Picking a Northwoods Summer Camp

By Lonnie Lorenz

Sending your child to a Wisconsin Summer Camp is a great idea if you have done your homework. The American Camp Association suggest you try these top questions.

What's the camp's ideology? Are you comfortable with this ? Is it a good fit for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? What religious observances or practices are part of the program?

How does the Summer Camp get and train its staff? Do counselors have criminal background checks? First aid training? Drug Testing? What's the training all about?

What about return rates? How many counselors are returning this year? How many campers are returning? ask the director why? Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Summer Camps Wisconsin

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.

What's the Staff Ages ? Eighty 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. Are the staff a paid position or volunteers?

What medical staff work at the camp and what backup facilities are nearby? The ACA recommends that an overnight camp have a licensed physician or registered nurse on the site every day, and that day camps should have direct phone access. If your child takes medication, has food allergies or a chronic medical condition, be sure you are comfortable that the camp will be able to handle your child's needs.

How does the camp Punish and Discipline? Know what your camp's rules are and what breaches would send a camper home. You should be comfortable with these.

What is a day at camp like? This will help you know if your child will find happiness with the level of activity. Is their choice in selecting activities.

How does the camp provide transportation? How often are the van inspected? Who is driving, what's the training.

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

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Still need a resource to help you figure out all about summer camps? Try Summer Camp

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