Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 2-21-24

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MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
February 21, 2024
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
Plan ahead to find the right fit for summer camp
I SUMMER CAMPS I 21
By KATE UPTERGROVE
Daffodils and daylight savings time are
just around the corner, and that means
making summer plans for children and
sign ups for summer camp.This annual
ritual of researching and selecting the best
camp can be daunting to say the least, but
for parents of first-time participants, it can
be a real challenge.
To find a camp that best meets the specific
needs and interests of a child, Dr.
Rachel Dickerson, a St. Luke’s Hospital
physician, suggests following the child’s
lead.
“It is always a good idea to choose a
camp that will build upon a child’s interests,”
Dickerson explained. “It can be general,
like choosing a sports camp for a child
interested in athletics, or more focused,
like soccer camp, for the child that wants a
more subject matter intensive, competitive
experience.”
“Another way to evaluate whether a
camp is a good fit is to see if it will provide
supplemental information to topics the
child enjoyed at school,” Dickerson said.
“For instance, summer camp is a great way
to work in something like drama or art, to
enhance interests and delve deeper into a
subject matter.”
In the case of core subjects, like
math and science, many camps
are available that teach these subjects
in fun ways, such as robotics
or construction-themed camps.
But interest isn’t the only thing
to consider when choosing a
camp.
Age level, the family’s schedule
and finances, and transportation
components are all valid considerations.
So is the decision to attend
one camp or many. Accounting
for all of these conditions, as well
as making sure to apply before
the registration is full, takes some
careful planning.
While parents have to have the
big conversations about schedule, finances
and transportation, it is important that the
child have some say in choosing from the
camps of which mom and dad approve.
Attending camp with a friend or friends,
especially for younger children, is a plus
for the child and often the parents as car
pools can be formed for day camps.
Beyond convenience, cost and camaraderie,
experts suggest parents take a close
look at credentials, safety and staffing.
(Source: Adobe Stock)
“From my standpoint a list of all policy
and protocol measures should be accessible,”
Dickerson said.
Examining those measures is a good
place to start in evaluating the camp-tofamily
fit.
Another important consideration is
safety. Dickerson suggests parents meet
and ask questions of the staff and counselors
that will be spending time with the
children.
“It is always wise to ask the personnel
what type of training they have
received. For instance – do they know
CPR? is a defibrillator on site? are they
aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion
and dehydration?” she asked.
Parents also should consider how the
camp is structured.
If campers are younger and require
more guidance, camps with a smaller
counselor to camper ratio often provide
a better fit. In addition, it is often
better for younger campers to attend
camps with structured routines. For
older campers, children who are used
to school environments, it is less necessary
that the camp has rigid structure.
In either scenario, Dickerson said “it
is always good to break up the routine
with free time for children … Summertime
is a great time for them to explore spontaneity
and creativity,” she added.
Careful consideration before signing
on the dotted line is an important part of
making plans for children to attend summer
camp. It not only provides the best fit for
children’s age, interest and safety, but it
gives parents peace of mind.
[Editor’s note: This article first appeared
in spring 2021.]
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