Whether you're looking for enrichment for your child, a way to keep your kids occupied and supervised while you work, or need a short reprieve from parenting, there's sure to be a summer camp that's the right fit for your child and family.
The benefits of summer camp
Summer camp offers kids plenty of benefits, and many kids thrill at the idea of going away to summer camp. Still, for some kids, particularly those who are shy, introverted, or homebodies, the thought of going away for a night, let alone a week or more, can cause considerable anxiety. When kids are adamantly opposed, forcing summer camp on them may not be in their best interest.
But for kids who are eager – or at least willing to give it a shot without much fuss – summer camp offers opportunities they may not have elsewhere. Summer camp provides kids with the following benefits:
Getting started in your search
Before you begin looking into summer camps, create a list of the criteria you're looking for. Here are some things you'll want to consider:
Once you've narrowed down some criteria, you can begin your search. An excellent place to start is right here in Calgary’s Child Magazine.
The Alberta Camping Association (ACA) accredits summer camps, and their website is another excellent place to look. The ACA educates camp owners and directors in health and safety for staff and campers, as well as program quality. It then accredits camps that meet the ACA's standards.
Next steps to finding the perfect summer camp
Once you've selected a few summer camps that meet your primary criteria and fit your child's interests, share the choices with your child to see what excites them. Be sure to let your child know upfront that you still need to thoroughly investigate the camp(s) before making a final decision, but keep your child's choices in mind to ensure your child gets the most out of summer camp.
Once you and your child have narrowed the list to a manageable selection, you'll want to investigate the camps further. There are several things you'll want to consider.
Is this camp a safe option for my child and family if we are at high risk from COVID-19 or RSV?
Many summer camps are now offering virtual programs so kids can benefit from summer camp without the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 and RSV. Virtual summer camps range from a couple of hours a day to all-day camps offering a broad range of virtual activities led by counselors. Virtual summer camp programs range from free to several hundred dollars.
What are the staff's qualifications?
Many summer camps use teens to staff the camps. Teens make excellent mentors and can bring liveliness to summer camp programs. However, the programs themselves should be developed by professionals and have professional oversight to ensure kids are getting the most from their camp experience.
How does the camp ensure your child's safety?
Find out what kind of safety training the camp provides its staffers. Also, is there staff on hand at all times that knows CPR? What are the camp's procedures in the event your child becomes ill, has an accident, or has an emergency?
What is the daily schedule for campers?
Ask for a daily itinerary, so you know your child will be getting everything you and your child anticipate from the program.
What are the rules?
Each camp has its own set of rules. So, find out whether your child is allowed to call you and how often. Can parents come and visit? Can kids bring along a cell phone or electronics? Also, how much money can they bring, and how is it managed?
Don't sweat it
Keep in mind, although there are many great camps, no camp is likely to offer everything precisely the way you want it. Choose the one that best fits your child and satisfies your most important criteria. Remember, your child will have many summers to come and plenty more opportunities to work in more exciting camp experiences.
Kimberly is a freelance writer and author of a children’s STEM book, Horoscopes: Reality or Trickery? She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com.
See our related articles:
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2024 Calgary’s Child
