Summer camps are perfect for making your child’s summer vacation filled with new friends, adventure and learning new skills. They can make not only life long memories but also lifelong friends there. If you are looking to send your child to a summer camp this year, you may be wondering how to find the best summer camp for your child.
Here are some things to consider when picking your child’s perfect summer camp this season:
Day camp or overnight camp? If this is their first time at camp, you may want to consider sending them to a day camp first. Going overnight for their first year can be a little too intimating especially when they don’t know anyone. Sending them to a day camp first will give them the experience of what camp is like with the benefit of coming home in the evening. If your child is a bit older and is used to spending the night at friends’ houses, you may want to consider an overnight camp.
What type of camp? What is your child into? Are they into adventure and sports or are they into the arts and music? Remember that you want to send your child to a camp where they will find the activities interesting and fun. Camps are great places to not only learn new skills but to also find new passions. Let your child explore new things and give them opportunities to learn something they have wanted to learn. Remember to ask your child’s input as to what camp they would like to go to.
Do your research. Before sending your child to summer camp, make sure you do your due diligence and research the camp first. You want to know their history, what their philosophy is and what their staff is like and how they are trained. You can always ask for testimonials from other’s parents whose children have attended. Make sure that the camp that you send your child to has a high standard of accreditation. You also want to know what the communication plan is when events are coming or when your child is sick or injured.
Is it affordable? Camp costs vary dramatically depending on where it is and what type of camp it is. You want to make sure that this is a camp that you can afford. But if financial reasons may deter your child from attending there are a few things to consider. Day camps fall underneath the same tax guidelines as daycare. If you have a daycare flex plan, you can use this to fund the summer camp. You can also right off these expenses. Sleep away camps may also have scholarship programs for families who need it. Make sure you look into this to help you fund your child’s summer camp adventure.