Summer vacation from school is right around the corner and that means so is finding fun ways to keep kids entertained and stimulated.
Summer camps are always a great option, whether they are sleepaway camps or local summer day camps.
Which are the best summer youth camps for your kids?
This list of ideas can help parents find the best summer camp choice that will provide a safe, nurturing, and enjoyable experience for their children this summer vacation!
Summer Camp Safety Concerns
Where safety, purpose, and overall standards observed by summer youth camps are concerned, these are some important considerations to look into when finding the perfect summer camp for kids:
- Summer Camp History and Philosophy - The length of time a camp has been in business as well as its overall philosophy on summer youth camps and any emphasis on specific ideas, whether those are sports, activity, faith, or theme-based, will say a lot about the camp and the type of environment that parents and their children can expect.
- Staff Training and Qualifications - Consider camper to counselor ratio, counselor training requirements, counselor background checks, and other factors that can indicate whether the staff overseeing kids is qualified to do so while being the best examples for them.
- Communications - Understand how the camp communicates with parents during camp days in the event of an emergency, how they keep in touch with parents about different events or programs being offered at the summer day camp, how easy the preliminary communications while researching facilities are, and whether communication seems easy and comfortable.
- Background Check - In addition to personal background checks on the counselors, parents are recommended to do background checks on the summer day camp establishments as well. Contact the American Camp Association or other local regulatory agencies to ensure the camp is in compliance with all necessary regulations and there are no infractions.
- Enrollment Costs - Research camp costs, payment plan options, multi-child discounts, and other financial topics.
- Choice of Activities or Focus - Whether a theme summer camp, sports camp, or some other type of camp, research the activities available for each child and how much choice kids have in the matter.
- Emphasis on Inclusivity - What efforts does each camp place on building community, creating bonds among children, and aiding inclusivity?
Finding a summer day camp that is the perfect fit for kids can take some effort.
With these seven points acting as a guide, parents can hopefully do the necessary research and find a great summer youth camp that will provide a great experience for their children and create many positive memories!