Travel Tips

Help In Picking The Right Camp

So you are thinking about a Minnesota Summer Camp for your child. GREAT! Here are the top 10 questions to ask a summer camp director. This list was compiled by the American Camp Association.

1. What’s the camp’s philosophy? Is it one you’re comfortable with? Is it a good match for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? If it’s a camp run by a religious organization, what religious observances or practices are part of the program? If you’re looking at a sports camp that touts an affiliation with a celebrity athlete, how much time–if any–will the sports star actually spend there?

2. How does the camp recruit, screen and train its staff? Do counselors have criminal background checks? First aid training? Drug Testing?

3. What about Staff and Camper return rates? How many counselors are returning this year 50% is a good numbers. How many campers return? Fifty percent is good, and more is better. Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Summer Minnesota Camps

4. What’s the ratio of counselors to campers? ACA guidelines for overnight camps call for a 1:6 ratio for ages 7 and 8, 1:8 for ages 9-14; and 1:10 for ages 15-18. Day camp guidelines call for 1:8 for children ages 6-8; 1:10 for children ages 9-14; and 1:12 for ages 15-18.

5. How old are the counselors? The ACA recommends that 80 percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise.

6. What about Health Care? Overnight camp have a licensed physician or registered nurse on the site daily, Day camps should be have direct phone access. Be sure you are comfortable that the camp will be able to handle your child’s special health care needs.

7. How does the camp Punish campers? Know what your summer camp’s rules and regulations. Be sure they match yur parental thoughts. Know what breaches would send a camper home.

8. What does a camp Day look like? This will help you decide if your child will be happy with the level of physical activity or the amount of time devoted to arts and crafts. Ask how much freedom a child has to choose activities.

9. Will the camp be transporting the children? What vehicles are used and how often are they inspected? Who drives them and what training do drivers have?

10. References,References, References Most important, get the names of parents with children the same age who have attended the camp. They will tell you what makes camp so special

If you are still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Overnight Summer Camps

Swift Nature Camp is aSummer Youth Camps for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional summer camp activities with Science Summer Camp that increases a child’s appreciation for nature, science and the environment.

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