Summer is a fun time for kids. School is out, the days are longer and they get more time with their friends. It can also be a time for boredom to set in as their routine is turned upside down. One way many of us parents cope with this is by sending our kids to summer camp. It’s a great way to keep them entertained, give them new experiences, and help them to learn new things. Choosing the best summer camp for your child can be a challenge, especially if there are many to choose from or if you’ve never sent your kids to camp before.

Tips for Choosing the Best Summer Camp

My cousin recently posted on Facebook asking for recommendations for summer camp for her little one. Her eldest is in high school already so it’s been a while since she’s had to select a camp. While I don’t live in the same area as she does anymore, so I couldn’t make any personal recommendations, I turned to a local Facebook parenting group for suggestions to present to her. Once she had a list of options, she was able to visit the facilities to get a better idea of what each one had to offer. Besides seeing the camp first hand, you will want to ask some questions to get to know the camp better.

Here are some questions to ask when choosing the best summer camp:

What is the camp’s mission or philosophy? Every camp has one and it will help you understand what this particular camp is all about, as compared to others.

What is their history? How long as the camp been around? Who founded it? What was its purpose? When you look at how long a camp has been around, it’s also a good indication of how well it’s ran. The longer the camp has been in business, the more likely most parents are to trust it.

How does the camp you are considering pick their staff and how are they trained? Some camps have volunteer staff but there should still be a training process.

What activities are offered? This will help you choose a camp that has things your child will enjoy. The more choices offered, the more your child will feel like he has freedom in his activities. That’s always a bonus, especially if they do a lot of fun field trips.

Now that you have these tips for choosing the best summer camp, you’re prepared to start planning camp for your kids. Placing your child in summer camp can also be great for you since it gives you a little summer break without the kids.

Is your little one attending camp this summer – or have you in the past? What are the reasons you chose the camp?