Often times, parents come to us too late in the season to find the perfect summer experience for their child. In many cases, the only session in which their child can participate – nestled between baseball season, the family vacation and school starting - is already filled up. The best way to avoid this situation is to plan your summer early. Done right, the process of finding the right camp can take an entire year’s worth of research, but the reward is great.

Here’s a blueprint:

DO THE RESEARCH (January - May 2008)

With over 11,000 camps in the United States, it is important to come up with a list of questions to guide you. By doing so, you can narrow the possibilities to a manageable few.

What do I want in a camp? Single sex or co-ed? Religious or non-denominational? Sports-oriented, nature-oriented or a mixture of both? Close-by camp within driving distance or am I comfortable with a plane flight? Do I want lakes or mountains (or will just a river do)? 1, 2 or 4 weeks in length? Is the culture or personality of the camp competitive or nurturing? Are activities required or is there free choice by interest?

[This article assumes the reader is trying to decide on a traditional camp experience. If you are looking at specialty camps and/or teen programs, there is a whole different set of questions to consider]

To do this research, it is helpful to –

· Talk to other children and parents. Referrals from other families with camp experience are a great way to get the real scoop. Remember it is sometimes difficult to recognize when your child may need a different program than his or her best buddy. · Watch DVDs & talk to your children. This is especially helpful for children to learn what camp is all about and can easily enable you to discuss camp with your child in order to assess their readiness. Children enjoy seeing the campers and the activities. When talking to your child about their interests, be open to the unexpected. · Search the Internet. The Internet is full of camp "Yellow Pages" that offer links to a camp’s web site. You can search by region or camp focus. If using this method, it is a good idea to use additional references from the camps, as well as an independent advisory service. · Attend a camp fair. Schools, malls, and community centers sponsor annual fairs to allow parents to see many programs in a central venue. Usually present are directors of overnight camps, day camps and teen programs. Check your local parenting publications. · Talk to camp directors. Each director should have a clear sense of what children should gain from their experiences and how to go about teaching these skills. If the director cannot adequately answer your questions about camp philosophy, home communication or supervision, then it is probably not the right camp for you. · Talk to a Camp Advisor. TIPS ON TRIPS & CAMPS is a wonderful resource to use in locating the perfect program for your child. Tips on Trips can help a family compare programs, obtain references, determine the right questions to ask directors, and, ultimately, find the program that suits each child. Tips on Trips and Camps, Inc. is a FREE advisory service, specializing in overnight summer experiences for children ages 7-19. There are 16 consultants world-wide, placing thousands of children in quality overnight programs each summer. Tips consultants provide consultations by phone, email or in person to determine the needs of the family and then provide videos and brochures by mail. Tips consultants evaluate residential summer programs through interviews with directors, personal visits to programs in the summer, and feedback from recent participants. They stand behind the programs that they recommend to families, representing programs of the highest quality.

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