WILL YOUR CHILD LIKE? When I was younger, I only had
one choice for summer camp. It was a traditional all-day camp with a heavy emphasis on sports. I was more of a bookworm than an athlete so this type of camp was not a good match for my personality. I remember coming home every day whining to my mom, “It was so hot and all we did was play (fill in a sport). Do I have to go to camp tomorrow?” By the end of summer break, I’m sure my mom wished there were other camp options. Now there are so many choices it can be overwhelming to figure out what types of camps kids will like. The following will help you match your child with camps that inspire her to come home and say, “Camp was so much fun today!”
Traditional Day Camp Traditional day camp offers a variety of activities such as sports, swimming, art, music and often field trips. These camps are located at YMCAs, public schools and private settings. Half-day options may be available. Is day camp a good fit for your child? Most activities are likely outside, so if your child loves the outdoors, team building and group activities, this would be a good option. Traditional camp is also a good fit for children who
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like to do or try different things.
Sports Camp Specialty sports camps usually focus on one sport, such as basketball or soccer, that kids play and receive instruction in for 3– 6 hours. In San Diego there are options for surfing, sailing, gymnastics, tennis, golf, fencing and more. Sports camps are often run by private organizations. Is sports camp a good fit for your child? If your child loves a specific sport and wants to improve skills, this is a great option. It’s also a way for kids to try sports that they might not otherwise have exposure to or time for during the school year.
Art/Musical Theater Camp Art and musical theater camps focus solely on the arts. Musical theater camps typically showcase a production such as “Beauty and the Beast,” whereas in art camp children use a variety of art mediums, such as ceramics, painting and drawing. These camps are usually located at private organizations. Is art or musical theater camp a good fit for your child? If your child is creative and prefers being indoors, then consider these camps. Summer camp is also a great
way to introduce kids to the arts, especially if art programs have been cut from school curriculum.
Educational Camps Kids who attend educational camps learn new skills or subject matter, often through hands-on activities that emphasize fun. These camps can cover anything from STEM and coding to language and SAT Prep. They are typically located at schools, museums, private organizations and colleges (such as iD Tech Camp). Is educational camp a good fit for your child? If your child is curious and always asking questions about how/why things work, this may be a good option. If a child is interested in learning new skills such as media arts or Spanish — or a teen wants to get ahead in required school curriculum — definitely do some research in this category.
Sleepaway Camp Overnight camps offer kids the opportunity to learn independence by being away from home for a week or longer. There are Girl Scout and Boy Scout camps, YMCA camps, church camps and private residential camps. These camps tend to offer options such as sailing, boating, archery, horseback
