Teen Summer Camp

Special Considerations

In many ways, choosing a camp for teenagers is much easier than selecting one for younger kids. After all, most teens have experience with being away from home and will not suffer the homesickness of youngsters. Teens can also take an active role in selecting a camp.

In other ways, though, picking a teen summer camp can be just as difficult. When considering camps for your older kid, ask the following questions:

• Is the camp coed?
• What are the sleeping arrangements?
• Are the camp counselors mixed gender?
• Are campers allowed to leave the premises?
• Are parent visits allowed?
• Does the camp enforce a curfew?
• What level of supervision is provided?
• What is the camp's discipline policy?
• Is the camp highly competitive?
• Does the camp have a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, alcohol, and violence?

Traditional Teen Summer Camps

Traditional camps haven't changed much since you were a kid, and they are still popular today. These broad-reaching camps offer a back-to-nature simplicity that most modern teens rarely encounter. At a traditional summer camp, your teen will likely participate in the following:

• Hiking
• Fishing
• Boating or kayaking
• Horse back riding
• Swimming
• Rock climbing
• Sports
• Games

Many traditional camps are competitive and success-driven, while others focus more on the social aspects of back-to-basics living.

Specialty Teen Summer Camps

Other camps offer a specialized curriculum, focusing on one sport, hobby, skill, or religion. While specialty camps can be a great choice for some teens, not all respond well to such intense focus on one subject. Before signing your teen up for a specialty camp, carefully examine your intentions. If you are sending your teenager to camp because you think he would benefit from a crash course in basketball, the results could be disappointing. On the other hand, if your child loves basketball and is begging for basketball camp, he will be more likely to enjoy the time.

Sports

Sports camps are usually quite competitive. Most are geared towards a final tournament and culminate in an awards ceremony.

Many sports camp are day camps. In a day camp environment, teens go to camp each day, much like going to school, and then return home each night. That, of course, means that you are likely limited to camps that are offered in your area. There are some sports camps that are overnight or residential.

Teen summer camps are offered in a broad range of sports, including:

• Basketball
• Baseball
• Soccer
• Football
• Swimming
• Aerobics
• Yoga
• Ice skating
• Cheerleading

Religious

Religious camps can be a wonderful opportunity for kids to meet others of a shared faith and to learn more about their religion. Ideally, religious camps offer a balanced mix of fun and spiritual guidance. Teen camps are offered in most of the world's major religions, including:

• Baptist
• Catholic
• Islam
• Judaism
• Mennonite
• Methodist

The Arts

Still other teen summer camps are focused exclusively on certain aspects of the arts, including:

• Drama
• Pottery
• Painting
• Drawing
• Music
• Voice
• Dance

Artistic camps are often intended to help teens hone their existing skills, not to introduce the subject. If your teen is a beginner, search for a camp that is geared towards the novice.

Special Needs

Teenagers with special needs, such as hearing impairment, visual impairment, ADHD, or autism are often welcome at "regular" summer camps. However, mainstream camps are not geared towards special needs kids. Sometimes kids with disabilities are unable to compete and may feel left out at traditional camps. Special needs camps are designed specifically for kids with physical, emotional, mental, or learning disabilities. Counselors are usually licensed professionals with experience in dealing with the specific needs. Most special needs camps combine education and treatment with traditional camp activities. If your teen is differently abled, a special needs camp just might fit your needs.