School’s Out? Time for Camp!

Today’s camps offer many options to help children grow and build memories

Of all the activities at summer camp, cheerleading was one Jill Sava never imagined she’d try. But the summer before sixth grade, at the encouragement of her brother’s friends, she gave it a whirl. “Two weeks later, I was teaching the class,” says the 31-year-old Allentown woman. She remained a cheerleader throughout her school years.

Today Sava helps other children tackle new adventures in her job as camp director at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Allentown. While camp options for children have grown tenfold since she was a camper, the benefits remain the same.

“Children make lasting friendships, develop new passions, learn different values and experience life outside of home,” says family medicine physician Kimberly Legg Corba, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “And the memories can last a lifetime.”

Choosing the right camp

The first step in ensuring a good experience for your child is selecting the right camp. But with so many choices—day, overnight, nature, sports and educational camps among them— where do you begin?

“Match your child’s personality with the camp,” says Moshe Markowitz, M.D., a pediatrician at the hospital. “If he enjoys sports, a traditional outdoor camp may be the right one. If he enjoys schoolwork, a camp with learning activities like music or cooking might be best.”

Children can start attending day camp by age 3. For overnight camp, many experts recommend waiting until age 10 or 11. “But every child matures differently,” Corba says. “Some are never ready for overnight camp.”

If your child expresses interest in a sleepover camp but is concerned about being away from home, you can test the waters. “Ask if she wants to spend a weekend at a relative’s house,” Markowitz says. The JCC and other organizations offer same-day (as well as overnight) travel camps, where children visit destinations like Gettysburg and return home at night.

A safe bet for camping success: give your child a say. “Let her choose the theme or activity, and you choose the specific camp,” Corba says.

Ensuring safety

“Camps offer 24/7 supervision that ensures your child is as safe as possible,” says Gary Kimball, a communications specialist who directs Camp ALERT network, a 24-hour camp emergency response service. Still, it pays to be careful. Visit the camp before enrolling. Ask about staffing and supervision (How many students per counselor?), screening for counselors (Are background checks required?), health care (Is it available 24/7, and are counselors educated in CPR?) and accreditation. The American Camp Association—acacamps.org— evaluates camps’ health, safety and program quality.

Once you’re confident the camp is well-run, how will you know if your child is having a good time? “If he comes home tired, it often means he had a good day,” Corba says. “If he can’t wait for the next session, you know he’s making those long-lasting memories.”

Want to Know More? Click here to learn about preparing children, including those with health conditions, for camp. For advice from experts, call 610-402-CARE.

Published from Healthy You Magazine, May-June 2008

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