Tips for choosing summer camps for kids
As a parent, choosing a day or overnight camp for your kids can be quite overwhelming.
There’ll be an endless list of possibilities and like most big decisions, none will be completely perfect.
Many parents are afraid to send their kids to camps just because kids will be on their own and with people they don’t know.
Kids will do adventurous activities and as a parent safety always comes first.
Sending your kids on a camp can give them more knowledge about their surroundings. It’ll make them aware of what’s going on around them and they’ll appreciate all the things that usually go unnoticed. Perhaps your kids have never been to a camp before, so you have to allow them to make their first experience as memorable as possible. It’s important to take your time to think about the joy the new journey will bring to your child’s life.
Camping is always a wonderful adventure. It’s important to take some time to find the right camp for your kids. Send them on a camp they’ll be excited about. Be sure to consider the needs and interests of your kids before searching for a camp.
Here are a few tips to consider before sending your kids to summer camp.
Pick the right kind of camp
There are a variety of summer camps you can send your child on. Maybe you think your child has potential to play cricket or chess. There are camps for every interest and skill out there, from science camps that focus on scientific experiments to sports camps, drama camps, adventurous camps and the list goes on. Before signing your kids up for a camp make sure that it’s something they want to do and not something you want them to do. They won’t enjoy it or have a great experience if it’s something they’re not interested in.
Discuss your expectations
Before researching camps, talk to your kids to find out whether or not they want to go on a camp. What exactly do they want to do? Who do they want to experience it with? What are some of the things they would like to accomplish when going on a camp? This’ll give you a good idea of what to search for and expect. However, if you know about camps where they can focus on their swimming, mathematical skills or their love for animals, don’t rule things out just because your kids have a strong opinion. Balance will be key to challenging kids while giving them the holiday of their life.
Check the camp’s details
Once you’ve find the perfect camp and cost of it, the real research starts. It’s easy to use a search engine to find out more about the campsite. It’s more difficult to pick up the phone and ask how the camp staff and counselors are screened and trained and what the camp’s return rates are. While researching, you can also read reviews and check out what kids outdoor activities the camp has to offer. You can check all the details about the camp, whether they provide bedding, bathroom essentials and three meals a day. All that information should be there for you. If you need further information, you can always pop them an email.
Choose a camp within your budget
How much do you have to pay for your kids to have a summer of fun? When considering a camp for your child, choose one that fits within your budget. You don’t want to send your kids to a camp you can’t afford. It’s better to send them to a camp that you can afford rather than sitting in debt afterwards. Once you find a camp that fits your child’s needs, enquire about the cost. Ask whether they give discounts if you’re sending more than one kid or whether it’s cheaper if you buy tickets in advance.
Check for safety
Beyond making sure that the camp has reliable staff and equipment, it’s important to check whether it’s safe. Many camps allow parents to pop in on a specific day but what happens the times you’re not there? Therefore it’s best to check that counselors are trained for first aid and assisting kids when they’re ill. There should be an experienced medical professional on staff and protocols in place to handle any serious illness or injuries. Also, enquire about how the camp handles discipline issues and whether the staff is trained on how to handle these issues.
Check the hours of the camp and whether it’s a day or overnight camp. Make sure it doesn’t mix with any holiday or study schedules your child may have. Also take the commuting to and from the camp into consideration. By doing a little homework in advance, you can find the best camp for your kids this summer.