February 15, 2006
It’s time to start thinking about summer camp
It’s not too early to start planning for summer camp!
I came across this excellent article at newsday.com and the author makes several good points about early planning for summer camp.
Though the last gasp of winter is still weeks away, it’s already time to think about summer camp. Many parents, armed with brochures and checkbooks, began attending camp open houses last month. Some even registered their children before the 2005 camp season ended. But with more than 200 local camp choices and over 100 overnight options within the tri-state area, chances are that you’ll still be able to find the right summer experience for your child. Most camps have ongoing registration; many town programs begin registration next month; school camps start taking applications in May; still others might take walk-ins in June.
The bottom line is that, whether this is your first time venturing into the world of summer camp or you’ve done it before, you need a game plan for tackling the selection process. Whatever you ultimately choose, camp should be an opportunity for kids to be exposed to new activities, make new friends, build self-esteem, learn good citizenship and discover who they are and what they love, according to Adam Weinstein, executive director of the New York office of the American Camp Association. How do you fill such a tall order?
