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Summer Camp Advice

In America summer camps have been around for over 100 years, Here is some Summer Camp Advice, If you want your child to experience the fun and excitement of going to a sleepaway kids summer camp, you should start your search for the best camp as early as now. Sleepaway Summer Camps...
If you want your child to experience the fun and excitement of going to a sleepaway kids summer camp, you should start your search for the best camp as early as now. Sleepaway Summer Camps are different than day camps because children stay in cabins on the camp grounds for a certain period of time, usually from two to eight weeks, without going home every day. Campers can communicate with their families and friends through letters or phone calls. Visitations are usually allowed at specific times during the kids' stay at the camp. Sleepaway camps are designed to be safe but separate environments; after all, a big part of the purpose and benefit of camp is the encouragement of independence.

Part of the fun of this variety of camp is that kids get to stay in an area all their own and sleep among other kids with adult counselors always present. It makes a young camper feel very grown up and it also brings a chance to learn independence. As a parent, it will be your task to find the camp where your child can stay for right length of time during the summer. You might consider the following tips to keep in mind as you begin to look for the perfect overnight camp. 

There is an excellent free website,www.summercampadvice.com, that exists solely for the purpose of helpingprospective campers and their parents with choosing the best summer camp by guiding them with the right questions. This site is a great place to start or to expand your search.

Since your child will be staying for a long time at the camp you choose, it is necessary to ensure that the place where they will sleep is comfortable. The cabins, bunks and closets or lockers should be clean and in good repair. The interiors should not be overcrowded and the exteriors should be well-maintained and in good condition.  Bathroom facilities should be clean and accessible. The physical facilities of a camp needn't be new or fancy, and they will not determine the ultimate quality of the experience a camper has, but they can offer hints about the camp directors' overall attitude and attention to detail.

Much more important to the experience a camper is likely to have at camp is the amount of ongoing individual attention he or she is likely to recieve from staff supervisors and mentors. At least one camp counselor should sleep in each cabin. 

The most important factor to consider when searching for a sleep away camp is safety. A good summer camp will offer very thorough information about all matters having to do with camper safety. Here are a few tips to begin with; a complete reference guide for camp safety issues can be found [at|by going to] www.summercampadvice.com. ; Ask about how the camp staff would handle emergencies. The camp should have a clinic with its own nurse. If your child needs special attention or has a special set of medical needs, you should discuss this in detail with the camp administrator. You should inform the directors about your child's allergies or other health conditions and make sure that the camp will accomodate your child's particular needs in those areas.
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Summer Camp Information

Looking for the best choice among countless summer camps can appear to be an almost endless task. Camp information is everywhere, especially on the world wide web. There are day camps and...

overnight campseverywhere in the world. If you and your child know have discussed what you want in a camp, you can make a successful choice.   

Every imaginable kind of camp can be found in the variety of summer camps. Some are traditional and others are limited to certain areas of interest. If you study camp information carefully you can find the right camp for your child. Discussing ideas with your child can be a useful guide to choosing the kind of camp that will give the most to your child’s life.  If you want to choose an overnight camp the information needs to be considered and followed up on even more carefully.

If you compare camp information about all summer camps in the geographic areas you prefer, especially if you are looking at overnight camps, you will find a wide variation of offered facilities and activities. The web sites of specific summer camps will give you a starting place, but it will be up to you to ask questions and study the camp information with a critical eye.

Asking the right questions about summer camps once you have thecamp information in hand will make the difference for a successful search. Basic questions about license, accreditation, quality, camp history, time in existence, philosophy, personnel and facilities are your starting place. But the key to a great choice will be in the details. Can you contact references from campers and parents who have gone to that camp? How is the food? How are the sleeping facilities forovernight camps? What happens when it’s a rainy day? What are the rules about cell phones and computers? How will the camp personnel handle a medical emergency?

When you are just starting out, preparing the right questions before you study camp information can help you find the right camp from all available summer camps. The way you approach information aboutsummer campscan make all the difference to the eventual experience your child will remember all his or her life.

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5 Things To Look For When Picking A Summer Camp

When selecting a summer camp their can be many variables that attract you and your camper. These might include its location, price, term, or facilities and programs. That’s the easy part to selecting a summer camp. Yet, summer camp is so much more, after all you are sending your most prized asset. Ultimately you will want to learn about the camp's policies and get to know the Camp Directors.

Please review these, prior to calling the Camp Director. It is also a good idea to ask if the camp is American Camp Accredited, this is an independent agency that does onsite inspection of over 300 different items at each camp. Remember, this is only the beginning of your search and be sure to always ask for references.

These professionals and their staff will guide, support, entertain and educate your child while at summer camp. They are really what makes for a successful camp experience. Here are the top 5 important issues to consider in order to make the best possible choice.
 
 
 

1.Camp Director's Experience.

 
The experience of a Summer Camp Director can vary tremendously. Obviously experience in working with children is important. The American Camp Association (ACA) minimum standards for Camp Directors require a bachelor's degree, a minimum 16 weeks of camp administration experience, and the completion of in-service training within the previous 3 years. The ACA even has a course to certify camp directors. Is your certified?
 

2.Camp Philosophy.

 
This is what camp is all about, it is reason for camp. This reflects the Directors personality and desires. What is the camp's purpose? What ideals are emphasized ( persistence, friendship, honesty )and how they are reflected at camp. Often, the importance of competition can vary widely from camp to camp. Some Cams feel that experiencing competition is a natural, while other camps are non-competitive and try to foster a greater sense of cooperation and interdependence.


3.Staff Requirements.

 
The ACA suggests that overnight summer camps vary their camper to counselor ratio depending on the age of the child. So younger children have more supervision than older. A good rule of thumb is that all children have from 3-5 campers for each camp counselor. Ask the Camp Director what they look for in their employees. Staff members must be dependable, enthusiastic, outgoing, knowledgeable and truly caring individuals. How do they find folks with these qualities? Counselors are often looked up to and depended on by campers for physical and emotional support and must be qualified to assume this important responsibility. Here is a hint, ask what % of staff are internationals. These folks do add diversity to camp but often they are at camp not for the kids but are here for themselves to see the USA. The ACA recommends that at least 80% of the counselors and program staff should be 18 years or older and at least 20% of the administrative and program staff possess a bachelor's degree. 


4.Rules & Discipline. 

 
Be sure to ask the camp rules. Some you may feel comfortable with and others you may not. Like can campers call home? How are problems handled? Do these match your belief system? Are comfortable with this? You and your child will be interested in knowing about important rules and how discipline is applied. Penalties should be carried out in a fair and calm manner. Rules and policies should be communicated clearly and openly, and should uniformly apply to all campers.


5.Special Needs.

BWOnce you get to know the Camp Director you will feel comfortable to discuss your child in detail. Directors want to know your child prior to camp and how they can help. This is not just about special needs, any assistance your child will require, like are they scared of the dark. Everything from facilities and medical staff to special foods and medications should be reviewed to your satisfaction.
Summer Camps are not just about sports and playing games. A goodsummer camp want to be of your child’s development and offers a critical role in it.
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Why My Child Can Not Have A Cell Phone At Camp

So here it is a few days into summer camp and you miss your child. That’s normal. So you pick up tyour cell phone and start to call your child’s cell phone. Then it hits you, summer camp has a NO contact policy! Why would such a thing exist? To make the parents suffer? Well, maybe its much more than this.
Here is the secret, a large part of the magic of an overnight summer camp experience is being in a closed community that is conscious. Summer camp if done well totally immerses a child. They live camp with their camp friends, and become part of the story of camp. So how does a cell phone ruin this adventure. It butts into the “life of camp” and brings children the reality of back home. For this reason many directors discourage parents from calling their campers and seem even discourage visiting . Camp Directors want to provide “creative separation” which allow the children to develop a healthy sense of independence, in turn leading to a healthy sense of adventure. For many children this is their first time away from home and it is in a protected child centered environment that only leeds to good results. Most camp directors want parents to see everything that happens at camp but that is not possible if you buy into the giving your child a secure freedom. So some have gone to daily publishing photos on their websites, newsletters, periodic Tweets , or videos. Some Directors have tossed off technology and encouraged each parent to call the office and ask about their child. Remember most camp Directors want to help you after all we are parents too.
This cult we call summer camp has its positive impact soon children forget about the cliques at school, their concerns about grades, and what their friends are doing and wearing.Summer Camp will replace these things with campfires, caring for others, singing in the dining hall, trying new things and increase their growth as a paddler, a rider, a gymnast, and a climber. Even more, they will be replaced by a community of friends 

Okay So you don’t buy it! You need to be in touch with your child. You know you are a helicopter parent. No need to fret.? There are a huge variety in the ways different camps help parents and campers stay in touch. Some camps allow campers to carry cell phones, some allow access to email. Many camps have visiting days. Every camp is different so be sure you ask the director how communication happens before you enroll in camp. This may also be a growing time for you ... getting you ready for those not to far off college days.
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Summer Camp Deductions with the Child Tax Credit

Summer Camp Deductions with the Child Tax Credit


We all know the Joy of sending our child to camp. We save to make those days special for our children.
But are their any Tax advantages to sending your child to camp? Read on.



Summer Camps and Daycare Deductions with the Child Tax Credit

 
Updated for Tax Year: 2012
Reprinted from Turbo Tax
 


 

If you paid a daycare center, babysitter, summer camp, or other care provider to care for a qualifying child under age 13 or a disabled dependent of any age, you may qualify for a tax credit of up to $3,000 for one child or dependent, or up to $6,000 for two or more children or dependents.

The child and dependent care credit provides a tax break for many parents who are responsible for the cost of childcare. Though the credit is geared toward working parents or guardians, taxpayers who were full-time students or who were unemployed for part of the year may also qualify.
If you paid a daycare center, babysitter, summer camp, or other care provider to care for a qualifying child under age 13 or a disabled dependent of any age, you may qualify for a tax credit of up to $3,000 for one child or dependent, or up to $6,000 for two or more children or dependents.


Purpose of the child and dependent care credit


The child and dependent care credit is designed to assist working parents and guardians with some of the expenses involved in raising a child or caring for a disabled dependent. The credit, which varies depending on the taxpayer's earned income, is based on the expenses paid to provide child or dependent care services so that parents can work. It reduces the amount of federal income taxes due, which can in turn increase your refund. This frees up more money for some of the other expenses involved in raising a child.


Qualifications for the child and dependent care credit


You must meet several criteria to qualify for the child and dependent care credit. To qualify, you must meet all of the following:

 
You (and your spouse, if you are married filing jointly) must have earned income for the tax year.
  • You must be the custodial parent or main caretaker of the child or dependent.
  • The child or dependent care service must have been used so that you could work or look for employment.
  • Your filing status must be single, head of household, qualifying widow or widower with a dependent child, or married filing jointly.
  • Your child or dependent must be under 13 or must be disabled and physically or mentally incapable of caring for herself.

  • The childcare provider cannot be your spouse or dependent or the child's parent.
         
         
         
         
         

        • Qualifying expenses for the child and dependent care credit

        You may be aware that daycare fees qualify for the child and dependent care credit, but the IRS actually considers much more than just the cost of daycare for this credit. Qualifying expenses also include childcare provided by a babysitter or licensed dependent care center and the cost of a cook, housekeeper, maid, or cleaning person who provides care for the child or dependent. Day camp or summer camp fees, even for camps centered around a sport or activity, qualify if the camp was selected to provide care while the parent or parents were at work. Additional qualifying expenses include costs related to before- and after-school care for children under 13 and expenses related to a nurse, home care provider, or other care provider for a disabled dependent. Keep in mind that expenses related to schooling, tutoring, or overnight camps are not qualifying expenses.Special circumstancesSince every family is different, the IRS has a series of exceptions to the rules in the qualification process. These exceptions allow a greater number of families to take advantage of the credit.
          • For divorced or separated parents, the custodial parent (the parent with whom the child resides for the most nights out of the year) can claim the credit even if the other parent has the right to claim the child as a dependent due to the divorce or separation agreement.
          • You can take the credit for the care of a disabled adult even if you cannot claim her as a dependent because she has too much gross income or because you or your spouse can be claimed as a dependent by someone else.
          • If your spouse is a disabled adult, the IRS waives the requirement for him to have earned income.
          • If your spouse was a full-time student who attended college for at least five months out of the tax year, the IRS considers her to have earned income for each month that she was a full-time student.
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        Summer Enrichment Programs

        So it is that time of the year again when parents start to wonder how to make their child’s summer fun but also educational. Summer camp has often been thought of taking care.....
        So it is that time of the year again when parents start to wonder how to make their child’s summer fun but also educational. Summer camp has often been thought of taking care of the fun part of the summer but not necessarily enriching the child. Summer is the perfect time to stop worrying about grades and let your child socially develop with higher self esteem, greater leadership skills and how to make friends. Not all camps believe they enrich a child’s personal development so be sure to ask the director their goals before you rush to sign up for a camp that your family friend is attending. To Find The Best Summer Camp it is important to get the right information.
        Summer camp and summer enrichment programs do come dearly, but it is important to realize that benefits your child will develop for the rest of their life. Be sure that when doing your investigation you chat with the Director to be sure you are both on the same page. Some summer enrichment camps are little more than a expensive vacation.
        Camp activities that promote camper enrichment are important. But equally important is that children get an opportunity to use these skills daily. Does the camp have a well panned schedule? Or are the children just hanging out most of the day? Look at the stated benefits of a program and at the summer enrichment camp sessions offered. Do the activities match your child’s areas of interest? Will the instruction enhance your child’s personal development?

        Staff training is a key. It is important to again chat with the camp director and find out the training his staff has. Do they have certifications in specialized areas like ropes course or archery? You may have hear the fact that often camps scramble at the last minute to get staff and sometimes use international staff. These staff are often more interested in seeing the world than seeing to campers needs.
        We all know children do not want to go to school during the summer. Therefore it is important that staff do their best to incorporate learning in to games. When campers enjoy the process they learn alot more than behind a desk in school. Camp is about hands on learning. Learning socialization skills is a contact sport.

        Again , it is important to understand that camp teach “Life Long Learnables” the things they just do not teach you in school. So when you hear “summer enrichment” its not all school. Camp benefits children by providing them with:Confidence, motivation and self-esteem, as well as their communication and leadership skills. These are the things that really help a child excel in life. 

        So you have found the right place, How long should they stay? As a camp Director I believe that longer the better. However, many children have scheduling conflicts and maybe too expensive for many parents. The truth is the shorter the time the less impact a child will have. 

        Finally, be sure to investigate your summer enrichment options thoroughly because sending your son or daughter to the right summer enrichment camp will offer long-term benefits for the entire family. As well as making the wrong choice on a sumer camp can have negative impact as well. Remember increased motivation and confidence can translate into better grades, and lead to new academic and personal interests.
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        Summer Camp Costs

        Winter time is upon us and many families have begun looking for the right priced summer camp. Learn How you can save money by planning ahead
        YIKES, winter is still hear but many summer camps are filling up for the upcoming summer. Summer camp for many working parents holds two main concerns: 1) Finances and 2) Lodgistics. 

        In a recent American Express Spending and Saving Tracker estimate was that average cost per-child summer spending on everything from travel to camp to child care hovered around $600, while affluent families spent $1,000 or more per week. Obviously, scout camps, church camps and even park district camps can cause far less. On the other side are more expensive camps, usually found out east, which can cost nearly $1500 per week (8wks)

        Planning ahead often can help reduce the stress and the cost. Campers that return to camps often find that their camp offers a discount for returning campers. Others may offer an early registration discounts. If you’re able to pay up front, camps might offer an even larger discount. For those in a difficult financial situation many camps will offer “camperships” with various discounts.

        Many private camps are often family-run small businesses, and might also be open to trading services for camp time. This could include, update a website, provide cords of wood for campfires, or resurface a tennis court. It never hurts to ask.

        It is important to stay connected these days because many programs can fill fast. So mark your calendars with registration dates. E-mail all the places you might consider, science museums, theaters and village park districts to be put on their mailing lists, so nothing will pass you by. Often the most economical camps for young children fill up fast, as do the most desirable or those with limited offerings. 

        Summer time does not need to be full, a little down time works as well for parents with flexible schedules and fond summer memories of biking and roaming the neighborhood. Working parents may not be as fortunate to have an open summer but by sending their child to an overnight camp, their child will experience days much like we did 30 years ago, outside and messing around with friends in a safe environment.

        Many parents have made this commitment to their children to be more present, to be more purposeful, to be more intentional. One of the best ways to do this, is our second though committing to the logistics. This day an age we are used to getting what we want when we want it. Maybe we can learn from our parents plan ahead, if you can plan a family vacation, you’ll enjoy it more if everything else is in place to make the rest of your summer run smoothly. Plan now, and chances are you will be happier and more enjoy your summer.

        One last thought all summer camps are not created equal so please do your homework when         picking a summer camp.
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        Camp Provides Learning

        School is out and children are looking for something too do, but the furthest thing from their mind is to do school work. Camp provides the ability to bring it all together with fun.
        When school’s out, camp is the Hot place, it is where adventure and fun and take over. Most camp children when at camp feel they are as far as possible from books and learning. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Yet, camp is not like school but is still is a place of learning. 

        Summer Camp also provides kids with opportunities to learn what they’re interested in, which is how kids typically learn best. For many of the campers at choose activities that they are interested in. Some pick a camp that specializes in a particular field of learning, Circus camp to soccer camp. Regardless of the experience opportunities are providing unique experiential learning experiences that often kids don’t necessarily get at school or home,

        Lonnie Lorenz, director of Swift Nature Camp realizes, “At camp, kids get their hands dirty while they’re learning and those skills transfer to real life, as they learn to make decisions, get along with their cabin group and take care of themselves, I believe Swift Nature Camp provides some of the most valuable education that children can benefit from. The lessons are so much more than learning to build a safe campfire or shooting a bow, they are lessons that teach us how to look at life.

        Camp provides the opportunity for children to step out and try new things, to go beyond self-imposed and parental limits. Some times these are huge other times they might be a smaller step. Yet they are all steps forward. When a child is Cautious about trying new things,stepping out is good for a child’s growth and development. After all we will all be challenged to try new things in our life. When a child tries something new and succeeds, it makes it easier to repeat that behavior and thus developed the courage to try new things, overcome obstacles and gain confidence. All this is done in the in the supportive atmosphere of camp. These Camp built skills, like flexibility, curiosity, cognitive thinking and resiliency, transfer immediately to school situations and later in life. 

        When you’re at camp, you’re trying new things with other people who are often doing it for the first time as well, this creates a bond of support and thus learning happens naturally through a safe atmosphere of managed risks, without the distraction and pressure of grades. The benefit is that children don’t even realize they’re learning and that the best type of leaning when it is internalized. 

        Picking the right camp program can help a child develop leadership skills, responsibility and a sense of independence, These are important building blocks for future academic and personal success and that is why camp is a place for learning.

        Learn more:         How to Pick a Camp
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        5 Ways To Save On Summer Camp


        Today you maybe thinking spring break but you should be thinking about summer and camp for your children. For many summer camp is that annual rite of passage where kids learn to row a boat, swim in a lake, and appreciate the sun setting over a lake. The American Camp Association (ACA) estimates the average cost of overnight summer camp at around $85 per day per, this includes the less expensive church camps at a few hundred a week to the private camps at over $1000 per week. 

        Sounds pricy? You bet, but when you break it down to an hourly rate it cheaper than a movie. Here are just a few strategies that will help you best fit your child with camp at a price that is within your budget:

         

        1. Begin as early as possible.

         
         It takes time to do the research and compare camps so start well before the summer is upon you. Once you have found camps with in your budget that you think your child will like, give them the choice. Here is the point often discounts are available for campers that sign up early. Planning ahead will gives you more time to save up for camp. At Swift Nature Camp we encourage families to start paying a few hundred every month as early as February so when the bill comes in June it is very manageable. 

        2. Scholarships exist.

         
        Swift Nature Camplike other camps believes that every child should go to camp so we offer financial assistance programs. We look for donations plus we match our donations but these are on a first-come, first-served basis so funds do run out. Camps provide scholarships at a sliding scale don't think that your salary level will knock you out. 

        3. Consult your accountant.

         

         Even if you don't qualify for scholarships or other discounts, you may be able to pay for day camp for kids under 13 using pre-tax dollars in a dependent care flexible spending arrangement (FSA). The IRS caps dependent care FSAs at $5,000 per year, and your employer withholds money from each paycheck to fund the plan.
        Also consider the Child and Dependent Care Credit, which allows taxpayers to deduct up to 35 percent of their childcare expenses, up to a maximum of $6,000. "My best advice is to check with a tax planning professional and keep track of expenses," says Golden.

        4. Other savings.

         
        If you enrolling multiple children to the same summer camp, you may qualify for a multi-child discount. A trend is to fill open bunks with a Groupon deal so keep looking for those. However, these are often at the end of the summer. If a traditional summer camp is outside your budget try looking more local at day programs or week long camps. Some of the best values for summer programs are local park districts, universities or community centers. Don’t rule out churches, local libraries, nonprofits like the YMCA, or scouting groups they often provide affordable summer programs.
         

        5. Consider value, when selecting a summer camp.

         
         A favorite saying in among camp directors is “the memories of camp far outlast the price of camp”. It is so true 30 years from now your child will still have a sweat spot in their memory about camp and the price will long be forgotten. Prices should play an important role in your decision, but it should not the only factor when selecting where to send your child. 

        The bottom line is camp is highly successful and regardless of cost (according the the ACA) 70% of parents said their child gained self-confidence at camp and nearly as many said their child remains in contact with friends made at camp. Therefore, a good summer camp program can create lasting memories and shape your child's development well into adulthood.

        To learn more about         selecting the right summer camp see SuumerCampAdvice.com
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        9 Things to Look At Before Picking A Camp

        Here is a quick list of 9 things to consider when selecting a summer camp for the first time. Doing the research up front will only help ensure your child’s time at camp will be a success.

        1. How Old Should My Child Be For Overnight Camp?


        Many overnight camps begin at 6 or 7 years old. Yet most parents are not ready at that age. So the best test is how has your child has done at sleepovers with friends not grandparents. A second thought are they excited? If so that is a huge head start. At Swift Nature Camp we have Discovery Camp that is only for children 6-12 and for those children that have never been to overnight camp before. Our goal is to make this time a way from home a success, in order to accomplish this we have less children n a cabin and more staff around. Plus, we are on the lookout for any homesickness. Read more about our First Time Camper Program

        2. DOES IT MATTER WHAT CAMP I CHOOSE?


        Yes, it does! You want to have a program where the child is extremely comfortable and has something they’re interested in. You don’t want to send them off to learn only about archery and they don’t really care, they’d rather be sailing . Also, I would not suggest a single sports or activity camp, these can get boring and often do not challenge a child to try new things. 
         

        3. SHOULD IT BE COED?


        Here is the thought a single gender camp will allow campers, especially older one’s to feel more comfortable about expressing themselves and trying new things without the opposite gender around. 
        On the coed side having children of different sexes together increases compassion, friendship, and a sense of equality. Gender is a part of society so why not have young people practice in real world conditions. Having said that at Swift Nature Camp our goal is to have campers realize camp is about them and not about someone else regardless of who is around.

        4. WHAT SHOULD IT COST?


        Camp comes in all sort of prices from $50 to $200 or more per day. The average given by the ACA (American Camp Association ) is $85 per day. Can you always assume a more expensive camp is better, NO. Nor is a cheaper camp worse. This is where you must do your homework, weighing activities, philosophy and directors versus cost. 
        Remember, many camps have financial aid, scholarships, deferred payment plans, sliding scale tuition, and discounts for bringing a friend. Here is a hint, Look at camps in your range then start to compare programs.
         

        5. CAMP PHILOSOPHY, WHATS THIS?


        This is the heart and the soul of the camp and the most important aspect of the camp. This flows from the Directors down to the staff and then to the campers. Things to consider
        Does your child get to work in a group, collaborate with other kids, learn how to work with a team?
        How do they Discipline?
        Do kids get work out conflict?
        Do the children make their own schedule?
        Are they in control?
        You may have other things to ask that best soot your child’s needs and expectations.

        6. TELL ME ABOUT THE DIRECTOR AND STAFF?


        At Swift Nature Camp we encourage every family to call or meet with us at an open house, held in late May. We feel it is important for campers and parents to feel comfortable with us caring for their child. Sure we have years of experience and training but none of that matters if you cannot talk to us. This is true for any camp, if you can not talk to the Director that will be at camp 24/7 I would seriously consider continuing your search. Once you feel comfortable then asking about staff is easy. Because you know that the Directors are going to ensure the staff are properly trained and more interested in your child than their time off. As for staff ratios, the ACA accreditation sets requirements based on age and programs. As long as you select an ACA camp you will be assured to be meeting the code.

        7. WHAT ABOUT SAFETY?


        Safety is all that matters at camp. Again ACA camp s meet many criteria to be sure camps are safe and here are just a few: background checks on all employees, staff trained in CPR and first aid, Nurse or Doctor at camp, ample lifeguards, training and licensing for transportation.
         

        8. WHAT ABOUT PARENT VALUES?


        Every parent is different and so is every camper, the only real way to make sure this is the place for your family is to review the materials in websites and mailings. Then call the Director and chat. Ask every possible thing that might matter, here are a few:
        Are kids in tents or cabins? 
        Are showers in the cabin? 
        How religious is camp?”
        Can a child with food allergies be kept safe?
        Who will dispense meds?
        Can I talk to my child on the phone?

         

        9. WHAT ARE OTHERS SAYING ?


        Ask for refferences. The can be from local families or those far away. This will give insight what kind of reputation the camp has. When talking to other families be sure to not only talk to the parent but to the camper. Ask a few difficult questions not just “how was camp?” This will give you real insight into the daily working of camp.
        Lastly if possible do a site visit so you can decide for yourself which camp is best for you and your children. It is best to tour the camp when campers are there, this can give you a good sense of the camp. Obviously this is not all that easy to do, so don’t put off camp just because you can not make it to the camp facility. 

        Remember it is all about the work you do upfront that will help ensure your childs camp experience will be a great one. To get more information refer to Summer Camp Advice a wonderful website dedicated to helping parents         learn how to pick a summer camp
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        Page 32 of 84

        Winter

        25 Baybrook Ln.

        Oak Brook, IL 60523

        Phone: 630-654-8036

        swiftcamp@aol.com

        Camp

        W7471 Ernie Swift Rd.

        Minong, WI 54859

        Phone: 715-466-5666

        swiftcamp@aol.com

        Swift Nature Camp

        Parent Information

        Camper Information

        Summer Camp Jobs

        Returning Campers