How to select the right summer camp for your child
By Jennifer Lucarelli
Is your child outgoing? Does your child like sports? Is technology your child's thing?

Whatever interests your child has, there is a camp out there for them to enjoy during the summer, whether it's a day camp for a few weeks or a residential camp for the whole summer.

But with so many choices these days, choosing a camp may be a daunting task. Camp directors agree that talking with your child about their expectations is a good place to start when choosing a camp.

"Parents and children may have different goals in mind when it comes to their camp experience," said Lucy Norvell, director of public information for the American Camp Association in Lexington. "There may have to be some compromises and then parents can compare their family's wants to the camps out there."

For example, Norvell said, a child may excel in a sport so parents may want to send them to a sports camp all summer. But the child might not want to go to a sports camp all summer - they might want to go to a traditional camp, with a variety of programs that a friend went to the summer before.

"That's why we suggest parents have a conversation about camp with their child to see what options are out there," Norvell said. "Cost and geography may limit options, but at least having the conversation is a start."

With numerous camp options that include co-ed camps, residential camps, and day camps, parents may not be sure their child would be ready for those experiences. But camp directors agree that children can be more ready for residential camps than their parents may think.

Craig Whiting, executive director of Emagination, a traditional summer camp for children who love technology, said parents know if a camp is the right fit for their child.

"Our mission is to educate, entertain and help develop healthy kids," Whiting said. "And moms know if our camp is the right fit for their child."

The age range for its residential camp is eight to 17, and his staff is skilled at dealing with homesickness, Whiting said.

"Our counselors and the camper's friends are there when a camper is sad, and during down time at night and the early morning when campers are more likely to be homesick," he said.

As a result, he said, they work with campers to let them know it's okay to be homesick and usually in a few days the campers are busy having fun with their new friends.

Overnight Adventures

Even Whiting's daughter was homesick the first time she went to an overnight camp.

"I was surprised she was homesick, but with the passage of time, she got over it," he said. "And now she's in her sixth summer at the same camp and has taken on a leadership role."

Phyllis Shea, teen health coordinator and camp director for Girls Inc. in Worcester, said the magic number for sleepover camps seems to be age 8.

"Younger children may have a negative experience and children 8 and older seem to be a little more mature," Shea said. "At our day camp, we have an overnight every two weeks, and the children have to be in third grade - children begin to realize at that age that they won't be away from their family forever."

Shea said some children who are afraid of sleepover camps share the same fears as their parents.

"I've seen children as young as five do great at a residential summer camp because their parents helped make the experience fun," she said. "And that even happens with things like swimming and boating. One parent said their child was not allowed to swim or go boating in our pond, and after some convincing allowed it. Later, we found out the mom was terrified of the water and when she came to experience the camp for a day with her child, she went boating with her daughter, but was white-knuckled the entire time."

Moira Kelly, executive director of Explorations Summer Programs of Norwood, agrees with Shea.

"Children over 8 are more adult-oriented," she said. "They are more apt to tell an adult they are having a problem, where younger children may not."

Kelly said older children, like high school age, may even experience homesickness.

"There is an expectation that they should already know how to be away from their family and not be homesick, but they may have those feelings as well," Kelly said. "It's important that a parent asks a child if they want to go to residential camp, and if they are adamant about not going, then there are other options and maybe they can slowly introduce the idea of a residential camp by visiting camps while in session during the summer."

Kelly said it's important for a parent to be excited about the camp experience for their child, even if they fear their child may be homesick or not like it. "And by having a child visit the camp they will attend, it can help them envision themselves there and that can be a huge help," she added.

Shea said camp can be a great place where children can have new and can open them up to as many opportunities as possible.

"We have one counselor on staff who has experience living off the land," she said. "So he takes the campers on nature walks and discusses what plants are edible and even teaches our campers how to build shelters. The campers may never need to do those things themselves, but it could change their mind about a career path."

Shea said it is amazing to see an inner city kid catch their first frog, snake, or turtle. "And that's just one small thing," she said. "Camp is an opportunity for a kid to be liked by an adult, like a counselor, without doing anything - they can just be and be liked."

Catering To A Child's Interests

While some camps are more traditional, other camps can give children the opportunity to specialize in sports, academics, and technology. These camps are great for children, who have expressed an interest in one thing or another, but they may not be for every child.

"Specialized camps are great for children who want to explore a specialized interest," said Norvell. "But children can't enjoy a specialized camp if they don't know what they are choosing, so older children may enjoy a specialized camp more."

Parents may want to consider a specialized camp after their child is exposed to a variety of activities, and that happens after children get older and may have experienced different activities through school or even other camps.

Whiting agrees. "Our camp is great for children who are already interested in technology," he said. "But it may not be the best option for a child if their parent wants them to get more interested in computers."

No matter what camp a family chooses, there are some great resources available to help parents through the process.

The American Camp Association accredits camp throughout the country and offers search options on their Web site.

Norvell said other great resources are advertisements in newspapers and magazines, print resources from camps, and the Internet, though it may be tricky to navigate through some Web sites.

Also, a great way to find out if a camp is the right match for a child is to talk directly to a camp director and ask if they are accredited.

"Talk to the camp director at length or someone else who is the camp's spokesperson," Norvell said. "And ask any questions you want - it can only help parents become more comfortable with the camp."

Like other camp leaders, Kelly said that it's important for parents to ask themselves what kind of child they have and to ask the right questions to the camps they are considering. One red flag may come up while talking to a camp director.

"If they can't articulate how they achieve their mission statement, that may be a problem," Kelly said.

Norvell suggested parents ask for references and visit an open house or camp the summer before they will send their child, so they can observe the camp while it's running.

"It's not about what a camp is doing, but how they are doing it," Norvell said. "Don't just limit your research to looking at a list of activities. Find out how experienced each counselor is in their specialized activity." Norvell said it is very important to find the right match for your child. It can make the summer camp experience magical when it's the right fit.

For information, visit www.acacamps. org/newengland or call 781-541-6080.

Jennifer Lucarelli is a freelance writer from Central Massachusetts.