CAMPS
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4
CAROL SORGEN
Special to The Jewish News
S
ummer camp is a tradi-
tion many children
look forward to year
after year. But a valuable
camp experience doesn't hap-
pen by chance. It's the result
of months of planning and de-
cision-making by the family,
and it's a process that should
begin now.
"Too many parents wait
until April or May to begin
looking for a camp," says Jeff
Solomon, executive director of
the New York-based National
Camp Association. "By then
it's too late to really spend the
time and effort that's needed
to pick the appropriate camp
for your child."
Many factors should be ex-
amined when selecting a
camp, Mr. Solomon continues.
"The big mistake parents
make is choosing a summer
camp based on its popularity
and assuming it will be best
for their child. But the pro-
gram may not suit him or her.
There is a right camp for
every child, but it's not going
to be the same for everyone."
Indeed, he adds, "many par-
ents do not make good de-
cisions when it comes to
choosing a camp for their
children. Some parents send
their child to the camp they
attended, without consider-
ing how the camp may have
changed or how their needs
and wants differ from their
child's. In other cases, the
child attends a camp which a
friend has enjoyed, the as-
sumption being that if the
friend enjoyed it, your child
will too. That's not necessar-
ily the case."
According to Mr. Solomon,
camps should be selected that
meet the needs, interests,
goals and expectations of both
parents and children.
Camp should provide a
child with a break from rou-
tine, a sense of freedom and
an opportunity to do some-
thing that is different from
what he does throughout the
year — whether it's trying out
something creatively or sup-
plementing and enriching a
particular interest or skill
such as sports, computers or
60
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1991
Enthusiastic campers jet ski at Camp Walden in Cheboygan, Michigan.
According to Thomson K.
Heinrichs, senior manager for
community programs at
United Community Services
of Metropolitan Detroit and
executive director of the
Detroit-area Metropolitan
Camp Council, Michigan has
a comprehensive set of camp
licensing standards. "Our
state standards are emulated
nationally," he says.
Mr. Heinrichs notes that
the state certification is bas-
ed on many factors including
a quality staff, camp prepara-
tions, medical facilities and
fire safety. "There is a com-
plete range of standards.
They are not punitive. They
are healthy and provide for
excellent camping," says Mr.
Heinrichs.
Only a few of the Michigan
camps are accredited by the
American Camping Associa-
tion. Mr. Heinrichs explains
that the state licensing stan-
dards are rigorous and for
that reason Michigan camps
do not have to affiliate.
Ruthe Lax, director of the
Michigan office of Student
Camp and Trip Advisors
(SCATA), offers a free referral
service for prospective
campers. SCATA represents
650 camps, tour organizers
and schools, all of which have
been visited by SCATA
representatives.
Ms. Lax first talks with the
parents and the child to find
out what type of activities
and interests the camper has.
At the next meeting she
presents individualized camp
choices. "I give clients access
to an enormous varieties of
summer activities for kids
between the ages of 6 and 23,"
says Ms. Lax.
"If I were a parent, I would
ask for an interview with the
camp director, and I would
ask about the staff training
program which should be at
least a week," says Mr.
Heinrichs.
Mr. Heinrichs adds that
parents should ask if camp
fees are inclusive of all ac-
tivities. In fact, parents
should not hesitate to ask any
questions.
There is no one best camp
for everyone. Camps are as
different as kids. ❑
.
How To Choose
A Camp
Experts give advice on how to choose
the best camp for your child.
drama — in a structured,
time-limited way.
With more than 8,500 day
and residential camps in the
United States, choosing the
camp that will meet your
child's needs can seem over-
whelming. Organizations
such as the National Camp
Association and the
American Camping Associa-
tion publish guidelines to
help parents make the right
decision.
According to Jeff Solomon of
the National Camping Asso-
ciation, parents should start
the camp selection process by
making a list of the camps
that are possibilities.
Whenever possible, meet with
the directors of the camps in
which you are interested.
Look for someone who has
been in that position for at
least four years. Then ask the
following questions:
What percentage of camp-
ers return each year?
Who are the staff members?
How are they hired? Does the
staff return from year to year?
What is the staff training?
What is the counselor-
camper ratio?
What are the camp facili-
ties and how convenient are
they for campers?
Is the schedule a structured
program or one that em-
phasizes a lot of choice?
What is the camp philoso-
phy? Does it focus more on
sports or on arts? Is it a
diverse program?
What is the camp's attitude
toward competitiveness?
Is the camp accredited by
an overseeing organization or
by the state?
What are the sleeping ar-
rangements and toilet and
shower facilities?
What is the food like, and
who prepares it?
What medical staff and fa-
cilities are available?
What insurance coverage is
there?