Step 1: Accreditation.

The American Camp Association (ACA) defines the standard for all camps, requiring compliance with over 250 rules, guidelines and regulations focused primarily on the health and safety of all children who attend.  Only consider camps that have made the effort to become ACA accredited – even if this is the ONLY step you take, you can rest assured that your child will be in a safe place! ACA has already done the research and homework on that particular camp, and it has passed a rigorous examination with flying colors.

Step 2: Type of Camp.

Make 3 basic decisions that will narrow your search considerably:

• Day Camp or Overnight? If your child is 7 or younger, a day camp may be right for them. The benefits of attending a residential camp experience speak for themselves, so we highly recommend choosing an overnight camp as soon as your child is ready (usually a full year before you are ready to send them!)

• Girls Only, Boys Only, or Coed? Single-gender camps are more socially relaxed, without the distraction of the opposite gender, while Coed camps provide a safe place to learn crucial social skills that can serve children very well in life.

• Religious or non-affiliated? This is purely down to your preference as a parent.

Step 3: Camp Focus and Activities

You know your child best – what activities are they most interested in? Look for a camp that provides them, or provides other programs that are new for your child but you believe they will love.

Step 4: Dates and Rates

Find a camp that offers dates that are convenient for you. Decide what your budget is, then ask questions about what is included in the base price of each camp – do they charge extra for certain activities?

Step 5: Investigate

You have now narrowed your search down to just a few camps that meet your needs. Now is the time to go deep and do your research. The best possible action to take is to visit these camps yourself (many camps have open houses in the spring).  Another option is to ask around – either by speaking to someone you know who has attended that camp, or by reading reviews and testimonials on the camp website or other review sites. Whether or not you can visit, make sure to TALK TO THE CAMP DIRECTOR PERSONALLY. A good camp will have a director willing to take the time to directly address your concerns and get to know you. Ask tough questions and expect clear answers. There is no such thing as asking too many questions when it comes to the well-being of your child.

Step 6: Choose a Camp!

You’ve done your research, talked to a few camp directors, and maybe even seen a few camps for yourself. You have a very good feeling about that certain camp that looks and feels right for your child, and you know it will be a safe place because it is ACA accredited. Go with your parental instinct – then send your kid to camp and give them the best summer of their life!

Ian Brassett has worked in sleep-away camps since 1988, starting as a counselor and soccer instructor in a four and eight week summer camp. His current role is General Manager of Pali Mountain, a facility that houses Pali Adventures, a residential one week specialty summer camp in Southern California, as well as Pali Institute and Pali Mountain Retreat and Conference Center.

www.PaliAdventures.com

The post How to Choose a Summer Camp – in 6 Steps appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

This is it! The year your child will be going to camp for the very first time! As summer rapidly approaches, you may be worried about how your child (and let’s be honest, YOU) will handle that separation. But take heart, a little homesickness is completely normal and there are plenty of things you can do to help ease the transition… for the both of you. With over 25 years experience working at overnight camps, here are strategies that I’ve seen parents successfully implement to get both themselves and their kids to overcome emotional obstacles and move forward with a summer camp experience of a lifetime.

Research:  There is an endless array of camps to choose from but it’s important to take the time to do the research and find the right fit for your child.  That process should involve the child’s input.  Choosing an American Camp Association accredited camp that caters to your child’s interests will likely keep him or her too busy having fun during his or her stay to think about missing home for any length of time.

Camp Communication:  It’s only natural that as a parent you’ll want to be able to communicate with your child while they are away at camp.  Feel free to call and ask the camp staff how your child is doing and what activities they are doing , however do not speak with the child. It inhibits their growth. Let them breathe. Let them know that they can do this on their own.  A call from a parent can make a child who was doing fine suddenly feel homesick.

However, if the camp thinks that it is a good idea for you to speak to your child, I can only offer one piece of advice, one phrase to use that I have seen work 99% of the time. Take a deep breath and repeat after me…
“You are not coming home, you made a commitment to go to camp and that is what you will do. You wanted to go to camp. We will pick you up at the end of the session. I love you. I believe you will have a great time at camp.” Then hang up!

Lastly, a good camp will be in constant communication with you and will keep you informed of everything you need to know if your child is having any adjustment issues.  Choose a camp that post photos online. This will provide you with great reassurance. A picture does say a thousand words.

Camper’s Commitment:  Whatever happens, do NOT give your child an escape clause! This may sound harsh, however, if you are sending your child to camp with the phrase “give it a try, if you do not like it, I’ll come and pick you up” – save yourself, the camp and the child the time, effort, and energy and do not send the child to camp! They will already know that you will “rescue” them. That when times get tough, Mom and Dad will help them avoid a less than perfect day. It will not matter how friendly the staff are! It will not matter how awesome the activities could be. It will not matter how great of friends the kids in the cabin could potentially be…your child will ALREADY want to go home. Your child will mentally not want to be there, and you have already given them an out! The staff will try all the tricks in the book, but it will not help because “I’m going home, my parents promised me.”

Emails/Letters:  Though calls are not recommended, keeping in touch with your child by letter or email is a wonderful way to stay in touch and let her know you are thinking about her. This is a great way to express how you hope she is enjoying the cool activities and of course, that you hope she takes time to shower and brush her teeth.  But do not write how much you miss them. This only puts guilt onto a child that is having a good time. How can a child enjoy camp when their mom is missing them so much?

Knowing our child is homesick is gut wrenching for any parent – but for a child to learn how to overcome it is a major opportunity to grow and strengthen problem-solving skills on their own.  And once cured, it can open the door to a new dilemma as noted by one of our previous campers…“Once you’ve gone to camp, you’ll never be homesick anymore, only camp sick.”

Ian Brassett has worked in sleep-away camps since 1988, starting as a counselor and soccer instructor in a four and eight week summer camp. His current role is General Manager of Pali Mountain, a facility that houses Pali Adventures, a residential one week specialty summer camp in Southern California, as well as Pali Institute and Pali Mountain Retreat and Conference Center. 

The post Curing Summer Camp Homesickness: appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.