Trying to decide which sleep away camp to send your son or daughter to may not be as easy as you thought it would

be when you first considered it. Questions such as: What kind of camp should you go to? Should it be an a general

athletic camp by a lake, an adventure camp in the outdoors, or a science camp in a gym or classroom?

The thought of going to a sleep-away camp is supposed to be a positive one for your kids, filled with all kinds of fun

outdoor activities, the establishment of new friendships and of course another opportunity to gain a little more

independence.

Yet, the process of choosing a camp can also be riddled for both parents and kids. Your kids may not be quite ready

to be away from home. You may not be quite ready to let them go, either! So, with these things in mind, how do you

confidently select the right camp for your child?

For parents who do not have a particular camp in mind, experts often suggest that parents begin the process by

consulting a camp referral service or attending camp fairs where you can talk with camp representatives, watch videos

and obtain brochures and other information.

You’ll want to decide whether you want your child to attend a coed camp or an all-girl or all-boy camp. You’ll also need

to ascertain whether there are camps for your child if he or she has special needs, such as dietary restrictions or

religious requirements. And, you’ll also have to decide how far away you want your child or children to be.

Budgets are key. Many private camps range from $1000 to $1500 a week, but there are non-profit organizations like

the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA and others that camps at much more reasonable prices.

Whenever possible, speak with the camp director in advance and ask as many specific questions as you possibly can

about their camp including:

How many kids they put in each bunk
Whether campers choose their own activities or follow a set schedule
The age of counselors and the counselor-to-camper ratios
Whether parents can communicate with campers

Many camps allow in-person camp visits that you can take part in along with your kids to get a sense of what the camp

is like in action. Spend time walking around, checking out the facilities and where campers will be sleeping, eating and

spending most of their time.

There’s probably no better way to alleviate your child’s anxiety about going way to camp than including them in the

process. They’ll get more excited if they see and discuss the options that are available to them and if they can watch

videos, go on visits and read about where they may be going.

To know more about Sleep Away Camp please browse Sleep Away Camp