What are the great things about sending a kid 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 child's development. While at a traditional summer camp, the summer day camp or overnight summer camp, children find out about themselves, learn to be more independent, are expected to live up to expectations and help out younger campers.
A good traditional summer camp program can 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 race, religious beliefs and cultural differences. Both forms of traditional summer camps offer benefits that will help your children grow and mature and broaden their horizons.
When Visit website get a traditional summer camp's brochure, you'll invariably have questions for the camp director about the camp philosophy as well as that of the director. From that first phone call and/or visit to the website, you begin developing an impression of what a particular traditional summer camp is like and how it's run.
A normal summer camp could be described in nothing significantly less than glowing terms in its brochures. The setting could be absolutely breathtaking. Activities provided by the camp may have huge variations from racquetball to modern dance. Ultimately, 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 created to make you desire to send your son or daughter there!
Become familiar with the camp director as an individual through telephone conversations, correspondence and if 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 son or daughter for summer day camp or overnight summer camp. Ask how many years the director has been at that camp and in addition find out the total number of years he or she has worked as a traditional summer camp director.
How Much COULD IT BE Going To Cost?
One of the biggest questions facing parents if they consider sending a child to a traditional summer camp is the cost. The expense of a normal summer camp, whether a summer day camp or overnight summer camp, can be substantial especially if there is more than camp-age child. American Camping Association accredited overnight summer camps and summer day camps offer price ranges to fit every budget. While not always the case, if a non-traditional summer camp is made for a very specialized band of campers, it might be more expensive than traditional summer camps, which are also often called adventure camps.
The cost of a traditional summer camp weekly will probably 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 costs for a week of summer day camp or overnight summer camp ranges from $75 per week to $650 weekly.
There are some methods to save money, even though it isn't obvious from reading the camp brochure or visiting the camp's website.
The first question you need to ask is whether or not financial assistance can be acquired to help subsidize the tuition costs. It isn't uncommon for all forms of summer day camps and overnight summer camps to set 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 entire 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 child to fill. You won't know, though, unless you ask. When you are hoping to get a scholarship or other type of financial assistance, it's wise to apply early before all the slots are taken.
Another way to save on the price of traditional summer camp is to find out if discount rates are available. Often summer day camps or overnight summer camps will offer you a discounted tuition price for early registration, for siblings attending the same camp, or for signing your child up for a specific session of the summer camp program. Again, if you don't ask, you won't know what your options are.
What is contained in the tuition cost?
Typically, transportation is roofed within the cost for summer day camps. Resident or overnight summer camps may offer transportation from the central location or may necessitate 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 included in the cost, if your have to pay a separate additional fee, or if you should send extra money together with your child to camp.
What is the refund policy?
Refund policies vary greatly from camp to camp. Some refunds cover only illness of the child, while some will give a total refund if it is requested prior to a certain date. Some camps may return all but a registration or administrative fee plus some might not offer refunds at all.
What is the camp's philosophy and program emphasis?
Each traditional summer camp has its own approach to constructing programs predicated on its philosophy. Does it complement your own parenting philosophy? Will be the activities at the summertime day camp or overnight summer camp of interest to your son or daughter? Many traditional summer camps actively promote competition and healthy rivalry among camp teams, as reflected in team sports. For many campers that is pure fun. Some parents feel that learning to compete at an early age teaches essential survival skills. However, other parents and educators come in favor of cooperative learning. Research shows that noncompetitive methods encourage teenagers to find out 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 the past three years, and 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 ought to 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 various sports-related and human services fields.
What is 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 every six campers ages 7 and 8; one staff for each eight campers ages 9 to 14; and something staff for each 10 campers ages 15 to 17. At day camps the ratios range between one staff for every eight campers ages 6 to 8 8; one staff for each and every 10 campers ages 9 to 14; and one staff for every 12 campers ages 15 to 17.
Do you know the ages of the counselors?
ACA standards advise that 80 percent or even more of the counseling/program staff be at the very least 18 years old. Staff must be at the very least 16 years old and be at least two years over the age of the campers with whom they work.
The number and types of programs a specific traditional summer camp offers may also impact the ages of the counselors. Academic camps along with other specialty camps may necessitate camp counselors to possess a particular level of education or period of time of experience or training.
What percentage of the counselors returned from last 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 amount of staff who go back to work at the camp each year.
How are behavioral and disciplinary problems handled?
Are the behavioral expectations clearly laid out and available to campers in advance? They should also be reviewed with the campers on the first day of camp. It's also important 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 want to be sure the camp behavior standards and disciplinary policies certainly are a good fit for your child and your family.
What if a kid becomes ill, is injured or has a special need?
Learn if trained medical personnel are resident in the camp at all times, especially overnight summer camps. A nurse or other medical professional will be able to tell if a personal injury is serious and requires more intensive medical attention. You'll want a professional available if a child becomes ill or needs medical attention in the middle of the night.
If your child has allergies or is insulin-dependent, there should be a designated place for the medication to be stored in a locked container. It should be administered only by trained staff. If your child takes a special diet, learn if the camp is able or ready to accommodate their dietary needs. The incorrect answer to any of these considerations can be potentially life-threatening.
Even a child who has slept away from home in the past may become homesick, or simply have trouble adjusting to the overnight summer camp during the first few days. Find out from the director how homesickness is handled by the staff and let your son or daughter know very well what their recourse is if they feel lonely or have trouble adjusting.
May be the camp American Camp Association accredited? Why or you will want to?
American Camp Association accredited camps undergo extensive scrutiny and must meet high standards to be accredited. Accreditation reviewers 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 once you read the brochure or go to the website. Ask the director to provide you with a list of references including past campers and counselors to check the camp's reputation.