Summer Camp: Finding the Perfect Fit for Any Age
TEXT GAYLA GRACE
Summer camp offers all kinds of fun and character-building experiences for kids
Age 0 - 5
of any age. Whether you’re looking for a few hours of entertainment or weeks of
D intentional skill-building for your child, you can find it at camp.

ay camps offer the perfect
opportunity for young kids to
experience time away from home
and explore new activities. Camp
for preschool children focuses on free play,
sharing with others, group games (inside
and outside) and simple arts and crafts. If
you’re sending your child to camp for the first
time, make sure the schedule matches her
personality and routine to prevent a stressful
experience. Does there need to be naptime?
Should your child be potty trained to attend?
Would your child adjust more easily by
starting with a half-day camp instead of full-
day? Are there appropriate breaks for snacks
and changes in activity?
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It’s important to find out what the counselor to camper
ratio is for children this age. You want to ensure your
child will be adequately cared for with a friendly, well-
staffed team. You also want to determine if the counselors
are trained to help with issues common to preschoolers,
including separation anxiety, potty training and temper
tantrums. The best place to find camps for young children is
through day cares, churches, nursery schools and local
elementary schools. Specialty camps also abound through
gymnastic centers, music schools and sporting centers.

Consider your child’s interests and find a camp that gives
your preschool child a chance to make new friends and
explore new experiences.




Age 6 - 11
E lementary-aged children thrive at
camp, whether it’s day camp or stay-
away camp. It’s the perfect solution
to sibling squabbles and long
summer days. But it pays to do your research
and find the right fit for your child.

decisions and meet new friends outside of the comforts of
home. They gain self-confidence in trying new activities, and
they learn to appreciate the beauty of nature as they unplug
from technology. Although they may experience periods of
homesickness, they learn to forge through their feelings with
the help of caring camp counselors and new friends.

Camps for this age range from sports camps
to music camps to academic camps to church
camps. Don’t let the variety intimidate you as
you research; start with the interests of your
child and ask friends and neighbors to give
opinions on camps their kids have attended.

Specialty camps close to home also help kids explore new
hobbies or create opportunities for parents and kids to
enjoy camp together. A mother-daughter sewing camp or
father-son golfing camp allows great bonding time while
developing a skill enjoyed by both.

Age 12 - 15
An ideal age for kids to enjoy activities not
available at home, camps offer zip-lining,
archery, rock-wall climbing, swimming, arts
and crafts and campfire sing-alongs with
friends. Kids gain independence as they make
T weens and teens have better focus
than younger children and benefit
from camps that more closely match
their interests and personalities.

Sports and music camps are great for this
age and help kids advance athletic skills and
enhance musical talent. Academic camps
offer youth advanced-learning opportunities
in subjects they might want to explore for
long-term focus. And church camps offer
character-building and self-awareness
experiences not learned in school.

Camps provide a safe place for teens and
tweens to hang out while parents work
during summer break. Not yet able to drive
or find a summer job, kids this age too often
allow technology to rule their time, or walk
into unsupervised trouble unless parents
If your child has never experienced camp, start with a day
camp or send a friend along for an away camp. It’s important
that their first camp experience be a good one. If you find it
wasn’t a perfect fit, try a different one next year. But don’t
give up on the beauty and benefits of camp for elementary-
aged children.

intentionally seek out creative options.

Junior high and high schools provide information for
local camps worth investigating as the school year draws
to a close. It’s also easy to scour the Internet for camps
that match your child’s interests. Some camps provide
certification such as lifeguard training or first-aid
certification that can enable your youth to successfully find
a job upon completion. Encourage your child to research
camps with you to find one that fits.

Summer camp offers unique experiences and character-
building opportunities for every child. Whether your child
is 2 or 15, camp is the perfect place to find adventure and
make lifelong memories in the process. Don’t delay – find a
camp your child will enjoy today!
Gayla Grace, freelance writer and mom to five, has sent her kids to camp every summer
and continues to find new camps for her one child still at home.

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