Childhood memories of summer camp can elicit happy recollections of time spent filled with adventurous activities, forming close bonds with new friends and sitting around a fire roasting marshmallows. Or, it can bring back nightmarish scenes of being abandoned by family members for weeks out in the woods or at your local recreation center with no friends.
So how do you know if summer camp is the right place for your child to spend their summer vacation?
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The right stuff
Colin Stewart, director of Camp Scully in North Greenbush, said it all comes down to attitude.
“Probably the biggest issue is their desire to go,” said Stewart. “If a child is forced to go (to camp) there is a higher chance they will resent it and not enjoy the experience. Sometimes they will enjoy it and the parent needs to encourage the child to give it a go and make those tough decisions, but if the child is adamant it may not work.”
According to Stewart, a child’s readiness to attend camp can usually be judged by how a child acts at school or during after school activities. Billy Rankin, camp director for the Capital District YMCA, agrees.
Rankin said a child’s comfort level with being away from home and how sociable they are with other children will be a big factor in how much they enjoy camp.
“You never want to throw them in the deep end too early,” he said. “Parents should ask about the ages of most campers and see how many of their peers will be there. You wouldn’t want them to be the oldest or youngest camper there because that can create awkward situations.”
Getting the lay of the land
To make sure children have a fun experience, most camp directors recommend visiting the camp beforehand with your children and taking a tour. This is especially true if the camp is overnight.
Andy Katz, camp director for the Schenectady Jewish Community Center, said children should be allowed to ask their own questions and parents should seek out camps that offer activities a child’s interested in.
“Finding out what they want to get out of camp is important,” he said.
Some important questions for children and parents to ask include:
Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association, which produces safety standards for camps?
What is the camp’s mission?
What type of food is served?
What are the daily schedules like?
What types of activities are offered?
Parents should also ask what to pack or bring to camp each day so their children aren’t left out of any planned activities.
Rankin said it’s also good for children to meet with camp directors or counselors prior to attending camp so the child will see at least one friendly face once they arrive.
“Some camps when you drop off a child there will be several hundred children there, and you may not want to send them with a friend because camp is about creating new bonds,” he said.
Heading off homesickness
According to Stewart, it’s important for children to be able to get over any homesickness quickly and adapt to new experiences to have a fun time. Most camp staff are trained to know if a child has a basic case of missing home or truly doesn’t want to be at camp.
“If a child is truly homesick, they lose the ability to function as they normally would and it becomes extremely difficult for camp to get them to get any enjoyment or benefit from being there,” he said. “Parents are then brought into the conversation and attempts can be made to reconcile the situation. Often, with the camp and parents working hard, success can be found and the camper will complete the session. Thus having a feeling of success and knowing, though, that camp is not for them.”
Stewart added, occasionally a child has to leave camp.
“This is always unfortunate as it leaves the child with a sense of failure,” he said.
If parents aren’t sure if their child is ready for overnight camp, Rankin advised starting with a day camp first.
“Some parents use the day camp as a lead-in for a smoother transition when they decide to spend the night,” he said, explaining how some kids make friends while at camp during the day and then end up begging to be enrolled in the overnight program so they can continue their camping experience.
Katz said for children who may not be enthused to even attend a day camp, many programs will offer a day trial to see how they like it.
“The main thing is, the choice to come to camp should be a choice made together between parents and child,” said Rankin. “It should be a choice made where all parties are educated about the camp. Sometimes parents make the decision based on what they want for their child and not what the child expects. It’s rare the child will have a great time if they are forced to be there.”
