March 2018

SUMMER CAMPS
Choosing the RIGHT CAMP
for YOUR CHILD
by Beth Black
It is time to gear up for summer camp
again. With many options, parents
have questions when it comes to fun
and safety. Finding a camp that offers
activities your child will enjoy might be
easy but making certain the environment
is safe will take a little digging.
Pineview Preschool Executive Director,
Cynthia Suarez, said that parents should
first be certain that the camp is age
appropriate. Pineview Preschool offers
programs beginning with toddlers but
some camps offer age-specific activities.
One concern parents share is how their
children will be transported when going
on field trips. Suarez said that often
the parents of younger children prefer
they stay on-site. For those children, all
activities take place at the school. Magic
shows, science labs, dance, soccer, and
animal shows are among the activities to
keep children entertained on campus.
GerriAnn Pane, owner Camp GTA
(Gerri’s Travel Adventures and
Programs), is a veteran when it comes
to summer camps. Pane, who was
both a science teacher and a pioneer
in the development of the City of
Parkland’s summer camp program,
learned through experience what makes
a camp successful. Now in its third
season, Camp GTA, which is based out
of Country Hills Elementary School, is
focused on field trips four times a week.
Pane finds that the children are better
behaved when they are on outings.
“It gives them more opportunities to
interact with all of the children in the
92
group as they enjoy visits to water
parks, museums, and other locales,”
she said. Pane hires air-conditioned
motor coaches with seatbelts and DVD
players to keep the children safe and
occupied.
Molly Simpson, Park and
Recreation Program Specialist
for the City of Parkland,
said that age plays a role in
determining how far their travel
camps will go. The younger
campers stay close to home,
but the Teen Camp, which
operates out of Westglades
Middle School, travels
throughout Palm Beach,
Broward, and Miami-Dade
Counties visiting locations like
Rapids Water Park and Zoo
Miami.
Parents should also inquire
about staffing when
selecting a camp. At
Pineview, the same
staff is utilized
all year long,
with credentials
that meet the
state licensing
requirements.
Parents should
make sure
the counselors
are certified in
MARCH 2018
CPR, trained to use an Automated
External Defibrillator (AED), and have
considerable knowledge of first aid.
“Counselors are required to have a
level 2 background check,” Pane said.
“Any volunteer, whether a teen working
towards service hours or senior citizen,
will be fingerprinted if they spend more
than 10 hours each week with children.”
The quality of the counselor is essential
but equally important is the ratio of
counselors to campers to be sure
there is adequate supervision. The
law requires one counselor per 25
children, which may be sufficient for
some settings, but some camps prefer
to have a higher staff to child ratio. The
City of Parkland’s camps offer a 10:1
ratio but often a Counselor in Training
will assist. Only people older than 18 are
considered in that ratio and Pane prefers
a smaller group on a field trip. She offers
a ratio of 5:1, which includes a staff of
two directors, a senior counselor,
and a teacher per group.
Parents have much to
consider when deciding
on a camp to choose.
“Overall, parents want
their children to attend
an age-appropriate
and fun camp in a
safe environment with
an experienced and
nurturing staff,”
Suarez said. P