Summer in Union County

Activities to Keep the Kids Busy All Summer Long

By Jenn Diamond

Today, more than 11 million children and adults attend one of the 12,000 day and resident camps which exist in the U.S. With so many to choose from, how can parents decide which camp is best for their child? According The American Camping Association (ACA), the national organization that accredits summer youth camps, the biggest question parents are asking is “Who will care when I’m not there?”

Who will take the time to appreciate basic child development, as well as the unique qualities of their personalities? Who will ensure that my children have fun and, at the same time, learn important life lessons? Who will help my children understand how they can work as a team, contributing and succeeding? Who will help my children understand the importance of a community and the responsibilities that lie within? Who will keep my children safe and guard their tender feelings while they are acting invincible? Who will care when I’m not there?

Professionally run summer camps offer children the opportunity to explore, discover, and learn about the best things life has to offer, according to the ACA. They are willing to laugh, talk and cry with children, creating an understanding of social bonding.

The ACA says the summer camp experience is a “win-win for everyone.” Parents win because their children grow and learn. Children win because they have fun and collect lifelong friends and memories. Society wins because the camp experience helps make healthy, productive adults. Camp professionals win because they have made a positive difference in a child’s life.

HOW TO CHOOSE
Size
Camps may vary in size from under 100 campers to more than 400. Smaller camps may foster a very special environment where campers and staff really get to know each other, and where individual needs can be quickly met. Large camps are often organized into small units thus making it possible to receive the same kind of attention offered by a smaller camp. This is a complex issue that will require special attention and investigation. In a good camp there may be little correlation between size and the quality of the total camp experience.

If you feel your child requires special attention in an area such as confidence building, it is probably more important to find out how a camp meets that need rather than getting hung up on size. In this regard, you might want to keep these kinds of questions in mind: What do you do to prevent campers from getting lost in the shuffle? Can a below average athlete feel comfortable in trying new things and in working on skills at his or her own pace? What is done to promote a sense of self worth? The answers to such questions and others will help you identify appropriate camps and as you move toward a final selection.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
Some camps may emphasize one activity while others will offer a wide array of programs. Camps in which a camper would devote a majority of his or her time to one activity are often referred to as Specialty Camps. In these camps, staff and facilities are geared to provide an intensive experience in a single area such as tennis, horseback riding, gymnastics, sailing or wilderness. Naturally, these camps have other facilities
and activities that provide campers with additional experiences. A more traditional camp program tends to be broader in terms of what it offers.

Most general camps will provide programs in some team sports such as baseball and soccer, individual sports like tennis, and waterfront activities such as swimming and sailing, as well as some outdoor life options in hiking and canoeing. Many of these camps also provide campers with the opportunity to get extra instruction in any of the areas that are offered. In making a decision about camp, it is vital that you and your child look into the total camp program and that you examine the quality of the staff and facilities available to support that program.

Once you have reached the point where you have begun to compare camp programs, you may want to return to some of these questions. For now, it is appropriate to try to pin down some of the program preferences you and your child have. A list of the common camp activities follows:

Team Sports
Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Roller Hockey, Ice Hockey.

Individual Sports
Archery, Fencing, Fishing, Golf, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Wrestling, Track&Field, Biking, Minibikes, Go-karts, Weight Training, Riding, Riflery, Tennis, Figure Skating, Aerobics.

Watersports
Canoeing, Kayaking, Diving, Sailing, Scuba, Snorkeling, Swimming, Waterskiing, Jet-skiing, Windsurfing

Adventure
Rope Courses, Backpacking, Camp Crafts, Rafting, Rock Climbing, Outdoor Cooking, Overnights, Hiking

Creative Arts
Basketry, Drawing, Jewelry, Leatherwork, Metalwork, Crafts, Painting, Cooking, Writing, Photography, Sculpture, Weaving, Stained Glass, Woodwork, Film/Video, Sewing, Journalism, Ceramics

Performing Arts
Acting, Directing, Magic, Puppetry, Script Writing, Costuming, Lighting, Makeup, Set Construction, Broadcasting, Ballet, Rock Music, Jazz, Choreography, Folk Dance, Modern Dance, Instrumental, Voice, Circus Arts

Science
Geology, Gardening, Biology, Marine Biology, Farming, Nature, Astronomy, Rocketry, Ecology, Computing, Archaeology, Physics, Radio, Aviation

Education
Foreign Language, Remedial Tutoring, Academic Enrichment, English as a Second Language (ESL), SAT Prep

Travel
Teen Tours, Community Service, Biking, Wilderness

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