How To Find The Best Summer Camp For Your Child
There are many summer camps offered all over the world, but how do you know which camp offers the best experience for your child? To help make the decision process a little easier we have created a list of important questions you can ask staff in order to determine the quality of a particular camp. By making a careful decision you can ensure a great camp experience for your child!
Does The Camp Have ACA Accreditations?
Perhaps this is one of the most important questions to consider; a camp with ACA accreditations is going to offer a wide variety of controlled activities geared to children of all skills and interests. Not all kid camps have ACA Accreditations, causing many parents to wonder: what is the point?
The mission of the American Camping Association is to create a trusted group of camp professionals that actively work to provide enriching experiences and educational opportunities for both kids and adults. ACA-accredited programs are given advice and direction related to improved health and safety for both campers and staff. By creating industry-specific standards, it is easier for the public to find reliable, trusted camps.
The basic premise of ACA Accreditations include:
- Camp programs and professionals that promote successful development and wellbeing.
- No one is excluded from camp, all interests, abilities, budgets, and interests are welcome!
- Provide a positive and fun learning environment held within controlled boundaries.
- Responsibility, cooperation, self-esteem and courage are all important life skills camp should help foster.
Camp Live Oak is one of the only ACA accredited camps in the area. By enrolling your child an ACA accredited camp you can better guarantee your child will have a good, safe, and enriching experience at camp.
What Activities Does The Camp Offer?
Make sure to ask for a list of the regular activities campers participate in to ensure your child will enjoy their time at camp. If kids are only offered the option of doing art projects or splashing in the pool, your child might start to find camp life boring and unenlightening. There are camps that offer many different things for kids to participate in, which helps kids learn, grow, and love going to camp. Of course, taking into consideration your child’s own interests is important too, the last thing you want to do is enroll your child at a camp that doesn’t offer activities in-line with their curiosities.
Who Are The Camp Counselors and Staff?
Camp staff help set an example for your child, just like any other teacher or authority figure. This is why it is so important to find a camp with a highly qualified group of staff. Teachers, scientists, and other professionals are a great addition to any camp because they increase the level of educational opportunities. Finding out details about a camp’s staff could change your mind about which camp to send your child to.
It’s not just who the staff are, but also what sort of safety accreditations do they have? A staff fully certified in CPR and First Aid should be of utmost importance when it comes to protecting the safety of your child.
What Food Does The Camp Offer?
A healthy diet is vital to proper growth and development. This is why it’s so important to ask about the foods served at camp. Will you need to pack a lunch each day, or does the camp provide food? If the camp provides meals, are they packed with the nutrients your child needs?
Perhaps just as important, are the meals delicious? You have to trick most kids in order to get them eating their veggies; a big stack of broccoli or Brussels sprouts will not likely be eagerly devoured. After all, kids are some of the pickiest eaters. Before selecting a camp, make sure kids are provided with natural, nutritious and delicious meals that will fuel them through their fun-filled day of non-stop camp activities.
Does The Camp Offer Guidance For Special Needs?
Does your child have any special needs related to diet, health, behavioral, or anything else? If so, it’s important to find a camp that offers appropriate services to campers.
What Does The Camp Offer To Ensure Safety?
Asking about a camp’s safety policy and precautions can help you decide on the protection a camp will provide your child. The last thing you want to do is send your child to an unsafe camp. Find out what sort of emergencies the camp is equipped to deal with, and what camp officials do in the case of an emergency. Are local paramedics within a close distance, just in case a more serious incident or injury arises?
Camp Live Oak welcomes all of your questions and concerns. We are an ACA accredited camp with a wide range of activities, safety precautions, organically delicious foods, and more!