Homeschooled children can benefit greatly from a summer camping experience no matter their age, grade level or religious background. But there are so many choices when choosing summer camps how can a parent ever be sure she is making the right choice? There are some relatively simple steps parents sending their children to camp, particularly a residential one, should follow to ensure their child has an enjoyable summer packed with wonderful memories and experiences.
Summer Camp Benefits For Children
Summer camp, whether it is a local day camp or a residential camp, can offer home and public schooled children an opportunity to socialize with other children in a new and exciting environment. Many long-lasting friendships are forged at summer camps each year and many children go on to assume roles as cabin counselors and camp staff as teenagers and young adults.
Children often have the chance to assume leadership roles within the camp. The absence of siblings or the division of them into different cabins allows each child to show his true colors and excel in activities he is better at thus improving his confidence level.
The many activities available at summer camp gives children the opportunities to try new things and discover new skills. From canoeing and acting to swimming, hiking and horseback riding the list of activities available at different camps are of the utmost benefit to the children who attend.
Tips To Choosing the Right Summer Camp
Look for a summer camp program that fits a child’s comfort level. If the child has never been away from home and seems nervous, day camp programs may be more suitable. If he's used to overnights away from home a residential camp may be a better fit. Some camps such as Camp Diamond run these programs together.
Choosing a camp that offers activities a child is interested in trying is important. There is comfort in the familiar and a camp which integrates many different activities will likely offer some things a child has tried before as well as activities that ask him to leave his comfort zone.
Many summer camps offer an open house day early in the season that allows parents and children to come and visit for a day and tour the grounds. Some even offer work weekends, which are a great way to get to know the staff and the grounds. This is a perfect venue to put a child’s fears at ease and make sure a camp is the right one.
Testimonials from old campers and or youth counselors are also vital tools in deciding if a camp is a good fit. Don’t be afraid to ask them about their feelings and experiences. Older campers are usually happy, if not eager, to share about the role summer camp has played in their lives.
Checking for accreditation is also a vital step in choosing a camp. Most provinces and states have a camping authority, which holds camps using their logo to a set of standards far above a camp not operating under their banner.
Lastly, listen to any instinctive feelings about a particular camp until you find the right one. Parents often have strong intuition when making decisions that will affect their children and these should always be taken into account. Discuss any feelings and concerns with the camp staff. If parents are still uneasy after following all of these steps, the camp being considered is likely not the right one for their child.
For more information on this topic read these other Suite 101 articles, Summer Camp for The Family and Homeschooling and Socialization
Karrie Emms - As a single mother of two beautiful children, Colton (11) and Jesslynn (9) Karrie has a passion for writing that began at the tender age ...
