Overnight Summer Camp Checklist

The camp experience will have a lasting impression on a child or teen, so there are a number of issues that should be seriously considered when choosing an overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp.  It's good to have a good checklist to go over while making your decisions.

Some questions to ask yourself are:

• What do you and your child hope they'll get from going to camp?
• Is there a special topic (e.g. religion, sports, educational, performing arts and arts) that you hope they'll gain ability and experience in?
• Would it benefit your child more if he or she interacted more with the opposite gender?
• If you have more than one child would they benefit from attending the same summer camp together?
• How far away from you and for how long would your child be comfortable. If you think your child may not be ready for a sleepaway or overnight summer camp, choose a local camp in case you end up having to make a late night pickup in the event he or she gets homesick.
• How much are you planning to or willing to pay? Four weeks at a good private overnight summer camp or sleep away camp will cost anywhere from $3500 to $6500, and eight weeks will range from $4000 to $7000. Non-profit camps often range from $1200 to $3000 for four weeks and $2500 to $5000 for eight weeks. Specialty camps can range from $500 to $1000 per week depending on the program. Take time to consider what you can reasonably afford with your budget.
• Does your child have any special needs that need to be considered or accommodated? While most camps are equipped for campers with disabilities, not all have staff trained to work with children with attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, mobility issues or other special medical problems.

Once you have narrowed the overnight summer camps to a few choices, another set of questions  to ask yourself should help you choose which overnight camp is the best one for your child.

• What is the camp director's age and background?
• How long has the director run this or other camps?
• What facilities does the camp have and how convenient are they for the campers to get to?
• What is the camper-counselor ratio, their age, and the training required of the staff?
• What is the schedule or camp program like? Is it a structured program or one that places emphasis on a lot of free choices?
• What percentage of campers return to the camp each year?
• Are there any extra costs that are not included or may arise, like equipment fees?
• How does the summer camp insure the safety and security of its campers?
• What medical facilities are available on site  or offsite and what medical staff is on campus?
• Is there a refund policy if the camper decides to leave early?

These questions are a good starting point for you in your quest to find the right overnight summer camp or sleepaway camp for your child. If you spend the time needed to research your options and include your child in all the decisions, he or she will most likely have a memorable experience that provides them opportunities to grow while having a lot of fun and making new friends.