6 minute read
Is It Time for Day Camp?
Day camp is undoubtedly important for kids’ development, but how do I know I’m choosing the right day camp for my child?
BY JESS MICHAELS
Jess Michaels is the director of communications for the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey. She believes every child should have a summer camp experience.
It’s hard to know when to send your kids to day camp— are they ready to be away from home, join a community, engage in new activities? Renee Flax, director of camper placement for the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, who has been helping parents navigate camp for more than 20 years, offers her advice for choosing the best day camp for your child.
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT DAY CAMP?
Camps are one of the last unplugged environments—which is invaluable at a time when kids spend so much time alone on electronics without communicating face-to-face. Day camp is a place where kids can socialize and work together as a group.
And while counselors are on hand to help them, children learn how to handle situations on their own, and consequently develop confidence in their ability to make decisions and solve problems. Camps also teach practical skills—like swimming—and psychological skills—like learning to share and listening to directions.
Day camp encourages healthy competition and safe risks— jumping in a pool, singing on stage, climbing a ropes course, meeting a new friend. With perseverance, kids learn they can conquer their fears and learn to love activities they would never otherwise have been exposed to.
WHY NOT JUST GO TO THE POOL?
While lazy days at the pool are certainly fun, they don’t offer the valuable experience of being part of a close-knit group of people. Camp is more than just individual activities; it provides a family of friends and a home-away-from-home. Events like carnival or color wars, where kids have to work together, inspire a sense of comradery. Learning songs and cheers together gives young children the feeling of belonging. It’s a tremendous growth experience and teaches kids to believe in themselves.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A DAY CAMP?
Asking friends and neighbors about their experiences is a good start but do your own research at open houses and camp fairs. Choose a camp that is accredited by the American Camp Association, which means it is living up to the highest standards. And consider the following questions: • Inquire about the director: Is she seasonal or full-time? Make sure you have a good rapport. • Do you need a full-day camp with transportation and extended hours, or is a half-day camp enough for you and your child? • Does the camp offer activities your child will enjoy? • Are you comfortable with your child on a bus or are you looking for a closer option?
• Consider the cost: Does it fit within your budget? • What kind of program (elective or structured) is offered at the camp? • What is the staff like: How old are the members? Is there diversity? Are they experienced? • Are you looking for a small, nurturing camp or a larger camp with a wider range of activities? • What should I keep in mind if camps open this summer after the COVID-19 quarantine? • The American Camp Association, NY and NJ is optimistic that summer camps will run this summer, however no final decisions have been made for many camps at this time. • Unfortunately, some summer camps in the Northeast have already had to make the difficult decision to not open this summer, ahead of any state or local agencies mandating them closed.
The ACA is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and an outside consulting firm who are convening with public health experts, doctors representing the American Academy of Pediatrics, experts in epidemiology, and camp health experts to develop operational recommendations and resources for camps during COVID-19. Once these guidelines and protocols are complete, they will be shared with state and local agencies who will ultimately decide whether camps operate this summer.
When choosing a camp, it’s important that parents choose an ACA-accredited summer camp or at a minimum, a camp that is licensed by the Department of Health. Accredited and licensed summer camps must adhere to important safety regulations, including reporting of any
communicable diseases to the Department of Health and having medical staff available.
Even if you’re not quite ready to take the plunge, it’s a good time to start exploring options—there are so many great day camps in Staten Island that will provide your kid with an exceptional and meaningful summer.
parents HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS
Davler Media-Parents Supports the Opening of Summer Camps
We at Davler Media-Parents (Staten Island Parent, NYMetroParents, Mommybites, and Mitzvah Market)—the New York metro area’s largest parent media company—strongly support the opening of local day, specialty, and overnight camps this summer at the maximum capacity possible while still remaining safe for children and camp staff.
We believe...
...that all children who want to go to camp this summer should have the opportunity to do so. This year, more than any in our lifetime, children need the social, emotional, and physical benefits that summer camp offers. Children should not be turned away because of limited capacity. ...that every camp should be able to enroll the maximum number of children they can safely accommodate and return to earning an income from providing these services. Like many businesses, camps suffered in 2020, and they need an opportunity to recover.
Our beliefs are based on the fact...
...that camps that opened in 2020 did so with overwhelming success as documented in the Duke University study from Feb. 3, 2021, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report from Sept. 4, 2020:
• Duke Study
“Our study suggests that appropriate measures to reduce the spread of disease can create an environment where normal childhood activities such as day camp, school and after-school recreation can be provided with minimal risk,” said lead author
Emily D’Agostino, Dr.PH, an assistant professor in Duke’s Department of Family Medicine & Community Health.
• CDC Statement
During the 2020 summer camp season, four Maine overnight camps with 1,022 attendees from 41 states and international locations implemented a multilayered prevention and mitigation strategy that was successful in identifying and isolating three asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and preventing secondary transmission.
We also know...
Camp owners, who are committed professionals, deeply care about children’s health and well-being. These dedicated businesspeople devote themselves to providing safe environments, ensuring the health of both campers and staff. Parents who have been supporting their children in virtual learning environments at home need relief. The support from camps helps parents return to a more traditional adult life of dedicating themselves to their careers, maintaining their homes, and enjoying a more balanced emotional state.
If you agree that opening camps at the maximum safe capacity level is vital for this summer, join the New York Camp Parents 2021 Facebook Group. Offer a positive comment so that the entire camp community, including camp owners see your support. Invite your friends to join too. Share this on social media. Let’s come together as a community. We believe all kids deserve our support and a chance to have a more traditional summer.
David L. Miller CEO, Davler Media Group
