Camp Q & A

What to Ask...
• What is the camp’s philosophy or mission?
• Where is the camp?
• How much does it cost?
• When are the sessions, and how long do they run?
• Does the program have day camp and residential camp options, and which are we interested in?
• What age groups are represented, and in what percentages?
• Where do the campers come from? That is, are they local, national, international?
• Is the program coed? If so, what is the approximate ratio of boys to girls?
• Who is the camp director, and what is his or her background?
• Who are the camp staff members? How are staff members trained?
• What is the ratio of campers to staff members? Does that ratio change during different activities or during different times of the day?
• Are medical facilities adequate? Is there a nurse or doctor on staff?
• What kind of living/eating/recreational facilities does the program offer?
• How are behavioral problems handled? What is the camp policy regarding discipline?
• What are the safety regulations? What kind of supervision is provided?
• What is the daily schedule like? Is there enough or too much free time?
• Can campers have visitors?
• What kind of communication is allowed (mail, phone calls, etc.)?
• How does the staff handle homesickness?

...and Where to Look
Local newspapers and parenting magazines often print extensive camp-related advertising and editorial as the summer draws near.
Universities and community colleges offer a variety of summer enrichment opportunities, from academic and sports programs to leadership and college preparatory workshops.
Summer program catalogs and books are easy to find and easy to use. Libraries, bookstores and school guidance counselors' offices have up-to-date copies of various helpful references, including: Peterson’s Summer Opportunities for Kids and Teenagers 2006 (Peterson’s Guides, $29.95; to order call 800-338-3282) and Guide to ACA-Accredited Camps 2004 (American Camping Association, $12.95; to order call 800-428-CAMP). These books contain an enormous amount of information, and their indexes are cross-referenced geographically and by subject area, making it quick and easy to narrow down the choices.
Websites can provide up-to-date listings of all kinds of summer programs, along with links to programs’ own websites. (Once there, you can request more information and materials directly from the camp.) Here are just a few you can visit:
American Camping Association: www.acacamps.org
National Camping Association: www.summercamp.org
Peterson's Education Center: www.petersons.com
A camp's promotional materials (brochures, videos, in-home presentations and websites) offer specifics about things such as session dates, age requirements, tuition and locations. Often accompanied by photographs, video footage, web streaming and detailed descriptions, these information-packed materials provide you with your first glimpse of the program's content and philosophy.
The camp director or administrator is another excellent source of information. Nettles encourages parents to ask questions that require specific answers. For example, when inquiring about the level of supervision, don't ask if there is adequate supervision. Every camp director believes his or her program's level of supervision is adequate. Instead, ask the director to describe the level of supervision specifically for the age group or program division in which your child is interested. That way, you can determine if the answers given are suitable for your family and for your child — not just for the camp director.
Referrals and references from former campers can be very enlightening. They offer an unbiased and honest picture of the camp experience. Most camp offices will provide you with contact information of former campers in your area or in your child's age range. Keep in mind that many camps will not give out this information without permission from the referring family, so it may take the camp several days to locate a good referral candidate and to obtain permission to release his or her family's phone number. Try to speak with both the camper and the parents, and let your child ask questions of the camper as well. Again, ask specific questions and pay particular attention to areas of concern. For instance, if the soccer camp you are researching has a reputation for working the kids too hard, ask the camper and the parents to describe the level of activity and to comment on the staff's response to individual campers' skills and endurance.
Remember, the efforts you make now to find a camp that’s right for your camper, and a good fit for your family, will pay off this summer when they can’t wait to get packing.

Cathy Ashby is a former camp director and counselor. She is currently the editor of Carolina Parent magazine.