16 AWP Brooklyn Paper • www.BrooklynPaper.com • (718) 260-2500 February 22–28, 2019
CAMP
GUIDE 2019
Start to plan childrens’ summer now
Many families spend winter
figuring out how to
chase away cabin fever
and endure frigid temperatures
until spring and summer
mercifully return. Parents
thinking ahead to swimming
pools and days lounging on the
beach can put their daydreams
to practical use by planning
ahead for their youngsters’
summer vacations.
Youth recreational programs
and summer camps
can bridge the gap in care
between the end of school
and the day when classes
resume. Due in part to high
demand, parents who want to
place their kids in summer-rec
programs or summer camps
should being vetting such programs
and camps well in advance
of summer. The following
are a handful of tips
for moms and dads who want
their kids to have fun and fulfilling
summers:
Ask for recommendations.
Speak with fellow
parents and trusted friends
about where they send their
children. Personal recommendations
can be very helpful,
providing firsthand insight
into a particular camp or program.
Schedule appointments
to visit camps that fall within
your budget. Take your child
along so she can get a sense of
what camp will be like.
Explore all options.
Camps come in more flavors
than ever before. Certain
camps may be faith-based
ministries while others may
focus on particular sports.
Band camps and art camps
Some summer camps focus on a particular sport, catering to young athletes
who want to further develop their athletic talents.
may appeal to creative kids.
Also, there are plenty of general
interest camps that offer
various activities without
narrowing in on any particular
one. Parents may need
to choose between a sleepaway
camp or day camps, depending
on which camp experience
they want for their
children.
Inquire about camp
schedules. Many camps are
flexible, but day camps do not
have the same level of flexibility
as after-school programs.
Arrangements will need to be
made if care is required after
regular camp hours. Speak
with camp staff to see which
types of after-hours programs,
if any, are available.
Determine your camp
budget. As varied as program
offerings may be, camps also
can vary greatly with regard to
cost. Government-run camps
may be less expensive than
those offered by private companies.
Day camps typically
cost less than those that provide
room and board. Find out
if a particular organization
subsidizes a portion of camp
costs. Scouting programs often
have a dedicated camp and
may offer affordable options
for scouts. Martial arts schools
and dance centers frequently
offer camp schedules.
If camp seems out of
reach, look into local summer
recreation programs at
parks or schools. Such programs
Row New York summer rowing
camps ages 13-18. Learn more at
rownewyork.org/programs or email
youthrowing@rownewyork.org.
may not be as extensive
as those offered by
camps, but they can quell kids’
boredom and keep children
occupied during the day.
In addition to camp, remember
to plan for some
free days so children can just
enjoy some downtime. Such
days can break up the monotony
of a routine and provide
kids and families time to relax
together.
Summer recreation may
be far off, but it is never too
early to start making summer
plans, including finding
camps and other activities
for kids.
Questions to ask about day camp
Learning disabilities and camp
When choosing a summer
camp program
for a child with learning
disabilities, the most important
question is, “will
they understand and take
good care of my child?”
Consider some of these
factors when determining
what program will best fit
the needs of your child:
Type of program
Decide early in the process
what type of program
you want for your child.
Camps are offered as day
programs (campers go home
at night) and residential programs
(campers board at the
camp facility for the length
of their stay).
Length of programs vary
from as short as a few days
to several weeks. Be certain
that your child is ready to cope
with the length of the program
you select.
Camp programs are available
in both same-sex formats
and co-ed. Consider
your child’s social skills level
and ability to cope with the
demands of mixed-sex social
situations when deciding
which of these environments
would be best.
Of particular importance
is the camp’s policy regarding
family communication with
the child. Will the child be expected,
in fact encouraged, to
write to her family during the
camp stay? Will phone calls
to and from home be allowed?
Children with learning disabilities
often have differing
needs for family contact and
you should be certain that the
camp policy will not conflict
with those needs.
Type of camp
There are many choices!
Your child can be mainstreamed
into a regular camp
setting, or be at a camp that
focuses on her particular
needs. There are also camps
that mix up the needs, such as
learning disabled, emotionally
disabled, and physically
disabled.
Size
What are you ideally
looking for? Camps range
in size from 500 or more
children per session to as
small as 30 to 35 per session.
It is purely a personal decision
for each family.
Educational or
recreational?
Many camps for learning
disabled children are
purely recreational, while
other programs combine
both recreational and educational
activities. Inquire
about the percentage of camp
time devoted to varying activities
and decide what mix
When deciding on camps for a child with learning
disabilities, it is important to determine if the
teachers or counselors are educated, certified, and
trained to work with children with such disabilities.
will best serve your child’s
specific needs.
Staff
The American Camping
Association requires
one counselor for each eight
children. When dealing with
learning-disabled children,
a ratio of one to four is preferred.
For residential programs,
be sure to determine
the level of staff supervision in
the evening hours. You want
your child to receive the attention
she needs.
Determine the level of medical
training the staff has received.
If your child takes regular
medication, will trained
staff be on duty each day to
administer it?
If overnight camp is not the right
choice for your youngster, or if
your child is younger than 7, look
into the many summer day-camp programs
available.
They can even prepare your child
for overnight camp.
Some points to consider when
choosing a day camp:
Training: Is the staff trained
in safety, supervision, counseling,
problem solving, and other issues
important to working with young
children?
Cost: Is the price all-inclusive, or
do extra charges apply for transportation,
horseback riding, food service,
group pictures, T-shirts, and
other items?
Transportation: If transportation
is offered, do you live near a
pick-up spot?
Extended care: If before and after
care is offered to accommodate working
parents, who is with the children
and what activities take place?
Lunch: Is lunch served, or do
campers bring their own?
Swimming: If swimming is offered,
are lessons included, or is
swimming only recreational?
Supervision: Does one counselor
stay with a group all day? Or are
campers free to roam from one activity
to another? If so, who supervises
children in the interim?
Visits: Are parents allowed to
drop by for visits?
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