I fondly remember my summers at Camp Mason in North Jersey. There was horseback riding in the morning, afternoon swims in the lake, followed by home baked cookies and bug juice. At night, us girls would giggle all snug in our bunk beds. I often would sleep with one eye shut wondering about the wildlife wandering outside our cabin. In short, summer camp is lifelong memory.
There were the social get-togethers where the campers would sing and inhale s’mores. We would go on scavenger hunt nature hikes. Oh, those were some fun times. Years later, here I am signing up my children for camp, and wondering, where do I begin? With some help from the American Camp Association (ACA), the process can be as easy as roasting a marshmallow.
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What is the ACA?
Since 1910, the ACA has been the largest association for the organized camp industry. With over 2,400 accredited camps in the nation, they can help parents find the best summer camp for their child. To find the right fit, the ACA advises you to look at the camp’s budget (including sibling discounts and scholarships), location, and session length. It is important to ask about insurance coverage, transportation, physical exams, and additional costs for spending money, field trips or camp t-shirts. Parents should research the philosophy and program emphasis, as well as the training and education of the staff. If the camp is not ACA-accredited, ask for references.
If you child has special needs, it is important to ask the director of the camp how they will be met. Most of all, make sure your child helps pick the right camp. You want a place that will be in tune with their interests and maturity level. Just like their parents, kids are curious and want to know about how the camp works and how they will make friends. The more involved the child is, the less anxious they will be about trundling off to camp.
What are the Benefits of Summer Camp?
Peterson’s, a New Jersey company specializing in educational publishing and testing has some great tips on picking the right summer camp. They advise you to look beneath the surface of the program. Ask how the time will benefit your child now and in the near future. Speak directly with the camp director about the program. Find out the exact ratio of counselors to campers. Talk to campers and parents who have been there. And finally you want to be sure to visit the camp while it’s in session or take a family tour. Your child might not know if they like the place until they see it in person.
According to the ACA, the current hot trend is specialty camps. There can an emphasis on horseback riding, music, adventure, science, computers, theater, even history. At the Jersey Shore, there are camps for water sports, marine science, and surfing. There are camps that take place at farms, museums, and nature centers. The camps also can be for particular groups, such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, families, or campers with health issues or disabilities. The specialty programs often tend to mix in traditional camp activities such as games, sports, arts and crafts, nature programs, and swimming.
A Camp for Every Kid
If a specialty camp is not for your child, you can look at a traditional day camp or a resident camp. Usually for ages four and up, day programs are perfect for children used to attending school and coming home at the end of the day. If you child is seven or older and ready to stay overnight, then perhaps resident camp is a better fit. A resident camp is a traditional camp with overnights in a cabin or residence hall.
The American Camp Association’s website is an outstanding resource to use in researching your child’s upcoming camp experience. There you’ll find helpful articles, packing lists, question lists for camp directors, and their Find a Camp tool. For more information, visit www.acacamps.org or call 800-428-2267.
You also can read about some of New Jersey’s select summer camps on our site. We have articles on the Morristown-Beard Day Camp, HealthQuest of Hunterdon’s Summer Camp, and two theater camps, the George Street Playhouse Summer Theatre Academy, and McCarter Theatre Center’s Summer Camp. If you would like to have your program included, be sure to contact us.
