Most children’s favorite time of the year is summer. It’s the time of the year when they aren’t sitting in a school all day. It’s hot, the days are long, and they have tons of free time. Kids can get bored. If you remember your summers, you might remember having tons of fun for the first month, but then nothing to do after that. With the modern inventions of Netflix and video games, summertime boredom can be replaced with binge-watching TV. However, should it?
If only there were a way to let kids feel like a ninja assassin, create a video game, or pretend to be a warrior. That’s where the magic of summer camps comes in. A summer camp is great for balancing the school-free months of the year with activities that enrich both the mind and body. Kids can learn about new things, develop new talents, and uncover great life interests. Where do you start when looking for one?
In the past few decades, we have seen an explosion in the summer camp market. Children have more option than ever before on how to spend a summer. There is a type of camp for every child. However, with so many options, it can be hard to pick the right one. Sometimes even knowing where to start can be a challenge. Today, we’ve created a guide on how to choose the right summer camp for your children.
Discover and Set Expectations
Before you can choose a summer camp, you need to determine what you and your children are looking for. You should sit down with your children and ask questions. Start with what they are looking for in a summer camp.
Next, there are a few things that you will need to talk about as parents. For example, how much is the cost, what is your goal, are there certain perks you cannot do without? Write all of this down so that you can save time later and find the option that best meets your needs.
Narrow Your Focus
Once you’ve set and listed some ideas and expectations, it’s time to look at what types of summer camps you have open to you. As you read through and eliminate these, you will be able to determine what is best for your family.
- Traditional: This is the overnight backpacking, bunkbed sharing, campfires, and life skills camp of your memories. They can be co-ed or single gender and often build character and traditional outdoor skills.
- Academic: If your child loves learning, you could help them continue to do so by sending them to an academic camp during the summer. Hands-on and topic-based camps can help your child find their passion.
- Art: This type of camp is excellent for creative children that want to learn more about the visual or computer design arts.
- Adventure: Just like a traditional camp but generally for older kids and with more high energy activities.
- Athletic: These camps are summer camps for individual sports. Often they can help kids learn or refine a game of their choice.
- Special Needs: There are summer camps that can help children do all the above things when they have different needs than a traditional student. These camps often have specialized teachers who have experience working with special needs children.
- Day: Any of the above camps can be day camps. That means that it runs only during the day and children are expected to go home at night. Our camps are day camps.
- Night: These are camps where you get to stay the night. Often done with traditional, sports, and adventure, these camps usually cost more but allow for more learning and adventure.
Research the Remaining Options
Once you’ve worked with your child and family to determine which of the above work for you, it’s time to do research, keep in mind your budget and specific needs while you look at the local and regional camp options for your family. Don’t be afraid to call around and ask questions. See if you can bring your child for a visit, especially if it’s a more extended or night camp.
Eventually, you will have the best option for your family chosen and ready to go.
Camps at Bodies in Motion
Bodies in Motion runs active, themed summer camps in Boise for ages 4 to 12, from 9 am to 3 pm with optional before- and after-camp care. Families register through Camps for Kids Idaho, and you can always contact us with questions about how our day camps can get your child moving.