Overnight Summer Camp

Overnight Summer Camp Readiness

When considering a summer camp for your child, the most important issue is readiness: is your child mature enough to be away overnight? This really has nothing to do with age; some children are independent enough to be away from home at a young age, while some preteens are not yet ready. To help determine whether or not a sleep-away camp is appropriate for your family, answer the following questions:

• Has your child ever been away from home overnight?
• How has your child handled his time away from home?
• Is your child comfortable with the idea of an overnight camp?
• Will your child know anyone at the camp?
• Is your child currently going through a difficult time? A time of crisis or insecurity is probably not the best time to introduce a sleep-away camp.

What Type of Camp?

Once you have made the choice to send your child to camp, you will need to make some decisions about the type, duration, and location of camp. Camps run the gamut from one or two nights to eight weeks. Some camps are traditional in nature, while others specialize in a particular skill, religion, or disability. Here are some questions to help you narrow your focus:

• How far away will you allow your child to travel for camp?
• How long can your child be away? Days or weeks?
• Does your child have a disability, illness, or special need?
• Does your child have a talent, hobby, interest, or skill that you would like to nurture?
• Would you like your child to attend a religious camp?
• Do you need a camp that is academic, artistic, or athletic in nature?
• What type of activities does your child enjoy?
• Would your child be happier in a competitive or a non-competitive environment?
• Does your child need a structured or informal camp?

Finding an Overnight Summer Camp

After you have made some preliminary decisions about the type of camp you would like, you can begin your search for a specific camp. To find an appropriate facility, you can:

• Ask friends and family. Recommendations from trusted, like-minded individuals are often the best way to find an overnight summer camp.
• Ask coaches, teachers, tutors, and instructors. This is especially effective if you are looking for specialty camps.
• Check with your local YMCA. The YMCA typically offers day and overnight traditional camps for kids and teens.

Online Camp Resources

Several websites specialize in helping parents find high-quality camps for their children. The following sites will provide a good starting point in your research:

• Kids Camps
• My Summer Camps
• Go Camps
• The Summer Lady

Research the Camps

Now that you've chosen a few overnight camp candidates, the real research begins. You will need to get a feel for the camp atmosphere and its policies. To do this, you can:

• Visit the camp's website.
• Call the camp and speak to the director or a counselor.
• If possible, visit the camp.
• Speak to others who have attended the camp.
• Request camp brochures.

Questions to Ask

While it is important to know what type of camp your child will attend, there are some less obvious factors that are every bit as important. For each camp you are considering, you should find out the following:

• What is the camp's discipline policy?
• What is the ratio of campers to counselors?
• Is the camp co-ed?
• How often are parent visits allowed?
• Are campers allowed to receive letters and care-packages?
• Are campers allowed to phone home? How often?
• What items should campers bring to camp?

In Conclusion

If your child is mature enough to be away from home, a sleepover summer camp can be a wonderfully enriching experience for him. With careful thought and painstaking research, you can find the ideal facility for your child and your family.