ParentLine

Dear ParentLine, We can’t believe that it’s almost summertime!  Our kids are taking their school. field trips and NOW, they’re wondering what to do during their summer vacation.   We think it would be great if they could experience summer camp in the great outdoors and want to be sure they can engage in activities that will be good for them.  How do we find out what kinds of camps are in New Hampshire and what do we look for when making a decision on where to send them?  Signed, A Good Time Out, Nashua, NH.

OK, so stop gritting your teeth. ParentLine hears it, too.  The gentle strains of “School’s out, school’s out, teacher let the monkeys out,” whispers through open windows on the late-May breeze and warns us that the days kids dream about and parents dread is upon us.  Start planning now. 

Summer vacation creates unique challenges for working parents of school-age children.  Summer camp is one way to provide your child with a safe, enriching experience while you work. A good source of information on a wide range of summer camp options is your local child care resource and referral program.  See the list at the end of this article for an R&R contact in your area.

One of the best resources for a broad range of information about summer kids’ camps is the American Camp Association (call the ACA at 1-800-428-2267 or visit online at www.CampParents.org ).  The website features an interactive section that allows parents to search for a camp by cost, activities offered, and by geographic region.  For information about camps in New England, phone 781-541-6080.    Not all camps are members, however, so you won’t get a complete listing.    It is just one resource. 

To help parents find a quality program, the ACA accredits summer camp using some three hundred different health and safety standards.  A special section on the website offers information about what a camp experience can do for a child based on their particular developmental stage. 

To help you decide if your child is ready for the camp experience, consider your child’s age.  Has he or she had positive overnight experiences away from home, visiting relatives or friends?  Were these separations easy or difficult?   Find out what your child expects to do at camp and help her learn as much as possible in advance in order to help her form positive expectations.  And, no, this doesn’t mean that you have to practice making a camp fire in the back yard by rubbing two sticks together, though lessons on how to short-sheet a bed is always a great idea.

Once you’ve determined that your child is ready for the camp experience, here are some suggestions to help you decide on the right camp for your child:

• Know your child, his comfort zone and his/her likes and dislikes.  Talk to your child about his/her interests.
• Research several summer camps.
• Talk with program directors.
• Plan to visit the camp or attend an open house with your child.
• Ask for copies of handbooks or brochures.
• Check into transportation options.
• Ask for a way to contact other parents who have sent their children to the camp to see what they say of their child’s experience. 

 

Next, ask yourself:

• Would I like to spend the day or a week there?
• Are there exciting activities to choose from each day?
• What if my child chooses not to participate?
• How structured is the daily schedule?  Are the children protected, yet given some freedom?
• Is the environment friendly?  Are the outdoor and indoor spaces large enough?
• Is the facility safe and clean? 
• Do the hours fit my schedule? Are the hours flexible?

Finally, ask the director:

• Are social skills and problem solving encouraged?
• What happens if my child misbehaves?
• s the staff trained and certified in CPR, First Aide and water safety?  Is there a nurse on staff?
• Are there written health, safety, and emergency plans? 
• What experience does the director and staff have with school-age children?
• If this is a specialty program, what are the staff qualifications in this field?
• What is the camper/staff ratio?
• Can parents visit or call at any time? If not, are there regularly scheduled times for visits and calls?
• Can children call home at any time? If not, do the scheduled times to call fit my schedule?
• What does the program fee include?
• Are scholarships/discounts available?
• Is spending money allowed?

The answers to these questions, combined with the knowledge of your child’s interests and abilities, will give you the information needed to confidently choose a summer program.  The time and effort that you and your child spend selecting an appropriate program will be rewarded; your child will make new friends and learn important skills in the security of a safe environment.

 

You may also contact:

NH Cooperative Extension for 4-H camps

YMCA or YWCA

Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts

Local library or school

Local park and recreation departments

Child and Family Services’ Camp Spaulding (603-224-9313), www.campspaulding.org.

NH Camp Director’s Association Directory of Youth Camps (1-800-428-2267).

The National Dissemination Center for children with disabilities (www.nichcy.org) offers a range of options for children with special needs.  Phone 1-800-695-0285.

 

ParentLine encourages parents of teens, 16-18 years of age, to look into the wealth of Counselor in Training (CIT) programs available at camps across the country.  Summer camps with CIT programs offer qualified teens with opportunities to develop leadership skills as well as training them in a wide range of disciplines such as CPR, water safety, or skills that match the camp’s particular programming (music, arts, horseback riding, ecology, computers, sports, etc). 

Many CIT programs restrict enrollment to former campers.  Others open their enrollment to anyone who meets the criteria for the program.  Camps ask a young person who is interested in becoming a CIT to fill out the usual camp applications, along with additional employment applications, and provide references as well as engage in a formal interview process.  Camps tend to hire a limited number of junior counselors (usually 16 and 17 years old) as part of their staff development process, but they must also ensure that they still have the appropriate number of adult staff to supervise the campers and junior counselors.  Google “CIT programs and summer camp” for a huge listing of camps that offer such programs.

CIT programs not only provide valuable experience that translates well on a college application, but also offer teens the fun of a great summer job in interesting environments and the opportunity to make friends with a diverse group of people.  Your young CIT may also develop an appreciation for the comforts and care they receive at home. 

Further information on NH camps can be found at New Hampshire Camp Directors’ Association, PO Box 324,  Barnstead, NH 03218, www.nhcamps.org. Childcare resource and referral information is available at Easter Seals, 1-800- 870-8728 Ext.3501.

 

NH Child Care Resource and Referral Network contacts:

Berlin/Littleton: 1-800-445-4525

Claremont: 1-877-212-7267

Concord: 1-800-307-2737

Conway: 1-866-261-7555

Keene: 1-800-529-0005

Laconia: 1-866-261-7555 or 1-800-649-8817

Manchester: 1-800-870-8728

Nashua:  1-800-852-0632

Portsmouth/Salem:  1-800-310-8333

Rochester: 1-800-918-1912

 

ParentLine is a free and confidential service of Child and Family Services, a statewide, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and families.  Call ParentLine, 1-800-640-6486; write ParentLine, c/o Child and Family Services, P.O. Box 448, Manchester, NH; email parentline@cfsnh.org or visit our website at www.cfsnh.org.