A
Fun Fair&
D F M RE IS E SI O N
Camp Expo
!
2020
Sunday, February 16 10am - 3pm DoubleTree Hotel 29 North (next to Sam’s Club)
FREE PARKING
Find the Perfect
SUMMER CAMP Enter for a chance to W IN Beats Solo3 Headphones!
Entertainment • Popular Giveaways • Fun for the Kids & Teens
Over a Dozen New Camps!
Special thanks to our sponsors!
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 EARLY BIRD SAVINGS
15% OFF TUITION REGISTER IN FULL BY JAN. 31
10% OFF TUITION REGISTER IN FULL BY FEB. 22
NEW Robotics and Coding Camp NEW Maker’s Camp Animal Planet ARTastic Camp Marvels of Science Football Camp Epic Chefs Cooking Camp Say Yes to the Mess Outdoor Camp Register Online: acac.com/camp
| 434.978.7529
Live your best.
T C D E N I F PERF ER M M E U S H T AMP 10 Questions to Ask Before Deciding
C
BY CLAIRE YEZBAK FADDEN 4
CharlottesvilleFamily.com
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, former 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.”
4) Where can I find out about all the options? 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 page for lots of information about local camps. You can also visit acacamps.org and click on “Find a Camp.” 5) What’s an average day like? 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. 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.” 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
CharlottesvilleFamily.com
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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 acacamps.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 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 leadership-by-example tower over those of celebrities or sports heroes. High-quality 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? “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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CharlottesvilleFamily.com
CharlottesvilleFamily.com
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s n o i t s e u Q p m a C
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
Visit
BUMBLE’S D CAMPGROUN
games for awesome and lots to do ens! for kids and te
n i 0 0 0 , 1 Oveoror Prizes! D $
or the Enter f Win to Chance lo3 o Beats S es! hon Headp
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spring break camp offered, too!
April 6-10
Making a Camp Care Package
• Games like Apples to Apples or Heads Up • Stationery & stamps • Photos of pets & family • Drawings created by younger siblings or friends • Batteries • Word jumble puzzles • Toothbrush • An iPod loaded with a playlist of your child’s favorite songs • Favorite stuffed animal • A journal • A paperback book or some magazines • Stickers • Temporary tattoos • Bug spray • Lip balm • Travel size shampoo, lotion and other toiletries 10
CharlottesvilleFamily.com
CharlottesvilleFamily.com
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Sponsors CharlottesvilleFamily - 1
81
73
72 71
60
Chincoteague Bay Field Station
70
61
Camp Hidden Meadows
The Front Porch
Oakland School
Ferrum College Summer Enrichment Camp
Camp Rim Rock
59
58
57
56
55
74
Blue Ridge School
75
82
ALOHA Mind Math Triple R Ranch
76
83/84
77
85
78
Virginia Basketball Academy VABA
79
86
80
62
Camp Twin Creeks
63
Clayborne Education
64
YMCA Camp Silver Beach
65
Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
Exhibit Hall Annex
Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline
Exhibit Hall Annex
Health Connect America
9
£
NBC29
Restrooms Hallway Exhibitors* (see directory at left)
£
KidsCollege @ PVCC 42 Lewis & Clark Exploratory Center 40 Live Arts 20 Living Earth School 34 Mahogany Ridge Dog Training Camp 43 Mercersburg Academy Summer Programs 44 Monticello Education Summer Adventures 76 Mountaintop Montessori Summer Programs 27/28 Oakland School 58 Piedmont Family YMCA 23 Piedmont Regional Education Program / Parent Resource Center 68 Rocky Top Climbing 45 Sam’s Camp for Applied Engineering-Miller School 36 Scott Wagner Chiropractic & Sports Medicine 19 SOCA 18 Southeastern Therapy for Kids 46 Spectrum Summer Programs at Tandem Friends School 31 STEAM Discovery Academy 13 The Front Porch 56 Triple C Camp 15/16 Triple R Ranch 86 UpLevel Martial Arts 48 Village School AIM True Arts 41 Virginia Basketball Academy VABA 85 Virginia Festival of the Book 63 Virginia Outside & Virginia Fishing Adventures 50 Wilderness Adventure at Eagle’s Landing 47 Wildrock 69 Wilson School of Dance 62 Woodberry Forest Summer Programs 39 Woodworking with Children 64 YMCA Camp Silver Beach 72
£
Albemarle Montessori School 78 ALOHA Mind Math 82 Astro Camp, Camp Motorsport & Camp CHOP 52 Bath Fitters 80 Blue Ridge Children’s Museum 81 Blue Ridge Irish Music School 67 Blue Ridge School 55 Boar’s Head Sports Club 26 Camp4Real 22 Camp Alleghany for Girls 49 Camp Arrowhead 37 Camp Blue Ridge 12 Camp Friendship 29 Camp Hidden Meadows 61 Camp Holiday Trails 65 Camp Horizons 53/54 Camp Invention 17 Camp Mont Shenandoah 14 Camp Rim Rock 59 Camp River’s Bend 33 Camp Twin Creeks 70 Camp Yogaville 79 Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA 73 Charlottesville Orthodontics 32 Charlottesville Parks & Recreation 24 Chincoteague Bay Field Station 60 Child Development Labs @ UVA 77 Clayborne Education 71 CVille Rocks Climbing Camp 21 DMR Adventures 38 Ferrum College Summer Enrichment Program 57 Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline 74 Health Connect America 75 Heartland Home Food 35 Horizons Edge Sports Camps 30 Hunt Test Preparation 25 Jubilee Chiropractic 51 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) 66
Monticello Education Summer Adventures
Exhibitors
Child Development Labs @ UVA
Media Sponsors WVIR-TV NBC 29 - 9 Z95.1 Charlottesville Radio Group - 8
Albemarle Montessori School
Silver Level Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream - 83/84 The Little Gym - 10/11 Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville - 4
Camp Yogaville
Gold Level ACAC Fitness & Wellness Centers - 2 Carter Mountain Orchard & Chiles Peach Orchard - 3
Bath Fitters
Blue RIdge Children’s Museum
Lobby
69
68
67
66
8 Information Lost & Found & Door Prizes!
Fun Fair& Camp Expo2020 37
36
35
34
30
31
32
33
Horizons Edge Sports Camps
Spectrum Summer Programs at Tandem Friends School
Charlottesville Orthodontics
Camp River’s Bend
CVille Rocks Climbing Camp
Live Arts
Scott Wagner Chiropractic & Sports Medicine
21
Camp Friendship
Exhibit Hall Hunt Test Preparation
Piedmont Family YMCA
Camp4Real
25
24
23
22
20
19
12
13
14
15/16
17
18
Camp Blue Ridge
STEAM Discovery Academy
Camp Mont Shenandoah
TripleC Camp
Camp Invention
SOCA
12 10/11
Charlottesville Parks & Recreation
1
3
2
Balloon Station
7
4
Sponsor Pavilion
Main Entrance
53/54
38 29
52
Mountaintop Montessori Summer Programs
Living Earth School
51
Boar’s Head Sports Club
Heartland Home Food
50
27/28
Sam’s Camp for Applied Engineering - Miller School
49
39
26
Camp Arrowhead
48
40
41
DMR Adventures
Southeastern Therapy for Kids
Camp Horizons
Woodberry Forest Lewis & Clark Exploratory Center Summer Programs
47 Wilderness Adventure at Eagles Landing
AstroCamp Camp Motorsport Camp CHOP
Village School / AIM True Arts
46
Jubilee Chiropractic
45 Rocky Top Climbing
Virginia Outside & Virginia Fishing Adventures
44 Mercersburg Academy Summer Programs
Camp Alleghany for Girls
43 Mahogany Ridge Dog Training Camp
UpLevel Martial Arts
42 KidsCollege @PVCC
Bumble’s Activity Station
5/6
Welcome Table
Bumble’s Campground Fun Zone
CharlottesvilleFamily.com
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Ready for Sleepaway Camp? 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.” 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.
KIDSCollege
6. My child makes friends easily.
Summer Academies 2020 Over 100 STEM & Arts Academies
June 1-August 7 • Rising 1st–9th Graders
Register today at: www.pvcc.edu/kidscollege
STEM: Maker Labs, Robotics, Coding, Virtual Reality, Drones, Engineering & more. ARTS: Sculpture, Shadow Puppets, Dance, 3D Art, Music, Photography & more.
ACADEMIES AT:
Workforce Services
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CharlottesvilleFamily.com
KidsCollege @PVCC • June 8–Aug. 7 KidsCollege@Fluvanna • June 1–12 KidsCollege@Louisa • June 15–25 NEW! KidsCollege@Albemarle • June 22–July 10 NEW!
7. My child keeps track of clothes, money, school supplies and homework. If you answered a 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.
Marc & Anna Lise
More info : Z951.com
CharlottesvilleFamily.com
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A big “Thank you!” to this year’s sponsors!
Ivy Life & Style Media
ivylifeandstylemedia.com • (434) 984-4713 sales@ivylifeandstylemedia.com Copyright ©2020. All rights reserved.