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1. consider interests.
day
camp
s offer a host of options. kelly coreil, owner of kidcam summer
camp
s, says, ?many of the specialty
camp
s are great if your
child
has specific interests such as baseball, fencing or horseback riding.? however, there are traditional
camp
options as well. talk with your
child
about his interests and what he would like to gain from the experience. would he enjoy an assortment of activities or does he want to concentrate on one skill such as soccer or art? 2. ponder program length.
day
camp
s range from several hours to a full
day
and can run from one week to an entire summer. how long your
child
should participate in a program will depend largely upon his age, developmental level, and previous
camp
experiences. first-time
camp
ers would do well starting in a partial- to full-week program. experienced
camp
ers may enjoy one that runs throughout the summer. even if your
child
decides to stay at
camp
all summer, consider allowing a few weeks break between school and
camp
(and vice versa) for down time. 3. look at location. consider the distance?s impact on the
camp
ing experience. if you choose a
day
camp
close to home, commute time will be less and your
child
may already be acquainted with some of the other
child
ren. a
day
camp
near your employer, however, would give you quick access to your
child
in the event of an emergency. but if your
child
needs additional morning or afternoon
child
care, you may want to consider a program close to your sitter. 4. ask about staff. find out the
camp
er-to- counselor ratio. ?e american
camp
ing association recommends an ideal ratio of six
camp
ers to one counselor. what experience and/or training do the counselors have? how are they selected? what is the
camp
?s discipline policy? are they trained to take care of health concerns such as asthma, allergies and dispensing medicine? chad brewer, brec?s assistant director of communications, emphasizes the preparation of staff and facilities prior to
camp
s. ?all
camp
counselors and directors are required to attend a full week of intensive training that includes knowing all policies for discipline, accident reports, schedules, and activities they will be doing with the
camp
ers from those in the field to arts and crafts, and locations they?ll go to with
camp
ers.? 5. focus on the facility. ask about indoor and outdoor facilities. is there ample indoor space for
child
ren to play during inclement weather? what do they do if it rains all week? are the outdoor equipment and grounds well maintained and safe? brewer says that every weekend before each
camp
begins, staff prepares the facilities. ??is includes cleaning the inside and outside facilities as well as making posters that inform parents where to go and of any additional information they need to know.? are the
child
ren?s swimming skills tested before they are allowed to enter the water? is the staff certified in lifesaving and present during water activities? 6. investigate cost. inquire about additional fees. some
day
camp
s have a base price but charge extra for trips, special events, and activities. if the
camp
you want to send your
child
to costs more than you can afford, find out if there is a scholarship program. also ask about a refund policy, in the event of an illness or family emergency. summer
day
camp
is a place where
child
ren can stretch their minds, exercise their bodies, develop new interests and forge lasting friendships. for young
child
ren, it is a good introduction to the
camp
experience. for older ones, it is a way to enjoy the activities without the overnight option.
day
camp
programs vary from one setting to the next and it is important to choose a
camp
tailored to your
child
?s needs. help make the most of your
child
?s
day
camp
experience by asking the right questions. by denise yearian prepare for your adventures help make the most of your
child
?s
day
camp
experience
day
camp
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