Camp Expo Program Guide 2016

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d F m RE iS E Si o n

Fun Fair& Camp Expo2016

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event program

Find the Perfect

Sunday, February 14

Summer Camp

10am - 3pm DoubleTree Hotel 29 North (next to Sam’s Club)

FREE PARKING & ADMISSION!

Over $1,000 in giveaways & prizes

over 80 exhibitors!

Live Entertainment • Popular Giveaways • Fun for the Kids & Teens Special thanks to our sponsors!

Child Development Laboratories at UVa

Day Camp Open to the community • Licensed Year-round professional team Safe, kid-friendly campus Preschool to middle school Indoor and outdoor activities Weekly themes Learn to swim at camp!

Specialty Camps and Sports Camps

Register by March 5 for

Early Bird Savings

Including New! ADAPT Sports Conditioning New! Staycation Adventure Camp New! Epic Chefs Cooking Camp New! Ninja Warrior Camp Princess Camp Say Yes to the Mess!

10% off camp & 5 waterpark passes Visit acac.com for details. acac.com

| 434.978.7529

I Live your best.

BEST

TIME

EVER!

BEST.SUMMER.EVER.

Day Camp

• Full Day, Traditional Day Camps & Adventure Camps • Includes Swimming and Field Trips •

Register by April 15 for early bird savings!

piedmontymca.org | 434.205.4380 | #BestSummerEver

3 locations Jefferson School Crozet YMCA Albemarle Schools

s n o i t s e u Q p m Ca

p u d n u o R

Make the most of the CharlottesvilleFamily Fun Fair & Camp Expo with these great questions for program directors and camp counselors:

• What is your camp’s philosophy or mission?

• Where is your camp?

• How much does your camp cost?

• When are the sessions and how long do they run?

• Does your program have day camp and/or residential camp options?

• What age groups are represented, and in what percentages?

• Where do your campers come from? Are they local, national or international?

• Is the program coed? If so, what is the approximate ratio of boys to girls?

• Who is the camp director, and what is his or her background?

• Who are the camp staff members? How are staff members trained?

• What is the ratio of campers to staff members? Does that ratio change during different activities or during different times of the day?

• What are your medical facilities like? Is there a nurse or doctor on staff?

• What kind of living/eating/recreational facilities does your camp offer?

• How are behavioral problems handled? What is the camp policy regarding discipline?

• What are the safety regulations? What kind of supervision is provided?

• What is the daily schedule like at your camp? How much free time is there?

• Can the camper have visitors?

• What kind of communication is allowed — mail, phone calls, etc.?

• How does your staff handle homesickness?

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE... ...whether your kids love art, robots, swimming, horses or adventure sports!

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CharlottesvilleFamily.com

CharlottesvilleFamily.com

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Ready for Sleepaway Camp?

SUMMER @ LIVE ARTS MUSICAL THEATER

PLAYMAKERS INTENSIVE

FROM PAGE TO STAGE

Take this quick quiz to see if your child is ready for residential camp this year. Answer each of these questions on a scale of 1-5, with 1 representing “never” and 5 representing “always.”

COMEDY CAMP

AGES PRE-K THROUGH 18 S TA R T I N G J U N E 1 3

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Virginia Gators of Charlottesville

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Providing year-round swim programs for all ages and levels

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Summer Prep Program (April-May) Swimmers train with our JSL Championship coaches to prepare for their best JSL summer swim season!

Stop by and visit us at the pool!

Virginia Gators of Charlottesville is located at Fairview Swim & Tennis Club 707 Belvedere Blvd.

Charlottesville, VA 22901

Year-Round Swim Programs We offer year-round programs for beginner-elite swimmers, of all ages, in our dedicated, family-friendly facility located in the Belvedere neighborhood.

Our JSL Championship coaches train swimmers to be their best.

Registration is ongoing. Flexible membership plans are available.

www.VirginiaGators.org

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CharlottesvilleFamily.com

1. My child stays overnight with grandparents or with friends without tears and anxiety.

2. My child willingly asks adults other than me for help.

3. My child willingly eats food other than what I cook.

4. My child easily warms up to new situations and people.

5. My child enjoys a wide range of experiences.

6. My child makes friends easily.

7. My child keeps track of clothes, money, school supplies and homework.

If you answered 4 or 5 for most of these questions, your child will likely thrive. If there are one or two trouble spots, don't worry too much. Camp just might help your child learn to keep track of things or try new activities more easily. If most of your responses are 1, 2, or 3, you might think about delaying sleepaway camp for a year or two.

Be sure to give your child a realistic idea of what camp life is like. If your child seems reluctant, don’t push. Overnight camp isn’t right for everyone, and there’s always next year.

CharlottesvilleFamily.com

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T C D E N I F PERF ER M M E U S H T AMP

C

10 Questions to Ask Before Deciding

BY CLAIRE YEZBAK FADDEN

As the daylight hours begin to stretch into early evening and the calendar pages head toward June, parents start thinking about how to best fill their child’s summer days. The process of picking the best camp experience for your child doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, by taking the time to talk with your camper and answer these few questions, it can be as easy as 1-2-3.

You can turn your child’s school vacation into weeks of camaraderie, fun and discovery and enjoy your summer as well, knowing that your child is spending part of his or her days learning as well as being entertained.

1) Is my child old enough to go to camp?

What camps are best suited to his or her age? “Ask your child: Are you interested in going to camp?” says Peg L. Smith, CEO of the American Camp Association (ACA). “This is a family decision and the best way to determine if your child is ready is to learn firsthand if they want to go.”

To make for the best, age-appropriate experiences, camps breakdown their programs by age groups (4-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-16). This helps in choosing the right camp for your child’s maturity.

2) How much will it cost?

Depending on what your expectations are, sending your child to camp can be a very affordable enrichment option. According to the ACA, there is a wide range of price options available that depend on the choice of camp, the facilities offered and your camper’s needs. For budgeting purposes, parents can plan on an average day camp fee of around $43 per day and an average residential camp fee of around $85 a day. Remember that camp fees may be tax deductible as childcare expense. Ask your tax advisor to see if you qualify.

3) What are my child’s interests?

“There are traditional camp experiences that include campfires, telling camp stories and lots of free, unstructured play,” says Smith. “There are also specialty camps that offer martial arts or swimming for example, as a way to sample a sport before making a longer commitment. Offer your child a few options to choose from as a way to find out what new interests he may have.”

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4) Where can I find out about all the options?

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Whether it’s traditional day camp, specialty camps or residential camps, there are lots of options available. Visit the CharlottesvilleFamily.com Online Summer Camp Fair for lots of information about local camps.

You can also visit campparents.org and click on “Find a Camp.”

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5) What’s an average day like?

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summer day camps for 3 through rising 6th grade

The daily schedules of each weeklong day camp vary. Some run from early morning until late afternoon (with extended day care, if desired). Others offer a combination of half-day or full-day sessions. At a residential camp, you can send your child for the entire summer or select a few weeks here and there.

mountaintopseedproject.org

Science

Camp Watonka Boys 8 - 16 In the Poconos at Hawley, PA Offering qualified instruction and laboratory work in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, electronics, geology, physics, photography, robotics and rocketry.

The sciences are incorporated into a fun filled, camper selected program that also includes archery, arts and crafts, climbing, mini-bike riding, riflery, sailing, swimming, tennis, trips, windsurfing, woodworking, ropes, etc. Private Lake. American Camp Association accredited.

2, 4, 6 and 8 week sessions.

www.watonka.com • mail@watonka.com • Phone: (570) 857-1401 For catalog write: D. Wacker, PO Box 127 Hawley, PA 18428

6) Whose camping experience is it anyway?

“Too often we get kids in camps that their mom or dad wanted them to attend,” says camp counselor Shawn. “I can’t stress enough the importance of choosing camp activities that your child is interested in,” he adds. “If your daughter doesn’t want to play soccer, you’re better off enrolling her in a different camping experience. Everyone will be much happier by the time the end of the summer rolls around.” (cont’d on page 14)

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Boar’s Head

Camp Holiday Trails

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Super Kicks Family Academy Live Arts The Gow School Summer Program Timber Ridge Camp St. Anne’s-Belfields Summer Programs

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Ben & Jerry’s

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Camp Invention

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Bright Beginnings Preschool

Monticello Summer Adventures

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Rocky Top

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Camp Harrison

Exhibit Hall Annex ,

DMR Adventures

Exhibit Hall Annex

Virginia Gators of Charlottesville

Momma Bear Sale 33 Monticello Summer Adventures 82 Music Resource Center 63 My Piano Starts Here 45 nTelos Wireless 14 QuickStart Tennis 41 Peabody School 50 Piedmont Family YMCA 37 Piedmont Regional

Education Program 64 Rocky Top 68 St. Anne’s-Belfields

Summer Programs 57 Science Camp Watonka 23 Scott Wagner Chiropractic 30 SEED Camp at Mountaintop Montessori 24/25 Skyland Camp for Girls 21 SOCA 20 Spectrum Summer Programs at Tandem Friends School 52 Super Kicks Family Academy 53 Timber Ridge Camp 56 Triple C Camp 15/16 Tutor Doctor 35 UVA Intramural Recreational Sports 12 The Village School 17 Virginia Discovery Museum 75 Virginia Gators of Charlottesville 71 Wilderness Adventures

at Eagle Landing 74 Wilson School of Dance 27 YMCA Camp Silver Beach 19

Charlottesville Ballet

Albemarle Ballet Theatre 39 Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H 77 Albemarle County Parks & Rec 42 ALOHA Mind Math/

Reading/Writing 22 American Camp Association (ACA) 60 Ben & Jerry’s 79/80 Blue Ridge Irish Music School 61 Boar’s Head 58/59 Bright Beginnings Preschool 67 Camp Alleghany 44 Camp Friendship 40 Camp Harrison 69 Camp Hidden Meadows 10/11 Camp Holiday Trails 78 Camp Horizons 31 Camp Invention 81 Camp Rim Rock 36 Camp Tall Timbers 47 Camp Twin Creeks 13 Camp Roanoke 32 Carriage Hill 29 Charlottesville Ballet 72 Classics Gymnastics 28 ClickFlash 5 Covenant School 38 Discover Experiential 48 DMR Adventures 70 Ferrum College Summer

Enrichment Camp 51 Girl Scouts Virginia Skyline Council 62 The Gow School

Summer Program 55 Journey Through

Hallowed Ground 49 KidsCollege Career Academy 18 Kilwins 43 Les Fabriques 73 Light House Studio 26 Live Arts 54 The Living Earth 34 Mahogany Ridge 46 Mid-Atlantic Bath Solutions 76

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Exhibitors

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Media Sponsors WVIR-TV NBC 29 Z95.1 Charlottesville Radio Group - 6

Les Fabriques

Silver Level Child Development Laboratories at UVA - 8/9

Wilderness Adventures at Eagle Landing

Gold Level ACAC - 2 The Little Gym - 4 Piedmont Family YMCA - 3

Virginia Discovery Museum

CharlottesvilleFamily - 1

Mid-Atlantic Bath Solutions (Bath Fitter)

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Albemarle Charlottesville 4-H

Sponsors

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, Restrooms Hallway Exhibitors* (see directory at left)

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Lobby

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7 Information Lost & Found Door Prizes!

Fun Fair& Camp Expo2016 Momma Bear Sale

Camp Roanoke

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Wilson School of Dance

Classics Gymnastics Center

Carriage Hill Farm

Scott Wagner Chiropractic & Sports Medicine

Camp Horizons

YMCA Camp Silver Beach

KidsCollege Career Academy

The Village School

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Light House Studio

Exhibit Hall Science Camp Watonka

ALOHA Mind Math/Reading/ Writing

Skyland Camp for Girls

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8/9

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SOCA

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10/11

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15/16

Camp Hidden Meadows

UVA IntramuralRecreational Sports

Camp Twin Creeks

nTelos Wireless

Triple C Camp

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2

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The Living Earth School

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SEED Camp at Mountaintop Montessori

Tutor Doctor

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38 24/25

Camp Rim Rock

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Piedmont Family YMCA

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Covenant School

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Albemarle Ballet Theatre

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Camp Tall Timbers

Camp Friendship

Discover Experiential

QuickStart Tennis

Peabody School

Albemarle County Parks & Rec

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Kilwins

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Camp Alleghany

49 Journey Through Hallowed Ground Extreme Journey Summer Camp

My Piano Starts Here

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Mahogany Ridge

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Spectrum Summer Programs Ferrum College Summer at Tandem Friends Enrichment Camp School

3 Piedmont Family YMCA

Balloon Station

Main Entrance

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Welcome Table

Bumble’s Campground Fun Zone

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Sponsor Pavilion

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Awesom e gam and activi es for kids an ties d teens!

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7) Can your camper use more exercise?

Summer camp is a chance to move your child away from video and computer games and introduce him or her to a new sport — maybe one that will hold their interest throughout the year. According to Smith, 63 percent of campers who learn a new activity continue with it after camp ends. “Campers use this opportunity to get outside, turn off all those electronic devices and reconnect with nature.” Smith adds, “It’s a chance to see if your child can develop a jump shot or learn to pirouette.”

8) Why is it important for the camp to be accredited?

Accredited camps have met the industry requirements in the key aspects of camp operation, program quality and the health and safety of campers and staff. These camps comply with appropriate standards and counselor/camper ratios. To find out if a camp is accredited, visit campparents.org and click on “Find a Camp” or call 800-428-2267.

9) What else can my child learn at camp?

There’s another kind of education that goes on at camp says Christopher Thurber, author of The Summer Camp Handbook. It’s a place for kids to “relax and (cont’d on page 18)

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! n u F o Exp

Visit

BUMBLE’S D CAMPGROUN

games for awesome and lots to do ens! for kids and te

r e v O $ 000 in 1oor Prizes!

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Beats Solo HD Headphones

Making a Camp Care Package • Card games like Uno • Stationery & stamps • Photos of pets & family • Drawings created by For kids at sleep-away camp, care packages are just that — a little reminder that the folks back home are thinking about them. Sending a box full of their favorite goodies would be easy enough, but since most camps discourage sending sweets, check out the following suggestions (some practical, some fun) for ensuring a happy camper.

Timing is essential when it comes to mailing items to a camper. Many camps will provide parents directions on where, when and how to send mail to its participants.

Follow these directions as closely as possible to avoid late or misdirected packages. Keep in mind that camp mail must often be sorted and transported to the campers — an added step that may add a day or two to the U.S. Postal delivery time. Make sure to mail the first care package ahead of time so it is there when you’re camper arrives!

younger siblings or friends • Batteries • Word jumble puzzles • Toothbrush • An MP3 player loaded with a playlist of your child’s favorite songs • An audio recording of you or the entire family • Favorite stuffed animal • A journal • A paperback book or some magazines • Stickers • Temporary tattoos • Bug spray • Lip balm • Travel size shampoo, lotion or other toiletries

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learn life skills — such as making friends and playing fair — that will serve them and the people whose lives they touch.” Thurber adds, “At camp, young people bond with positive adult role models whose integrity and leadershipby-example tower over those of celebrities or sports heroes. Highquality camps are places where young people not only realize their potential in athletic or artistic pursuits; they realize their potential to do good in the world.”

10) Will My Camper Have Fun?

LOOking FOr mOre Camp resOurCes? Visit the CF Online Camp Fair at CharlottesvilleFamily.com 18

CharlottesvilleFamily.com

“Fun should rule during June, July and August,” reminds Counselor Shawn. Even though parents want every experience for their children to be worthwhile and educational, its important to remember that it’s summertime, and there’s a lot of learning that happens while you’re having fun.

Award-winning freelance writer Claire Yezbak Fadden is the mother of a former camp counselor.

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A new year means a new look for us!

Introducing CharlottesvilleFamily’s Bloom magazine!

Along with fresh new cover designs, we have new and exciting ways to interact with us off- and on-line!

Keep watching to see everything that’s changed!

New features include: Date Night Calendar Bumble’s ShutterBee Contests Mindful Parenting Column #dropsofHoney through Twitter

...with many other new additions to be introduced in the upcoming months with the CF community both in print and online!

Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville & Triple C Camp in “I HEART CharlottesvilleFamily”

Bloom

CURRENT ISSU E

Family’s

Local M oms M aking P arentin g

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PRIVA SCHO TE OLS R ESID CAMPENTIAL GUID E

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Sweet

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CharlottesvilleFamily.com

Looking for More Info About Camp?

American Camp Association acacamps.org National Camp Association summercamp.org Check CharlottesvilleFamily.com for our comprehensive Online Summer Camp Fair.

•Accredited by the ACA since our first summer in 1983 •Staff to camper ratio is 1:5 or better •Highly trained and qualified staff •Camp medical staff on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

The Summer Camp Survival Guide: Cool Games, Camp Classics, and How to Capture the Flag by Chris Pallatto, Ron De Fazio and Ethan Long (2010, Sterling)

Camp Horizons Summer Camp...

Endless Adventure and Fun! Camp Horizons – a premier coed sleep-away summer camp in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia offers a safe, supportive community in which campers can feel comfortable embarking on new adventures and developing friendships that will last a lifetime.

• Discover: Ages 6-8 • Journey: Ages 9-11 • Explorer: Ages 12-16 Add to your summer fun with our specialty camps!

• Equestrian • Adventure • Leadership

Visit CampHorizonsVA.com for details.

HARRISONBURG, VA USA • 540.896.7600 • CAMPHORIZONSVA.COM

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The Summer Camp Handbook.

Everything You Need to Find, Choose and Get Ready for Overnight Camp — and Skip the Homesickness

by Christopher A. Thurber, Ph.D. and Jon C. Malinowski, Ph.D. (2000, Perspective Publishing)

JUNE 19-25 or JUNE 26-JULY 2 • AGES 9-13 (as of 7/1/16)

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An exciting opportunity for students who enjoy learning and are eager to explore new ideas and interests.

FUN • CHALLENGING • MEMORABLE • EDUCATIONAL • AFFORDABLE FRIEND us on Facebook! FOLLOW us on Twitter!

FERRUM COLLEGE ENRICHMENT CAMP

(888)508-7822 WWW.FERRUM.EDU/FCSEC

Education - Home Services Health - Entertainment Finance nbc29.com “Your Family”

Sharon Gregory

CharlottesvilleFamily.com

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A big “Thank you!” to this year’s sponsors!

Ivy Publications, LLC www.ivypublications.com (434) 984-4713 • sales@ivypublications.com Copyright ©2016. All rights reserved.