How To Pick A Residential Summer Camp

Summer camps are an extraordinary place for children to learn to be independent and spend time outdoors doing things that they are unable to do during the school year. At summer camps, children spend time away from high tech equipment and instead focus on outdoor play and activities that develop communication, leadership, and other skills. However, picking a camp in New York is not easy because of the large number of them available. You may find it difficult to know how to pick a residential summer camp in New York.

Discipline
Before you pick a summer camp in New York, you need to ensure that you agree with the summer camp mission or philosophy. Ensure that the things that the camp will be teaching your children are things that are in line with what you would want them to learn. The perfect camp is one that not only gives children an awesome summer, but is also constantly teaching them.

Affordability
Another important criterion that parents need to decide when they are selecting a camp is the summer camp tuition. Some camps can be very expensive and offer plenty of luxurious summer camp facilities, but might be out of your reach. By using this criterion, you will be able to narrow down the list of camps. And remember, just because a camp is expensive doesn’t mean it’s the best! You can’t base how great a summer camp is just on how much it costs!

Age of Child
Before you select a summer camp in New York, keep in mind the age of the child and ensure that they are ready to spend a week or longer away from you. Some children are ready for summer away from home when they are nine, others may feel more ready when they are a little bit older. As such there are camps that are meant for younger children and others that are for older children and teenagers. When you are looking for a sleep away camp, find out the age group of the children they cater to.

If you’re considering a residential summer camp for your child in New York state, you might feel overwhelmed by the options. If your child will be going to an overnight camp for the very first time, you want to scout out camps carefully so that both you and your child can relax and enjoy the time the child is away at camp.

Our tips for choosing a great residential summer camp experience include:
Setting an intention for your child’s camp experience
Researching camps of interest to you and your child
Asking clear and specific questions about the camp experience
For each of these tips, we provide an overview of things to think about as you look at different camps. We also provide links to vetted resources to help you further explore options for your camper. If you feel stuck we invite you to contact our camp leadership to help you confidently choose the summer camp experience that is the best match for your child.

Set an Intention for Your Child’s Summer Camp Experience?
When setting the intention (purpose) for your child’s first overnight summer camp experience, consider the following:

What are the values that you want your child’s summer camp to be aligned with?
By values we mean anything that you feel is important to instill in your child as they are developing from elementary through middle school. Camp values (sometimes called tenets or principles) may include: cooperation, communication, compassion, empathy, athleticism, self-reliance, perseverance, education, interpersonal relationships, arts, spiritual or religious affiliation.

What are the outcomes you can expect for your child after their time at camp?
Your values will guide the intention you have in mind for your child’s camp experience. If your child is very young, you probably will consider the intention without their input. However, if your child is in upper elementary or middle school, you could have a conversation with them about what is important to them while they are attending camp.

Sample Intention for Sending a Child to Summer Camp:
My child/camper is attending camp in order to experience unique outdoor recreational experiences, make new friends, and develop their capacity for empathy, compassion, and resilience.

Research Residential Summer Camps
You might be lucky to have exceptional reviews and first-hand experiences gleaned from personal friends and family who have sent children to a specific camp. If not, you are going to need to do your own research. Summer camp research might include receiving word-of-mouth information, seeking referrals from your child’s school, attending a camp expo, and checking out a camp’s website (which you should always do). When logistically possible, visit camps of interest to you when they host a pre-season open house. Keep in mind: most camp deposits are due in February and March prior to summer enrollment and long before the Spring open house. Start your research early.