Camp is an amazing place for children to learn new skills, gain independence and make new friends. With the careful guidance of staff, kids build confidence as they try new activities. Summer camp teaches self-reliance, an appreciation for the outdoors, healthy habits and lifelong leadership skills.

With so many options available, choosing the right summer camp for your child can be daunting. 
Make the Choice Together
When choosing a camp, it’s important to consider the options together with your child! You’ll want to understand what your child expects from a camp experience. With a variety of programs and activities, summer camp offers exciting and meaningful adventures to match a child's interests. As children become better acquainted with the camp experience and more involved in the selection process, they will have less worries about going to camp.

Check out camps’ websites and social media, photos, maps or virtual tours. Look for the camps' core values, daily schedules, and information about the camp staff.
1. Overnight Camp or Day Camp?
Before trying to narrow down the options, you should decide if your child is ready for overnight camp. Overnight camps offer a wide variety of adventures led by trained and experienced leaders who guide children and teens to have an unforgettable experience. Research shows overnight camps can provide youth the most opportunities for growth and development, but you’ll need to be sure that your child is ready to sleep away from home for up to a week at a time. Most overnight camps start for children 7-8 years old.
2. What activities and special programs are offered?
Both overnight camps and day camps often offer weekly themes, specialized camp programs, or trips. For example, the YMCA offers specialty camps for children interested in horseback riding, science, photography, art, watersports, and more. It is also important when selecting a program that has a specialized skill, it should be one that your child wants to do. Some camps specialize in adventure programming including watersports, horseback riding and teen backcountry canoe trips- allowing older kids the opportunity to pursue individual interests while still participating in the traditional camp experience.  
3. Can the camp accommodate your child’s needs?
If applicable, you will want to ensure that any camp you’re considering can meet your child’s specific needs. This may include:

  • Physical and learning abilities
  • Special dietary needs / food allergies
  • Medical care

Many camps are flexible and experienced enough to meet the needs of you and your child. In a traditional camp, your child will be most successful if they can adapt to being in a group setting, as most camps may have a counselor-to-camper ratio of 1:6 or 1:8.
4. Research reviews, interview the staff
Camp directors understand that you are entrusting them with the safety of your child, and should be happy to answer all of your questions. Word of mouth is great, but it is also important to research the camp programs you’re interested in. Take a tour. Check reviews.

You’ll want to ensure counselors have undergone thorough training and background checks. You’ll want to ensure that the staff is well prepared to provide a safe and welcoming experience for your child. A camp’s facilities and programs won’t matter if your child doesn't have caring, friendly, and knowledgeable role models to guide them at camp.

5. What are the financial considerations?
Consider the camp experience a long-term investment in your child’s future and healthy development. Keep in mind that the costs of camp replace the costs of childcare, entertainment, and other expenses incurred while your child stays at home. Many camps offer payment plans to spread out expenses and scholarships for families who may need support to make camp possible. If you’re curious about learning more about camp scholarships, contact the YMCA for financial assistance options.
  • Is the Camp licensed by the state and accredited by the American Camp Association? These standards ensure the camp is meeting established best practices to provide a safe experience. If the camp is not ACA accredited, ask why they have chosen not to be.
  • Do I want a traditional camp that gives my child a wide variety of experiences or do I want to select a specialty camp that focuses on a particular activity or set of skills?
  • How rustic do I want the camp to be? Are there bathrooms inside the cabins?
  • How will the camp meet my child's special dietary, physical, or behavioral needs?
  • What certifications or qualifications does the camp require for the staff to lead activities safely?
  • Will my child have choices in their activity schedule?
  • How can I stay in touch with my child during camp? Does the camp facilitate mail, phone calls or email? How does the camp communicate with parents during the summer? Are there pictures or a blog for parents to see what’s happening each day?
  • Is there transportation available?
  • Is the Camp licensed by the state and accredited by the American Camp Association? There are special standards for day camp that ensure the camp is following established best practices to provide a safe camp experience. If the camp is not ACA accredited, ask why they have chosen not to be.
  • What training does the staff receive on safety, supervision, counseling, problem solving and other issues unique to working with children?
  • Is the price all-inclusive or are there extra charges?
  • Is lunch served or do campers bring their own sack lunch? Are snacks and drinks provided?
  • If transportation is offered, where is the closest pick-up location?
  • If before and after camp extended care is offered, what activities take place?
  • What certifications or qualifications does the camp require for the staff to lead activities safely?
  • Are campers in the same group with their counselor(s) all day?
  • Is an open house offered before camp starts where you can tour the camp and meet the staff?
What's the best thing about camp?
That's a tough one! Everything! We think there's so much to enjoy at camp that you won't be able to decide what the best part is. Maybe it's the new friends you'll make; or the fun activities; or the campfires; or your awesome cabin counselors; or maybe the all-camp activities!

At camp, what will I do all day?
You'll get to try so much - things like archery, arts and crafts, horseback riding, waterslide, arrow tag, kayaking, canoeing, ziplining... the list goes on and on.

Who will help me have a great time at camp?
Camp counselors are selected because they are great at working with kids and teens. They are trained before camp begins to help you have the best experience, make new friends, and enjoy a variety of activities. Their job is to help you have fun, be safe, make new friends, and to set and reach goals!

Who will be my friends?
You will make a lot of new friends at camp. Some campers will know each other from past summers or from school, but most come to camp to meet new friends. Camp counselors will help you make friends on the very FIRST DAY you arrive at camp. It's nice to have new summer friends outside of school- other kids with whom you'll share experiences and memories.

What's so great about camp?
Camp is a very special place. Counselors encourage you to try new things and teach you new skills. You'll learn how to be a good friend, which will broaden your circle of friends! At camp, everyone is listened to and respected. You get to make choices on your own, and you always feel safe. Camp is like a little community, where everyone cares for each other. There's just no other place like camp, because camp is made for young people to thrive!

Why shouldn't I just stay home and do what I want?
You might think it would be fun to just stay home and do nothing, but believe us, camp is WAY more fun! There are such a variety of activities that you never get bored. There are always friends around to talk to and explore camp with. Every day is a new adventure.

Will I get to choose activities?
The amount of choice you have will depend upon the camp program you and your family select. At most camps, there are choices. Sometimes you make selections for yourself at camp and sometimes the cabin group decides together what they want to do. When you are younger, the counselors help to create more of the schedule because it's good to try many new things so you can learn what you like. As you get older, you'll be ready to make more choices and focus on activities that are of special interest to you.

What are some of the activities? What are themes?
It's almost impossible to name every activity at every camp. Camp activities include: arts and crafts, archery, canoeing, robotics, team challenge course, theatre, hiking, horseback riding, nature, high ropes course, sailing, soccer, kayaking, ziplining, paddle boarding, wakeboarding, arrow tag, and tubing. Themes are the backdrop or a 'storyline' of the week. Camp counselors may wear costumes and do skits to match the theme throughout the week, but the activities available during the week won't change from week to week because of the themes. Most campers don't base their choice for the week of camp on the theme (it's okay if you don't really love superheroes and the theme for the week is superheroes, you'll still have a great time!)

What if I'm not in to sports or competition?
At camp, there are trained, caring counselors to help you learn new skills. Camp staff will encourage you, and you will succeed at a level that fits you. You are never measured at anyone else's ability level. Camp is not all about sports, but rather a combination of adventure, arts and hobbies. We celebrate individuals challenging themselves, not competition. At camp, we encourage ‘challenge by choice’ - we encourage campers to set goals and try new things, but counselors never make anyone try something they aren't comfortable doing.

What about the Camp Counselors?
This is one of the best parts of camp! Counselors are chosen because they are amazing at working with kids. Our counselors respect young people, listen to them, and enjoy getting to know them. It's their job to make sure that you are having fun, making friends, trying lots of different activities, setting goals, and that you are safe. They spend a lot of time before camp begins learning to do all these things for campers. And they love to have fun, too!

What if I need help?
There are a lot of people at camp, in addition to your counselors, to help you, depending on what you need. There is a camp health officer if you don't feel well and a place called the Health Center to rest until you feel better. If you are feeling sad or miss home, there’s always a counselor nearby to talk to. You can count on the staff at camp to help you with any problems you may have.

What would a day at camp be like?
Days at camp are filled with all different kinds of activities. At overnight camp, you'll wake up and go to breakfast with your cabin group. You will spend the day doing activities with your group. Of course you'll stop for lunch and dinner at the dining hall. Overnight Campers will keep on going right through the evening with all-camp games and evening activities, with activities like cabin treasure-hunting challenges to solve as a team. Evening at camp is a time for campers to reflect on their best moments of the day with their bunkmates and counselors. If you go to Day Camp, you’ll be able to do all the fun camp activities too, but Day Campers will go home in the afternoon, and look forward to returning to camp the next day.
Administrative Director
YMCA Camping Services
Executive Director
YMCA Camping Services