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Summer
Camp '08: It's not too early
to think about it
School has begun, fall is in the air,
and summer is barely past us, but it's
not too early for parents and families
to begin planning for next summer's camp
season. According to the American
Camp Association® (ACA), over 35 percent
of camps begin accepting registrations
between September and December. Families
who don't want to miss out on their first
choice for camp may want to start researching
their camp options now.
- How and when should families start
the camp selection process? Choosing
a camp should be a shared process for
the whole family. Children and
parents together can research online
to learn what opportunities are available.
If at all possible, it's advisable
for parents to research and visit camps
the summer before they are planning
to register. If that's not something
parents have done already this year,
there are still several excellent ways
to research the options.
- What are some of the best ways for
families to do their research? Are
there camps in the area that offer
tennis? How about music or performing
arts programs? These are questions
that can be answered through the Find
A Camp search, located at www.CampParents.org.
Other ways to learn about great camp
possibilities is to seek recommendations
from friends, consult faith communities
or community centers, and attend local
camp fairs. For more personal
assistance close to home, parents can
contact one of ACA's 24 local offices.
- What are some of the camp options
to consider? Is a day camp or resident
(overnight) camp more appropriate for
the child involved? Will the child
be more comfortable in a single-sex
or co-ed camp? Find A Camp allows families
to search camps by such variables as
location, activities, affiliation,
special needs, length of session, and
cost.
- How can parents be assured of a
camp's commitment to health and safety? ACA-Accreditation® is
the best evidence for parents that
a camp is committed to providing a
safe and nurturing environment for
their children. A camp that is ACA-accredited
has undergone a thorough review of
its operations, measured by up to over
300 standards. Parents should always
ask if a camp is currently accredited
and if not, why not. There are
over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps – all
of which can be found at Find A Camp
on www.CampParents.org.
- What about camp as a gift for the
holidays? For a unique gift this
year that doesn't involve boxes or
batteries, friends and family can consider
giving the Gift of Camp. Camp provides
extraordinary learning opportunities,
lasting memories, and the gift of time
in nature, where children can unplug
and become more connected to the environment.
ACA Camp Gift Certificates can be found
at www.CampParents.org/giftcamp.php.
Contact Jane Rulon at 765.349.3317 or pr@ACAcamps.org to
interview an ACA
spokesperson for more information on
how parents and families can begin the camp
selection process.
Also, for customizable public
service announcements or article
reprints, including articles about
how to select a camp, visit our Media
Center.
About ACA
The American Camp Association® (ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance
the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs
ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally
challenging learning opportunities. ACA is the only national organization that accredits camps. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps
that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.
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