If you’re a parent considering summer camp opportunities for your child, you might consider a day camp rather than (or in addition to) a sleepaway camp experience. Parents often view sending their kids to day camps as a “stepping stone” to overnight camp.

They might think day camps are for younger kids andsleepaway camps are for older ones. In some cases this
might be true, but not always. One of the advantages you have as a parent when comparing day camps to overnight camps (or even day camps to day camps) is that a day camp’s customer base is generally restricted to its local geographical area.

This makes things easier for you to learn more about the camp. For example, you can contact the camp’s current
or former customers for references, and you can even visit the camp before making a decision.

So how do you know you’re picking the right day camp for your child? Here’s a three-point checklist to
help ensure the day camp you choose is the right one for your child.

1. CHECK REFERENCES
Since day camps primarily serve local customers, it should not be difficult to find a few families who’ve attended the camp before. Talk to them about their impressions of the program. If you hear good things, you might have a winner. Mixed reviews, on the other hand, could be a “red flag” alerting you to research the camp further. But if everyone you speak with has only negative things to say, then rule that day camp out, pat yourself on the back for taking the time to conduct a thorough investigation and keep looking for a different camp.

2. INVOLVE YOUR CHILD IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Research shows that kids enjoy camp more when they’re included in the decision-making process. Since there are
so many different types of day camps to choose from, it’s important to match your child’s interests and personality
with the activities the day camp offers. Accordingly, it’s advisable to take a tour of the camp and/or attend an open house together with your child. After you’ve toured the camp, ask for your child’s opinion. This can be a much better approach than unilaterally deciding which day camp your child will attend without consulting them ahead of time, as asking for their input means they’ll probably have a more positive camp experience in the end.

3. TOUR THE CAMP AND MEET THE STAFF
Most day camps hold open houses or organized facility tours during the prime camp enrollment season (generally springtime). These events are great opportunities for you to meet the staff, ask questions and see how the camp operates on a day-to-day basis. You might even decide to attend several camps’ open houses for a point of comparison and to see where you get the best “vibe.” Attending a day camp open house or touring the facility is the single BEST way to see what you’re getting into ahead of time. Camp is such a personal experience. You want your child to connect with his or her counselors on a personal level and admire them as leaders and role models. You owe it to yourself and your child to pick a day camp that your child will look back on later in life and say, “I remember that camp, and it was the best experience of my life!” Your child deserves the best. It’s your responsibility as a parent to put him or her in an environment where they can thrive, and choosing the right day camp can make this happen for you. Happy day camping!

For our full online Early Bird Day Camp Guide, please visit pages 26-33 of the January 2017 digital issue of the EAST COBBER.