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Choosing a summer camp for your child
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AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato
Summer camp provides opportunities for children to develop strengths, discover new interests, make friends and learn more about themselves. How do you select the right camp for your child? Consider the following four questions:
What does your child want to do?
If your child is interested in a particular activity like drama, baseball or science, specialized camps are a great opportunity to extend her knowledge or learn something new. Other summer camp programs offer a variety of choices, giving children the opportunity to try multiple activities. Summer camps in the Bay Area specialize in activities such as performing arts, technology, sports, writing, foreign language, art and science. Many local universities, schools, museums, performing art centers and community centers offer summer camps for school-age kids. For a comprehensive list of Bay Area summer camps organized by categories check out:
Some children are reluctant to attend a camp without friends, even though friendships can sometimes suffer in new experiences like camp. Either way, encourage your child to interact with new people and follow her own interests.
What do you want your child to do?
Parents and kids often have different ideas of the ideal summer. Try to work together to come up with a camp that they’ll enjoy and you’ll feel good about, too. Many camps offer multiple options so that students can work on building new skills as well as enjoy favorite activities. Even specialized camps usually incorporate social and physical activities into the day. To maximize your child’s experience and self-confidence, try to find a camp where she can both participate in activities she enjoys as well as areas that need development.
When I was 12, I attended a drama and horseback riding summer camp. Although I was shy and despised performing in front of others, the camp was the perfect combination for focusing on my strengths and weaknesses. Because I excelled on horseback, it gave me enough confidence to stretch my comfort zone in drama, and even enjoy the final performance. My camp experience gave me more confidence in the classroom when I returned to school in the fall.
What kind of environment does your child need?
Does your child prefer structure or can he handle many choices? Does he need close supervision or is he ready for some independence? When choosing a camp, consider how camp scheduling, staff-to-student ratios and program structure meets the needs of your child. Some children enjoy the variety and extra resources that a large camp often offers. A smaller camp might be a better fit for more tentative students or ones who prefer to focus on a particular project.
5. Do you feel comfortable with the staff, program and location?
Recommendations from friends can help parents feel comfortable with a new camp, but you still need to determine if it is the right situation for your child. Many program websites explain how activities are designed and instructors are trained. Camp directors expect to get questions from parents about their programs so don’t feel uncomfortable calling or emailing for more information.
If you and your child are unsure, look into the possibility of trying it for a day first. Many camps offer this option, particularly if they aren’t full. Another option is to enroll in more than one camp for varied experiences. However, sticking with one camp may make some children feel more secure and also allows them more time to learn new skills and develop friendships. With all the camp options available, the hard part may be narrowing down the choices!
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