Ready, Set… Camp!

Ready, Set… Camp! Finding the Right Camp for Your Child Y ou're considering a summer camp, but how do you choose? Here's some advice from the American Camp Association to help parents sort through the possibilities. Children are ready for new experiences at different stages. Ask yourself the following questions to help gauge whether this is the summer your child will start camp. Is your child old enough? Children under seven may not adjust easily to being away from home. Consider day camp to prepare them for future overnight camp. Consider your child's experiences away from home, perhaps spending the night visiting relatives or friends. Were the separations easy or difficult? Use that to guide you in this decision. of authority and boys interact with men who act as nurturers. There may be more opportunities to "be yourself " without impressing the opposite sex. And often, brother and sister camps share some activities. Co-ed camps also mirror and prepare campers for everyday living in a co-ed world. They allow families with a boy and a girl to attend the same camp, offer diverse points of view, and break through rigid divisions set up in school when campers participate on equal footing. Specialized Camps Specialized camps can offer an extraordinary experience to concentrate on one or two activities, while providing traditional activities as well. In these camps, parents can expect an increased proficiency during the camping session. Campers also deepen their knowledge and skill in a particular area of interest or ability. Parents of children with special needs are pleased to learn about the range of camp activities that help kids be kids first. Special needs camps offer activities geared to campers' abilities. The staff is knowledgeable, with expertise to understand campers' strengths and challenges. And the atmosphere is supportive and fun. No matter which type of camp you choose or how long your child attends, the experience will open up a world of discovery and learning. Camps, according to the American Camp Association (ACA), value children for who they are and who they may become. "Camp gives each child a world of good," its experts state. • Gallery Exhibits • Lectur es • Bus T rips • Demonstrations AR T CLA S S E S SUMMER AR T CAMPS Year Round Local camp or sleepaway? If it's time for camp, your next choice is between a local camp or one that's further away. Nearby camps make visiting easy, and friends and family may be familiar with the camp. Also, your child is likely to find classmates at the same camp. A camp that's further away, however, offers a greater variety of experiences and promotes independence, especially for teenagers. These camps are more likely to have a diversity of campers, and even different languages spoken. You'll also have more camps to choose from. Somerset Art Association (908) 234-2345 www.somersetart.org 2020 Burnt Mills Rd., Bedminster, NJ 07921 Session length Short sessions (1-3 weeks) are great for first-time or younger campers, giving them a chance to learn new skills, bond with other campers and staff, and get camp experience without much homesickness. Longer sessions (4-12 weeks) offer the chance to develop specialized skills, and gain a strong sense of belonging to the community. Lifelong friendships often develop at these long summer sleepaway camps. Where to Learn More Serving the camp community and families for nearly 100 years, the ACA's website is filled with helpful information. Visit www.CampParents.org to learn more about the camp experience, search the "Find a Camp" database, and explore the world of child and youth development. You can also reach the organization by calling 800-428-CAMP (2267). s All-boys, all-girls, or co-ed? Each has benefits. Single sex camps can break gender stereotypes—girls interact with women in positions Reprinted from CAMP Magazine, by permission of the American Camp Association © 2005 American Camping Association, Inc. Photos courtesy of the American Camp Association® March 2010 VicinityMagazine.com 23

Links appearing on this page

www.allchildrenstheatre.org
www.somersetart.org
www.minicamp.org


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