Defining your camp needs

What are your family’s and your child’s unique needs? Reviewing these questions will help you decide what’s important.

What are our scheduling needs? Do we need 1, 2, or 8 weeks of camp?  Full day or part day?  (Many full-day programs begin at 9:00am and end at 3:00pm or 4:00pm.)  Do we need early drop-off or late pick-up?

How many placements are we seeking? Are we looking for one program that will satisfy all of our children, or are we considering different options?

Can we provide our own transportation? Do we need to use transportation provided by the camp, or by another option (van service, carpool)?

What are my child's preferences? For instance, if my daughter likes baseball, would she prefer a full-day camp that offers an array of sports including swimming, or a specialized half-day clinic that provides baseball training only?

What are my preferences? Do I think it is important for my child to have swimming lessons at camp?  Do I want my child to be outside or inside for most of the day?  Am I excited about my child traveling to different adventures each day, or do I want him to stay on site?

What is my child's style? Does she prefer a consistent, pre-planned schedule, or one where she can choose some of her activities each day?  Is she self-motivated, or does she do best with encouragement?  Is she always in motion, or is she a deep thinker? Does she do well in mixed-age or large group situations?

Are special needs a consideration? If my child is differently-abled physically and/or intellectually, or has an illness such as diabetes, do we prefer that he be in a camp designed just for children with similar experiences, or do we prefer that he participate in a program where he is integrated with all campers?

What is our family philosophy? What do I most want my child to take away from this camp experience?  Do I want her to work on mastering her tennis skills, or do I want her to focus on making new friends – or both?

What can we afford? Have we considered "hidden costs," such as field trips?

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