Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Best Summer Kids Camp

By Jeff Lorenz

There are several ways to find the best Summer Kids Camps but they all requuire loads of work. First and maybe most important is the Internet. Today increasingly the internet is able to help children and parents alike find the right camp. Pictures and Videos can all help make the decision easier. Other ways to find a camp are more specific and local. You may look at brochures at your library, school, or other bulletin boards. Many sports and child magazines carry advertisements for these types of programs. Word of mouth is still the preferred way because you can get so much more information about staff, facilities and even the food.

Is you child involved in any other out of school activities? If so ask your child's coach or scout leader. Sometimes sports Varsity coaches run high school or college level sports camps that they recommend to their players.

Many Kid's Summer Camps are well-established and have been in business for many years. In addition to the questions you would ask of traditional overnight camps, about things like health and safety and living accommodations, you must also ask more specifically tailored questions. You will want to ask:

* How long has the camp been in business? Has its location changed? Why?

* If the program is sports based. Is it associated with a 'big' name, such as a professional ball player? How often is he or she at camp. Often these celebrities lend their name to a camp, but their involvement is limited.

* Who are the coaches? What is their training? Preferably you are looking for varsity college coaches with college players as assistants. Ask how much of the staff is returning from previous seasons.

* What is the ratio of instructors to campers? How are the groups organized? Is there room for movement to a higher skill level after camp begins?

* How many campers return?

* What do they do to help children fit in at camp? Should they bring a friend?

* What are the ages of the campers who attend? Where are the kids from?

*What is the level of play? Does the camp accept all skill levels?

Checking references is a must. Like any other summer program, you will want to do a reference check for a sports program. If you don't know any families who have used this particular sports camp, then ask the director for a list. When you call the families, you will want to know:

* What did the camper like about the program?

* Are they going to return? Why?

* What did the parents think of the supervision?

* Did the camper's skills noticeably improve?

Learn more about picking a Summer Camp

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