Choosing the Perfect 
Summer Camp
By Jessica McDowell
So you’ve decided that your little camper is ready for the summer camp experience, how exciting!! But where do you go from here? How do you find that perfect camp that will give your child the lasting experience of a lifetime? You’ve come to the right place. Below I have compiled a helpful list to finding the right camp for your camper.
Questions for finding the perfect Summer Camp
- What is the proximity comfort zone for your family?
- How big is the camp?
- Is the camp single sex or coed?
- Is the camp single interest or general interest?
- How does the camp handle camper adjustment?
- How long is the camp?
- Is the camp religiously affiliated or secular?
- What is your camp budget?
- Are their camp uniform requirements?
- What activities will the camp have?
The above question will get you started to lowering down what you and your little camper hope to get out of the perfect summer camp. You’ll want to know how far away, or the proximity, of the camp to your home. For the younger campers it might be good to have a camp close to home in case you need to make a quick visit out to them.
What is the camp size? You may prefer a camp to have less children involved so your camper will know more if not all campers attending. Or perhaps a bigger camp is more appealing. Either is fine, but it is good to know what the staff ratio per camper will be no matter which camp you choose to go with.
How long is the camp session? Camp sessions change from a few short weeks to an entire summer. New campers would likely do better with a shorter camp session that first year. It is always good to know how long camp will be and to prepare your camper ahead of time by using a calendar, etc. so they know how long they will be away from home.
How does the camp handle camper adjustment? Each camp should be quite used to new campers coming for the first time. Asking how they handle this adjustment will help put your mind at ease as well as your new camper.
The most important consideration to keep in mind is the camper themselves. If they like certain activities trying to find a camp that offers those will help ensure your camper has a great experience. Likewise if your camp hates certain activities it would not be good to place them at a camp that does a lot of those things. After all, the most important thing is for your camper to enjoy themselves.
