If you are considering enrolling a child in a summer camp for the first time, you could be overwhelmed with the choices out there. Here are some pointers to help you narrow down the field and determine which camp is ‘better’ for your child.
First, you need to decide whether a Day Camp experience or Overnight experience fits best for your child. Has your child had overnights away from home yet – to a relative’s house, friend’s sleepover party or other experience? If they have, than perhaps they are ready for a short stay away from home independently. There are some Overnight camps in Ontario that have beginner sessions of 3 or 4 nights away from home for the first time camper. It is a great length of time to experience the overnight camp benefits and you can give your child the opportunity to be successful and you build on that success in years to come.
Whether you choose an Overnight camp or a Day camp, there are choices within these genres. Some camps are general, offering all types of camp experiences – swimming, canoeing, nature activities, arts & crafts, sports etc… Some camps are very specialized – computer camps, basketball camps, CSI camps. Make sure you know what would best suit your child and if they do have a specific interest in a certain area, perhaps immersing them in a specialty program would help their development. Or perhaps you have a child very involved in specialty activities during the year and want them to widen their horizons, so choosing a camp that focuses on a more general experience would be more suitable.
Once you have narrowed the field – Day or Overnight, General or Specialty, now you have to wade into the Registration process. Some camps start as soon as camp is over, so waiting until winter may limit availability. A lot of Town sponsored programs open registration on a specific day and then space is limited after that. I would encourage you to call the specific camp(s) directly to determine what their registration process is – lots of camps now have easy on-line registration options making it easy to register in the evening from home.
Look for the Ontario Camping Association (OCA) logo on camp’s literature. This logo means the camp has adhered to stringent guidelines set forth by the OCA and have been accredited by this organization. Call the Camp Director to discuss your particular child and get a feel for what the camp stands for.
Camps hold a special place in the development of children of all ages. They are places where children learn new things and develop self-confidence and independence. Many successful people attribute some of their success to their first years at camp, allowing them the confidence to try new things and meet new people.
Written by Day Camp DirectorSarah Dougald
