9 minute read
What Type of Camp Will Your Child Like?
What Type of Camp
Will Your Child Like?
By Cheryl Maguire
When I was younger, I only had one choice for summer camp—the town camp. The town camp was a traditional all-day, six hour camp with a heavy emphasis on sports. I was more of a bookworm than an athlete so this type of camp was not a good match for my personality. I remember coming home every day whinnying to my mom, “It was so hot and all we did was play (fill in a sport). Do I have to go to camp tomorrow?” By the end of the summer, I’m sure my mom wished there were other options for me.
Now there are so many choices it can be overwhelming to figure out what type of camp would be a good fit for your child. Hopefully, the following descriptions will help you to match your child with the correct camp so you hear your child tell you, “Camp was so much fun today,” instead of what my poor mother dealt with daily.
Sports
Specialty sports camps usually are one sport such as baseball or soccer that the child plays either for 3 or 6 hours. Depending on where you live there may even be an option for tennis, golf, surfing or sailing camp. This type of camp is typically owned by private organizations. Some towns may have town operated sports camps.
IS THIS A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR CHILD?
If your child loves a specific sport and would like to improve their skills, this would be a great option. It could even be a way for your child to try a sport such a surfing that they might not otherwise have exposure to it.
Traditional Day Camp
A traditional day camp is six hours (half day options may be available) and offers a variety of activities such as sports, swimming, art, and music. These camps are located at YMCAs, public schools, or private settings.
IS THIS A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR CHILD?
Most of the activities are outside so if your child loves the outdoors and playing sports or team building activities then this would be a good type of camp for them. Since there is a variety of activities this would also be a good fit for a child that likes to try different things.
Sleepaway
Overnight camp is when your child lives at the camp for either a week or longer period. There are Boy/Girl Scout camps and private residential camps. These camps tend to offer options such as sailing, boating, archery, horseback riding and other activities that may not be available close to your home.
IS THIS A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR CHILD?
An overnight camp gives your child the chance to meet other kids from different states and countries. There is also more time to do activities and foster independence compared to traditional day camps.
Travel
There are two types of travel camps. One type is when your child goes on day trips and the other type sometimes referred to as “teen tours” is when your child travels with a group for an extended period (usually a few weeks or a month). This type of camp is located at religious or private organizations.
IS THIS A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR CHILD?
Some of these camps travel to places by a plane so it would give your child the chance to travel to a place that you might not have gone to as a family. If your child enjoys experiencing new destinations, then this would be a great fit for them.
Educational
An educational camp focuses on learning a new skill or subject matter. Since it is camp and not school these types of camps tend to be hands-on with an emphasis on fun. These camps are located at public schools, museums, and colleges.
IS THIS A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR CHILD?
If your child is curious and always asking questions about how/why things work, this may be a good match for them. If a child is interested in learning a new skill such as commuter programming or speaking Spanish some educational camps offer that as well.
Specialty art or musical theater camps focus solely on the arts. Musical theater camps typically showcase a production such as “Beauty and the Beast,” whereas in an art camp a child would use a variety of art mediums like painting or drawing. These type of camps are Attributes of a Successful Student It can be diffi cult to accurately and objectively assess located in public schools or private organizations. In the how your children are developing as students. Selwyn public school setting the drama teacher usually runs the points to benchmark skills to be aware of that kids need camp, and it isn’t widely advertised but it is available to acquire from the earliest grades, such as knowing for anyone to participate. To find out more information how to organize binders, writing down homework call public schools in your area. assignments and checking book bags and planners, to IS THIS A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR CHILD? make sure they have everything they need. She also says If your child is creative and prefers the indoors, then these it’s a good sign when kids have the impetus to ask a friend types of camps would be worth looking into. It may be a or go to the teacher if they aren’t sure or have a question. good way to introduce the arts to your child since most of Oft en during the school year your children might these camps are time-limited for one week. a spend more time with their class than they do with you, Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents so it’s essential they learn to be proactive. “I think one mistake parents make, especially in the younger grades, is assuming their child is either too young or not able Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen Magazine, and many to advocate for themselves,” says Dean. She sees a lot of other publications. She is a professional member of ASJA. You emails from parents trying to smooth out problems their can find her at Twitter @CherylMaguire05. kids are having in class. As a teacher, Dean would rather parents encourage her students to work out the problem for themselves by using available resources or speaking to her to get the information they require.
Says Dean, “A lot of times when I look at my classrooms, the kids that are successful are more well equipped at navigating the school, the class, their friends – problem-solving through things so they don’t take away from doing their work.”
In addition to self-advocating and having a strong organizational system, Selwyn says the bett er students tend to enjoy reading. “Th e more they put their hands on books, the bett er off they are. But that’s not the whole picture,” she adds. “Th e good student would be PLIMOTH PATUXET ADVENTURE CAMP 2022the well-rounded student. Th ey like to do other kinds of things so it gives the child the opportunity to develop Explore the past like never before with a new immersive, and to see what they really like.” hands-on summer camp from Plimoth Patuxet Museums! Become a history detective and solve puzzles, conduct living history experiments, and hunt for clues to discover Celebrating Success what life was like in Plymouth and Patuxet in the 1600s. Raising a child with the skills to be successful in You`ll learn new skills along the way as you explore their school isn’t something that happens by accident or homes, boats, and ships; work in the gardens, play games, and try your hand at some 17th-century trades and chores. Pre-registration is required for Plimoth Patuxet Adventure overnight. It requires a thoughtful approach, consistent support and a concerted eff ort by the parent, school Camp. Please contact programs@plimoth.org to learn and most importantly the student. And when success is more. Best for ages 8-12.att ained, whether it manifests itself in improved grades, increased sense of responsibility or anything else that CHOOSE YOUR makes you, as a parent, proud, cheer them on as you ADVENTURE! would if they just scored the winning touchdown or June 27 - July 1 nailed a solo at the choir recital. Says Dean, “Success July 11 - 15 in school should get equal weight if not more than July 18-22 anything else they might do. I’m all for celebrating August 1-5eff ort, improvement and growth.” ■
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