Choosing a summer camp can be a challenging and sometimes overwhelming task, especially if this will be your child’s first summer camp experience. Your friends are giving you all kinds of advice. You’re searching the Internet to find various programs. There’s a seemingly endless variety of camps to consider.

As a responsible parent, you have two general considerations when searching for camps for your child. The first is finding a program that matches your child’s personality and interests. The next is choosing a camp that’s operated in a safe, appropriate manner for your child’s age and skill levels.

Following is a checklist for parents developed by camp expert Eric Naftulin, an American Camp Association ambassador and owner/operator of Aloha Beach Camp, a Los Angeles, California summer beach day camp for kids and teens ages 3 to 15.

Aloha Beach Camp Summer Day Camp Director Eric Naftulin offers pro tips and tricks for parents regarding how to choose the best children's summer camps.

With nearly two decades of camp experience, 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 emphasis: Every camp has a different philosophy and program emphasis. Some promote competition withing groups or teams, while others frown on competition. Some camps offer just one specialty activity, like surfing or horseback riding, while others offer a wide range of traditional camp activities like hiking, archery, dance, drama, and a wide range of sports and games. The key for you is to determine your child’s personality, interests and learning style. Then you can determine exactly what kind of camp is best match you.  
• Confirm that the camp is accredited: In order to earn accreditation, camps must comply with up to 300 best-practice industry standards including health, safety and program matters relative to the camp’s operation. If a camp is not accredited, this does not necessary mean it’s not a good camp. But any time you come across a non-accredited camp that interests you, ask the camp director why (or why not).
• Ask about the camp director’s background: The camp director is the head honcho, so you must make sure he or she is qualified. We suggest the camp director meets the minimum standards outlined by the American Camp Association. This means the camp director should be at least 25, hold a bachelor’s degree, have in-depth experience in camp administration and have performed in-service training in the last three years.
• Counselor-to-camper ratios: One of the defining safety aspects of any camp is how well they supervise the children. To make sure your child is getting the individual attention he or she needs, 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. You should use your own judgment 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 have undergone criminal background checks prior to employment by the camp.

• Accommodation of special needs: If your child has special needs due to a medical condition or allergy, 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.

If you have any questions or to request further information, please contact Eric Naftulin at [email protected]. Have a great time at camp this summer!