What are the great things about sending a kid to a normal 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 son or daughter's development. While at a normal summer camp, the summer day camp or overnight summer camp, children find out about themselves, learn to be more independent, are expected to live around expectations and help you younger campers.
An excellent traditional summer camp program might help increase a child's self-esteem, teach them respect for others, enable them to understand self-respect and also learn tolerance of others. Surviving in Find more information , as in an overnight summer camp, campers learn to accept differences such as race, religious beliefs and cultural differences. Both types of traditional summer camps offer benefits that will assist your children grow and mature and broaden their horizons.
When you receive a traditional summer camp's brochure, you will invariably have questions for the camp director concerning the camp philosophy in adition to 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 similar to and how it's run.
A traditional summer camp could be described in nothing less than glowing terms in its brochures. The setting could be absolutely breathtaking. Activities offered by the camp may have huge variations from racquetball to modern dance. In the end, however, it is the human equation of how those activities are operated and conducted that determines the quality of the summertime day camp or overnight summer camp program. Remember the marketing materials for traditional summer camps are made to make you desire to send your son or daughter there!
Get to know the camp director as a person through telephone conversations, correspondence and if possible, an individual visit. Have the director describe the camp's philosophy and how it really is completed by the staff. Learn if you have the choice of sending your son or daughter for summer day camp or overnight summer camp. Ask just how many years the director has been at that camp and also find out the full total number of years she or he 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 kid to a normal summer camp may be the cost. The expense of a normal summer camp, whether a summer day camp or overnight summer camp, could be substantial especially if there's a lot 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 could be more costly than traditional summer camps, which are also categorised as adventure camps.
The cost of a normal summer camp weekly will most likely 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 weekly of summer day camp or overnight summer camp ranges from $75 per week to $650 per week.
There are some ways to save money, even if it isn't obvious from reading the camp brochure or visiting the camp's website.
The first question you should ask is whether or not financial assistance can be acquired to help subsidize the tuition costs. It's not uncommon for all forms of summer day camps and overnight summer camps to create aside a certain amount of spots for families who might not otherwise be able to afford to send the youngster to traditional summer camp. If they don't offer to subsidize the full cost of the camp session, they could pay part of it.
Although scholarships for traditional summer camp programs are usually available on the basis of need, there may be extra unclaimed subsidized spots which the camp will allow your son or daughter to fill. You will not know, though, if you don't ask. For anyone who is hoping to receive a scholarship or other kind of financial assistance, it's a good idea to use early before all the slots are taken.
Another way to save well on the price of traditional summer camp would be to find out if discount rates are available. Often summer day camps or overnight summer camps will offer a discounted tuition price for early registration, for siblings attending exactly the same camp, or for signing your son or daughter up for a specific session of the summertime camp program. Again, if you don't ask, you won't know very well what your options are.
What is contained in the tuition cost?
Typically, transportation is included within the cost for summer day camps. Resident or overnight summer camps may offer transportation from the central location or may require the campers to be delivered 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 another additional fee, or if you should send extra money 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 kid, while some gives a total refund if it is requested in front of you certain date. Some camps may return all but a registration or administrative fee plus some may not offer refunds at all.
What is the camp's philosophy and program emphasis?
Each traditional summer camp has its own method of constructing programs based on its philosophy. Does it complement your own parenting philosophy? Will be the activities at the summer 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 most campers that is pure fun. Some parents feel that learning to be competitive young teaches essential survival skills. However, other parents and educators come in favor of cooperative learning. Research shows that noncompetitive methods encourage teenagers for more information, retain it longer, and develop greater self-esteem and appreciation for others. Knowing your son or daughter's personality and design 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 have a very bachelor's degree, have completed in-service training within the past three years, and also 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 from one staff for every six campers ages 7 and 8; one staff for each and every eight campers ages 9 to 14; and something staff for every 10 campers ages 15 to 17. At day camps the ratios range between one staff for each eight campers ages 5 to 9 8; one staff for each and every 10 campers ages 9 to 14; and something staff for each 12 campers ages 15 to 17.
What are the ages of the counselors?
ACA standards recommend that 80 percent or even more of the counseling/program staff be at the very least 18 yrs . old. Staff must be at least 16 years old and be at least 2 yrs more than the campers with whom they work.
The number and forms of programs a specific traditional summer camp offers could also impact the ages of the counselors. Academic camps and other specialty camps may necessitate camp counselors to get a particular degree of education or number of years of experience or training.
What percentage of the counselors returned from this past year?
Most traditional summer camps have from 40-60 percent returning staff. If the rate is lower, find out the reasons why there isn't any higher amount of staff who return to work at the camp each year.
How are behavioral and disciplinary problems handled?
Will be the behavioral expectations clearly organized and available to campers in advance? They should also be reviewed with the campers on the initial day of camp. You'll want to know the disciplinary steps which will be taken for violation of the rules.
What is the style and personality of the camp director? How much authority do the camp counselors have? They are all important questions to ask as you desire to be sure the camp behavior standards and disciplinary policies certainly are a good fit for the child and your family.
What if a kid becomes ill, is injured or includes a special need?
Find out 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 an 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 center 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 willing to accommodate their dietary needs. The incorrect answer to these considerations can be potentially life-threatening.
A good 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. Learn from the director how homesickness is handled by the staff and let your child know what their recourse is should they feel lonely or have trouble adjusting.
Is the camp American Camp Association accredited? Why or you will want to?
American Camp Association accredited camps undergo extensive scrutiny and must meet very high standards to be accredited. Accreditation reviewers ask over 300 questions concerning the camp and staff including essential health and safety issues, program quality and the camp's overall operation and functioning.
What about camp references?
Every summer day camp or overnight summer camp will sound like a dream when 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 on the camp's reputation.