Summer, a time to play, learn and grow. Summer camps provide parents with safe, supervised and meaningful care for their child.
With plenty of summer camp options, finding the right camp for your child may feel overwhelming. Where to start? First, understand the developmental needs and interests of your child. Then, explore the variety of camps offered for their age. Finally, be prepared to ask key questions to the camps you are considering.
Preschoolers through Kindergarten (ages 3-6 years)
Preschoolers and young schoolagers are active explorers, ready to learn, and camps provide a wonderful opportunity for them to try new things, expend their endless energy and build new skills. Camps at this stage tend to be half day offerings (three-four hours), full-day, full week (Monday through Friday), or multi-day and multi-week (i.e. three days per week consistently for six weeks).
Types of Camps for Preschoolers through Kindergarten
- Traditional Day Camps (mix of outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, music and games)
- Multi-Arts Camps (sing, dance, act, create)
- Sports Camps (most often focus on a specific sport, but also may introduce a variety of sports and provide an opportunity for developing physical (gross motor) skills)
- Academic Camps (reading, math, science, STEM/STEAM, etc.)
Before You Enroll…Questions to ask the Camp
At this age, safety and supervision are essential as young children often need support and guidance, both physically, emotionally, and socially.
Key questions to ask camps prior to enrolling are:
- What is the ratio of adult supervision to children enrolled?
- Tell me about the individuals leading the camp. What is their training? Are they trained in first aid, CPR, dealing with food allergies and other accommodations needs? What other education does the staff have that makes them suited to work with young children?
- What is the schedule of the camp? (Note: Listen for details about the balance of physical vs. sedentary activities. How much of the day is adult vs. child directed – meaning children have choices vs. adults dictating how they spend each moment of their day).
- How are children grouped together? How many children are in a group?
- How are children supported with their physical care? When are there breaks for snacks, water, lunch, and using the restroom
Schoolagers (ages 7-10 years)
Schoolagers are often ready for more independence, are social and may have interests in specific areas. Camps provide opportunities to cultivate new friendships, build and refine skills and for a variety of explorations. Camps at this stage tend to be full-day, full week (Monday through Friday), multi-week, or even overnight.
Types of Camps for Schoolagers (ages 7-10 years)
- Traditional Day and Overnight Camps (mix of outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, music, and games)
- Multi-Arts or Specialized Arts Camps (visual arts, performing arts, music, theater)
- Sports Camps (often provide opportunities for specialized skill development in a specific sport)
- Academic Camps (reading, math, science, etc.)
- Technology Camps (STEM, STEAM, architecture, robotic, gaming)
Before You Enroll…Questions to ask the Camp
At this age, children usually need less support for physical care, but may need more help with social and emotional connections.
Key questions to ask camps prior to enrolling are:
- Tell me about the individuals leading the camp. What is their training? Are they trained in first aid, CPR, dealing with food allergies and other accommodations needs?
- How are children grouped together? How many children are in a group? (For overnight camps, explore how they are grouped in activities, camp sleeping quarters and during breaks)
- How do you deal with exclusion, behavior or bullying?
- What is the schedule of the camp? (Note: Listen for details about camper choice of activities and structured vs. open explorations. Also, breaks, food options, lunch.)
Tweens & Teens (ages 10-16 years)
Seeking independence and having specific interests, teens and tweens are often interested in specific skill-building and social connections. Camps at this age provide opportunities to build new friendships, refine skills and opportunities for exploration of the bigger world. Camps at this stage tend to be full week (Monday through Friday), multi-week (i.e., a theater program that meets one or two afternoons a week for 3 or 6 weeks in duration) and overnight.
Types of Camps for Tweens & Teens (ages 10-16 years)
- Traditional Summer Camps (sailing, swimming, hiking, visual arts, performing arts, white water rafting, kayaking, mountain climbing, biking).
- College Experience Camps (exploration related to possible future careers such as performing arts, law, journalism and more).
- Academic Camps (the opportunity to improve skills, advance in a specific area or even receive further preparation for college entrance testing).
- Technology Camps (robotics, architecture, gaming, coding, fashion, space, aviation, engineering)
- Travel Expedition/Adventure Camps (may include trips abroad)
- Visual Arts & Performing Arts Camps (musical theater, dance camps, singing, show choir, band, acting/drama)
- Writing Camps
By working through a process of understanding and exploring types of camps aligned with your child’s needs and interests, your child will be off to a summer of fun, learning, growing, making friends and trying new things along the way.
Jeannie Fleming-Gifford has an MA in family and consumer sciences with a specialization in child development. She is the VP of Programming at Lakeside Chautauqua and a frequent freelance writer. Her favorite camp experience involves a summer adventure in Maine working as an Assistant Camp Director with her then 8 year old daughter…but that’s another story.
