Choosing a camp for your child can be a challenging and sometimes overwhelming task. There's a seemingly endless variety of camps to consider, and matching one to your child’s interests, personality and schedule can be daunting.

Not only that, but as a parent you have the responsibility to make sure the camp you choose is operated in a safe, appropriate manner for your child’s age and skill levels.

Following is a camp selection check list for parents developed by camp expert Theresa Torrone Naftulin, a volunteer for the American Camp Association and owner/operator of Aloha Beach Camp, a Los Angeles, California summer beach and surfing day camp for kids and teens ages 5 to 15.

With nearly over 20 years of camp experience and a parent of three young kids, Naftulin understands the challenges parents face during camp enrollment  season and offers the following tips to help guide them through the camp selection process. 

Identify the camp's program and activity emphasis

Every camp has a different philosophy and program emphasis. For example, some camps believe a healthy dose of competition during sports activities promotes happy campers, while other camps are vehemently against competition. This is where knowing your child's personality and learning style can help you determine if a camp that promotes healthy competition among "teams" is the best choice for your child, or whether a camp based on cooperative learning might be a better fit. Knowing your child's likes and dislikes, and interests and non-interests, can help you make a better camp choice.

Choose an ACA Accredited camp

Most camps are not accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). Those that are remain your best choice to ensure a safe, fun and happy camp experience for your child. Non-accredited camps are not necessarily "bad" camps, nor are accredited camps necessarily "better." But if you choose an accredited camp, you will have the piece of mind of knowing that camp is meeting or exceeding up to 300 best-practice industry standards relative to camper health and safety, activity planning, program implementation, staff hiring and training, and so many additional matters important to a safe and successful operation.

Confirm the camp director's background

To ensure the camp director is qualified, make sure he or she meets the minimum standard requirements set by the American Camp Association. Such standards recommend that camp directors be at least 25 years old, possess a college bachelor’s degree, have in-depth experience in camp administration and performed in-service training in the last three years.

What are the staff-to-camper ratios?

To make sure your child gets the individual attention he or she needs for his or her age, compare the camp’s counselor-to-camper ratio to ACA standards. 

For sleepaway camps, the general recommended ratio is 6:1 for 7 and 8 year olds; 8:1 for 9 to 14 year olds; and 10:1 for campers ages 15 to 17. For day camps, the general ratios range from 8:1 for 6, 7 and 8 year olds; 10:1 for 9 to 14 year olds; and 12:1 for campers ages 15 to 17.

(Please note, the above-cited child-to-counselor ratio standards are only ACA's general, MINIMUM recommendations and may vary depending on various situations and/or conditions. Moreover, there could be additional standards relating to specific programs and/or activities where more supervision may be prudent, if not recommended and/or required. Accordingly, you should use your own judgement and conduct your own research to decide what is appropriate for you and your child.)

Inquire about camp staff

Counselors can greatly enhance a child’s camp experience.  In addition to facilitating camp activities, counselors serve as role models, and should be dependable, trustworthy, and show enthusiasm for their role. For safety reasons, counselors should also be CPR and First Aid-Certified and undergo criminal background checks prior to employment by the camp.

Accommodation of special needs

If your child has special needs due to a medical condition, allergy or other reasons, be sure to ask if the camp is equipped to handle these special requirements for your child.

Find out about how the camp handles discipline

As in any organization, rules are needed, yet the camp’s disciplinary approach should be fair and openly communicated.  Positive reinforcement, a sense of fair play and assertive role-modeling are important things to look for.  If penalties apply to certain violations, camp staff should apply them fairly, calmly and without unnecessary criticism.

Check the camp’s references

References can provide you with a glimpse of the experiences others have had at a camp, and are an important way of checking out a camp’s track record and reputation. Camp directors should be willing to provide references upon request.

We hope this checklist is helpful in deciding how to choose a camp. If you still have questions about choosing a camp, please contact us anytime.