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Summer Camp - America's Safe Haven
by Jeffrey Solomon
In these uncertain times for our city and our nation, families
everywhere are taking stock of their priorities and plans. In this
new world - post September 11- certain activities and concerns
that previously seemed so important are now taking a backseat to
time spent with family and the mental health and well being of all
of our children.
One constant that families can still rely on in troubled times
is the American institution of summer camp. Since the early 1900's
summer camp has provided a safe, fun, learning experience for
youngsters of all ages. Interestingly, doctors and mental health
professionals have long advocated overnight camp for children who
have suffered traumatic loss, such as the death of a parent or a
divorce. Though a parent's first instinct in this type of
situation might be to keep a child close to home for the summer,
the professionals feel that these children need a break from their
home life for a time, in a structured environment where they are
free to simply be children and experience fun. Often these
children are dealing with feelings of guilt or overwhelming
responsibility at home. In some instances they may also be dealing
with certain stigma, surrounding the circumstances of their loss,
at school or in the neighborhood. The camp experience ca! n be
very freeing for these children and can instill in them a
self-confidence that helps them cope with circumstances upon their
return home.
This recommendation can now be broadened and expanded today to
include not only children directly affected by the events of Sept.
11 but those indirectly affected as well. The stress and sadness
that adults have felt in response to recent events is also
experienced by children, albeit as part of their own unique world
view. We all could use a reprieve from the television, the
computers and city life - camp gives children a chance to connect
with other children and nature through fun and learning, in a
caring and safe community. This helps to restore sense of normalcy
to their lives.
Realizing that sleepaway camps are located out of the city in
very rural areas, many families are considering sleepaway camps
for their children. Concerns over air travel has families seeking
camps within a bus or a car ride of home, typically within a few
hours drive.
Alternatively, for those whose ideal program is further away,
parents are choosing to vacation in the same state as the camp or
to accompany their children on the plane trips to the program.
Camps are quite accustomed to coordinating travel arrangements
with families who cannot travel with the children, due to the
increased number of children from overseas who have been attending
camp in the US over the past few years. This summer they can be
expected to offer even more expanded services in this regard.
Overseas programs for older children are usually a popular
option but this year more families are taking advantage of the
travel, enrichment and community service programs located in the
US and Canada.
Summer camp began in the northeastern United States and while
there are excellent programs to choose from throughout the
country, the Northeast remains the mecca for the traditional
general camps as well as specialty programs of all kinds - arts,
sports, riding, etc. This is good news for New Yorkers trying to
find the best options for their children. The only bad news is
that many families will want to get into these programs close to
home and may find that they close out especially early this year.
By early spring, many camps will be filled.
For parents who never went to summer camp themselves or have
never considered in for their children, the advantages of camp may
not be immediately clear. Camp offers children a chance to try new
activities, gain proficiencies and skills beyond what school can
offer, build lifelong friendships and develop a sense of
independence. This all takes place in peaceful, rustic settings
far from city life.
Regardless of the age of your child, it is important that the
ultimate selection of a camp accommodate all or some of the needs,
interests, goals, and expectations of both parent and child. The
parent must make an effort to understand what the child wants and
why. A good way to begin is to sit down as a family and respond to
the following questions:
- What do you and your child want to gain from the camp
experience ? Learn new skills, develop more self confidence,
improving proficiency in certain areas, become more
independent?
- What are other expectations of the camp experience?
- What are the special interests that your child wants to
explore?
- Are there any physical, intellectual, or social limitations
that should be considered?
- What kind of emphasis will your child profit from the most?
For example: Is a lot of structure desirable, is social
interaction with members of the opposite sex important, or
does your child need a place where he or she is encouraged to
develop at their own pace?
With the above information in mind, it is appropriate to look
at some of the specific characteristics that should be considered
in determining what you and your child want. These characteristics
include type of camp, cost, size, and location as well as program
activities and offerings.
As you might imagine, camps have all kinds of program
offerings. Some camps may emphasize one activity while others will
offer a wide array of programs. Camps in which a camper would
devote a majority of his or her time to one activity are often
referred to as Specialty Camps. In these camps, staff and
facilities are geared to provide an intensive experience in a
single area such as tennis, horseback riding, gymnastics, sailing
or wilderness. Naturally, these camps have other facilities and
activities that provide campers with additional experiences. A
more traditional camp program tends to be broader in terms of what
it offers.
Most general camps will provide programs in some team sports
such as baseball and soccer, individual sports like tennis, and
waterfront activities such as swimming and sailing, as well as
some outdoor life options in hiking and canoeing. Many of these
camps also provide campers with the opportunity to get extra
instruction in any of the areas that are offered. In making a
decision about camp, it is vital that you and your child look into
the total camp program and that you examine the quality of the
staff and facilities available to support that program. Questions
to consider include:
- Will the program encourage the child to try new things or
things he or she is not skilled in?
- What is the philosophy regarding competition and the level
of competitiveness?
- Which activities are required?
- Is instruction given in each activity?
- How structured is the program? Are there electives (choices
the child can make)?
- Is your child willing to make a commitment to spending a
major portion of the day in one activity or sport?
Consider these questions as you compare the different programs
that you learn about. It is also helpful to try to pin down some
of the program preferences you and your child have. Common camp
activities include:
Team Sports
Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer,
Softball, Volleyball, Roller Hockey, Ice Hockey.
Individual Sports
Archery, Fencing, Fishing, Golf, Gymnastics, Martial Arts,
Wrestling, Track&Field, Biking, Minibikes, Go-karts, Weight
Training, Riding, Riflery, Tennis, Figure Skating, Aerobics.
Watersports
Canoeing, Kayaking, Diving, Sailing, Scuba, Snorkeling, Swimming,
Waterskiing, Jet-skiing, Windsurfing
Adventure
Rope Courses, Backpacking, Camp Crafts, Rafting, Rock Climbing,
Outdoor Cooking, Overnights, Hiking
Creative Arts
Basketry, Drawing, Jewelry, Leatherwork, Metalwork, Crafts,
Painting, Cooking, Writing, Photography, Sculpture, Weaving,
Stained Glass, Woodwork, Film/Video, Sewing, Journalism, Ceramics
Performing Arts
Acting, Directing, Magic, Puppetry, Script Writing, Costuming,
Lighting, Makeup, Set Construction, Broadcasting, Ballet, Rock
Music, Jazz, Choreography, Folk Dance, Modern Dance, Instrumental,
Voice, Circus Arts
Science
Geology, Gardening, Biology, Marine Biology, Farming, Nature,
Astronomy, Rocketry, Ecology, Computing, Archaeology, Physics,
Radio, Aviation
Education
Foreign Language, Remedial Tutoring, Academic Enrichment, English
as a Second Language (ESL), SAT Prep
Travel
Teen Tours, Community Service, Biking, Wilderness
If there are special needs to be taken into consideration these
can be accommodated as well. Examples of special needs a
child might have are:
Weight Loss, Kosher, Vegetarian or other Special Diet, Learning
Disability, Attention Deficit Disorder, Non-English Speaking,
Physically Disability
After having thought about it and focused in on what your
wishes and wants would be you will want to find programs that
would provide those to your child. There are many ways to find out
about different camp options available. Word-of-mouth is probably
the most popular way. The important thing to keep in mind there is
that what is right for one family and one child may not be right
for another. Camp fairs are good sources of information as well,
although the selection can be limited, since not all camps need or
choose to attend these. Another popular way to get information is
to use an independent referral service which researches and visits
camps and makes customized referrals for families based on their
individual needs
The best way to proceed with your comparison and to narrow your
choices is to take a careful look at some of the promising camps
you have identified. Review the brochures and videos with your
child. Then you can choose the ones you're most interested in and
arrange to speak or meet with the camp directors or
representatives. Whether a child is an experienced camper or a
first timer parents should do their best to learn as much as
possible about any new program they are considering. Here are the
types of questions one might think about asking the director of
any program being considered for this upcoming summer:
- What is the director's age and background? How long has the
director run this camp?
- What are the camp's goals and philosophy?
- What kind of camper is most likely to have a good experience
at this camp?
- What facilities does the camp have and how convenient are
they for campers and parents to get to?
- What is the communications policy of the camp while in
session? Are phone calls permitted? E-mails to and from home?
- What is the schedule like? Is it a structured program or one
that emphasizes a lot of free choice?
- What is the camper-counselor ratio and what are the
characteristics of most of the staff?
- What kind of staff training is provided?
- What percentage of campers return each year?
- What is the total cost of the camp including extras?
- What are the sleeping arrangements and what toilet and
shower facilities exist?
- What is the swimming instruction program like?
- How does the camp insure the safety and security of its
campers?
- What is the food like and who prepares it?
- What is the policy about food packages, letters home, TV,
trips to town, and to forth?
- What medical facilities are available and what medical staff
is on campus?
- Is there a refund policy if the camper leaves early?
- Will the director supply references?
- What happens when the weather is bad?
- How does the camp program meet individual needs and
differences?
- What kind of insurance coverage is there?
A parent should never feel self conscious about asking a lot of
questions. A good camp will have paid a lot of attention to these
parental concerns and should be eager to respond to them.
Be careful not to focus on one area and therefore omit others.
For example: a camp's facilities might be very impressive but they
won't mean a great deal if the atmosphere is not friendly, or if
the staff and program are inadequate.
Involve your child in the selection process. Review your
child's preferences and let your child ask questions too. This
will make them more comfortable with the idea of going away if it
is their first time.
Additionally, ask for references of families who have had their
child attend the camp. Speaking with these families can give you
valuable insight about the camp and the families that send their
children there.
After going through this process your family should be
comfortable with the program you have chosen and your child can
look forward to their camp stay throughout the next few months.
In an ever-changing world it can be hard to find those stalwart
people, places and things that one can count on. History has shown
that in wartime as well as peace time, recessions as well as boom
years, and in every kind of time, kids will be kids and,
fortunately, camp will be camp. Summer camp remains America's safe
haven.
Jeffrey Solomon is Executive Director of National Camp
Association, an organization that has been helping families find
overnight programs throughout the US and worldwide for nearly 20
years.
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