How
can parents prepare their children for attending their first summer
camp?
1) Day
camps are more fun when children know
at least one other camper who
will be attending. Don't assume that they will be in the same group,
let the camp director know your preferences when you initially register
your child.
2) If a camp facility is open when you register for camp, take a tour.
If not, take a virtual tour of the facility through looking on their
website.
The more familiar your child is with the environment, the less
overwhelming
he/she will feel.
3) Watch videos and look at photos of other campers having fun at camp.
Look on the camp website and Google the camp name for additional
postings.
4) Print out the camp schedule for your child to read about a typical
day at camp---from the meals, free time, activities, to the bedtime
routines.
5) For residential camps, make sure that this isn’t the first
time your child will be sleeping away from home. Let them practice
overcoming their separation anxiety with a couple of sleep-overs with
friends or family before going to a residential camp. Write a letter
(or email) to the camp director with any questions.
How
do parents find if a summer camp has had any complaints filed
against them?
Look up the camp
on the Better Business Bureau for
any grievances. (BBB.org)
Ask your friends
through social media (Facebook,
Twitter, MySpace,
etc.) if they have had any positive or negative experiences with the
camp. Your friends will tell you!
When
should teens start sending in their resumes to camp directors for
summer jobs?
Most camp
directors accept resumes throughout the year, but they typically
interview and hire most of their staff from January through March. With
the high levels of
unemployment, there will be a
tremendous competition for jobs. Send
follow-up emails and make phone calls to show your interest. Camp
Directors want
fun camp counselors who campers will enjoy being around, while also
respecting and obeying them. The more experience you have
working with kids,
the better. Volunteer with your local schools, YMCA, churches, scouts,
and other civic organizations to build your experience levels.
What
special tips are advised for sleep-away camps?
Kids love
receiving notes, money and care
packages--even if
they don't tell you.
Having a friend
who is going along can make the camp
experience more
fun.
Share any
concerns you have with the Camp Director,
but let them deal
with any discipline problems. Don't be a "helicopter parent" who flies
in
to resolve problems and hovers to micromanage the details.
If
my child takes medication during the school year, should my child
take it for summer camp?
First, consult
with your child's pediatrician before
ever deciding to
stop
treating your child with any medication.
Most children
with allergy, asthma, diabetes,
attention and impulsivity
conditions are not "healed" during the summer months. Many times it can
be worse with the heat, additional exercise, and being outside.
Children with medical issues usually need
special treatment to help them enjoy
their summer camp experience the most.
For children who
take medication
for their attention or impulsivity, it can be especially hard for them
to listen to instructions, get along with peers, and control their
impulses when they are not on medication.
What's
the difference between a Standard and Premium
Listing?
-A Standard
Listing shows : Camp Name Contact
Name Camp
Phone number(s) Camp
Fax number Link
to Email address Link
to Website Logo, with link to website $399/year
-A Premium
Listing shows: Camp Name Contact
Name Camp
Phone number(s) Camp
Fax number Link
to Email address Link
to Website Logo, with link to website 200
character description Up
to 3 extra links! (Youtube, Facebook, Twitter) $599/year
There
are other websites that provide this
same services, but this is free. All you have to do
is have your webmaster enter some HTML code on your first page of your
website
to install an invisible counter that starts tracking your visitors. You
can find all websites
that refer traffic to your website and even how long they stay on your
website.
Is it better to advertise on national or state-wide websites?
• Great
question! National marketing definitely has
its advantages--especially when you
are
trying to draw campers from outside your state.
• Websites like ACAcamps.org and SummerCamps.com provide adequate national summer camp options for campers who travel
from afar to attend one of their camps..
• Since
the overwhelming
majority of campers travel less than 3 hours to attend a summer
camp, most
camps do their best marketing when they focus on campers within that
radius. SummerCampDirectories.com allows parents
to find summer camps in their
city.
