| Camps often focus on specialties that include: | | | | College credit courses are very popular at overnight |
| adventure, art, computer, dance, music, religion, horse | | | | summer camps that typically offer students the |
| riding, sports, theatre, and many others. There are | | | | opportunity to explore a pre-college experience; usually, |
| camps with activities as traditional as model rocketry | | | | students entering grades 10 through 12 stay in college |
| and riflery, to those nontraditional as aviation, | | | | dormitories and attend summer classes run by the |
| computers, language studies, golf, martial arts or | | | | college faculty. Try to determine whether the director |
| community service. Many kid campers are enrolled in | | | | incorporates a similar philosophy to running the camp |
| summer camp by their parents early in the year, thus | | | | as you do in parenting your child or children. Non-profit |
| camps fill up quickly. | | | | camps often range from $1200 to $3000 for four |
| There are popular overnight summer camps in every | | | | weeks and $2500 to $5000 for eight weeks. |
| state in the U.S. and every province in Canada; there | | | | Four weeks at a good private overnight summer |
| are camps in the United Kingdom, Australia, New | | | | camp or sleepaway camp will cost anywhere from |
| Zealand and just about every country in the world. | | | | $3500 to $6500, and eight weeks will range from |
| Basically, if you can think of any subject of interest, | | | | $4000 to $7000. Some camps are often called |
| there's probably a camp that specializes in it. Beyond | | | | adventure camps - having a very specific theme or |
| the traditional sports - baseball, softball, basketball, | | | | interest; many of these programs emphasize skill |
| soccer, tennis, football, and more - there are camps for | | | | development and personal growth through the |
| outdoor enthusiasts that can offer horseback riding, | | | | adventures the offer. Camps should have at least a |
| hiking, camping, fishing, and even rappelling. | | | | 40% to 60% return staff ratio, which shows that the |
| Overnight summer camp is also known as a | | | | camp is seen as a good place to spend a summer. |
| sleepaway camp when campers spend their nights at | | | | Get to know the camp director from an in-person visit |
| the camp; some camps do allow both daytime and | | | | to your home if possible, phone conversations, email or |
| overnight campers. There are four basic types of | | | | other correspondence. Camp tuition can be expensive; |
| camps to choose from for your child: day programs, | | | | similar to travel insurance, there are now insurance |
| sleepaway or overnight summer camp, day programs | | | | policies for families sending their children to overnight |
| with trips, and special needs camps. Planning early is | | | | summer camp to cover last minute cancellations, |
| important; you should be diligent in your efforts to visit | | | | homesickness, medical emergencies and emergency |
| camps during the peak season to make plans in | | | | evacuations. Check the camper-counselor ratio to |
| advance of the next camping year. | | | | determine the number of campers for each counselor. |
| Most camp counselors are in their late teens or early | | | | If you think your child may not be ready for a |
| twenties and are high school and college students on | | | | sleepaway or overnight summer camp, choose a local |
| their summer break. Visit the camp; you can view | | | | camp in case you end up having to make a late night |
| campers and counselors in their element, witness | | | | pickup in the event he or she gets homesick. Think |
| activities as they occur, and just obtain an overall feel | | | | about what you and your child hope they'll get from |
| of the camp, something that cannot be accurately | | | | going to camp. Overnight summer camp is often the |
| experienced when the camp is closed. The reputation | | | | first time that most children spend a long period of time |
| of an overnight summer camp can also be determined | | | | away from home. Typically an overnight summer |
| by asking what percentage of counselors returned | | | | camp experience will leave a lot of wonderful |
| from the previous year. | | | | memories for the child or teen camper. |