How can you and your child work together to create the best summer, ever?  There’s a summer camp out there for every child; so make sure you know what you are looking for in a camp and remember to focus on what will make your child most happy.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a camp for your child this summer:

1. Why, What, Where?

Getting into the specifics of what you’re looking for will narrow down your search significantly. When thinking of location, do you picture a museum, outdoor fields, or a laboratory? Is your child comfortable going out of their comfort zone for activities, or do you want them to work hard at talents they’ve already established? How much do you care to financially invest in summer camp? What type of coverage are you looking for in a camp (full day, extended day, ½ day, full summer)?

2. Involve Your Child

Have your child share their summer wishes with you as a way to know what’s important to your child. Show your child a few camp options and talk about each experience to see what might be the best fit. Sometimes camp is the perfect place to take on new things and other times camp is not the place to challenge a child’s comfort zone and preferences. You know your child best so make sure the camp you choose will support your child.

3. Explore Your Options

Tours, Camp Fairs, and Open Houses are a great way to get a feel for the camp’s values. Speak with camp leadership, soak in the camp’s vibe and make sure you’re confident that the camps you are researching are safe, fun and committed to developing your child. Be sure to ask about half days, full days and extended day options that work best for you and your child’s schedule.

4. Check With Friends

Where are your children’s friends going to camp? Ask around to see what families love about their camps and how they feel about their overall camp experience. Sending your child to a camp where they know at least one other child can go a long way.

5. Review the Details

Once you’ve narrowed your search down to your top choices, compare your options to be sure the camp you choose will deliver on their promises: ensuring that your child has a safe, fun summer. Be sure to check their licenses, permits and insurance. Find the camper to staff ratio (the lower the better!), the camper return rate (an average of 50% or more), and the staff return rate (40% or more).

ESF offers a great amount of variety and choice all under one roof so there is truly a camp for every child. We have a highly trained, all adult staff to manage the care, supervision and FUN of our campers. No matter which of our camp programs a family ultimately chooses, campers have the flexibility to pick and choose weeks from all of our offerings.