Best Summer Camps
Summer camps are a popular way to keep kids busy and productive when school is out. There are many types of summer camps catering to the needs and interests of all sorts of children and their families. The first choice parents and children have to make about summer camps is whether they are looking for a day or overnight camp. Day camps let kids go home each night, while overnight summer camps are sleep-away camps where kids stay overnight for as long as the program lasts. Most overnight camps last a week or more.
Staying away from home is both an adventure and a challenge for both children and parents. Often summer camp is the first experience a kid has of spending a long time away from home and family. There’s a certain amount of separation anxiety that both children and parents experience. Some parents get very anxious about it, but most are excited to see how their kids learn to be more independent.
Typical summer camps offer a wide variety of activities and learning programs for their campers. There are traditional camps and there are those that offer more specialized activities. Traditional campers enjoy stories during nightly campfires, camp songs, and a lot of hand-clapping patterns. There are sports activities that keep them on their toes and develop their muscles more.
Some camps are focus on skills building programs in athletics, theater, or academics. For example, more specialized overnight summer camps offer training in a single sport like climbing, hiking, football, dance, or gymnastics. There are those that also offer music or theater programs for those interested in the performance arts. Finally, there are academic enrichment programs preparing college-bound students advance classes.
Giving the kids an opportunity to see what it’s like when they are a bit independent can help build their resourcefulness and self-reliance. These traits will help prepare them to become better adults soon.
Day camp or overnight camp doesn’t have to be an either or choice. Many families will start by sending younger kids to day camp at a local park, church, or YMCA. Depending on how that works out they may want to try overnight camp or specialized sports or activity camps when the children are a bit older. The important thing is to match the camp programs and philosophy to the needs of the child and family.
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