Which camps should my child attend?

Take Our Summer Camp Quiz

When we were kids, we just hung around the house during the summer; we played with friends and maybe took swim lessons or an art class. Unstructured time and fun classes are excellent ways to spend breaks from school, but summer camps offer awesome benefits as well. Camps give kids experiences and tools to help discover who they are, what they like/dislike, and what they want to become. Children gain confidence when given the freedom and opportunities to explore new ideas and activities.

These days there are camps for everything imaginable! If you are wondering how to choose camps for your child this summer, take this fun quiz together. Involving your child in the decision-making process helps him be invested in the experience.

Summer Camp Quiz

Choose ONE answer per question:

1. Which BEST describes your child? A. Artistic B. Athletic C. Intellectual D. Adventurous

2. What is your child’s favorite subject in school? A. Music B. P.E. C. Math or science D. Many different subjects

3. What is your child’s favorite afterschool activity? A. Choir or musical instrument lessons B. Sports practice C. Robotics or chess club D. Participating in a variety of activities with friends

4. Which type of birthday party would your child choose? A. Dance party B. Indoor soccer or gymnastics C. STEM experiments D. Every year it’s different

5. What does your child usually do on weekends? A. Goes to theater rehearsal B. Has a game C. Competes in a robotics or math tournament D. Bike riding, art projects, shoots hoops

6. What is your child’s favorite role in a group project? A. Presenter B. Collaborator C. Researcher D. Helps wherever needed

7. What’s your child’s favorite rainy-day activity? A. Listening to music B. Running around the house C. Playing a video game D. Inviting a friend over to hang out

8. Which would be your child’s dream vacation? A. Seeing Broadway shows in New York City B. Touring sports stadiums around the country C. Visiting science museums D. Different daily activities: hiking, playing on the beach, amusement parks, etc.

9. Which of these appeals most to your child? A. Starring in a musical B. Being team captain C. Creating an app D. Trying new things

10. What does your child want to be when he/she grows up? A. Movie star B. Coach C. Engineer D. No clue

Answer Key

Tally your answers to figure out how many times A, B, C or D was chosen. Match the most picked letter to the type of camps below. Then, flip through our magazine and find the perfect programs.

A. Creative and performing arts camps may be the best choice for your child. This could include a visual art such as pottery, drawing, woodworking, painting, sewing and photography. Or, it could include a performance art such as dance, band, chorus and children’s theater, which often showcase a production at the camp’s conclusion.

B. Consider sports camps for your child, which may focus on one sport or could showcase a variety of sports. Check out specific sports camps such as gymnastics, surfing, sailing, horseback riding, tennis, golf, soccer, fencing and lacrosse, where skills will be improved or learned, depending on the child’s skill level. These camps offer a great opportunity for kids to try new sports in a safe environment. Variety camps allow kids to dabble in a number of different sports.

C. If your child loves to code, build and tinker, then a science/tech camp is probably a good fit. These camps make learning science and technology fun and exciting for kids. They may provide opportunities to work on science experiments, design a website or program a robot. Find science and tech camps through schools, colleges and local museums.

D. Traditional camps (such as Boys & Girls Clubs and Girl Scouts) are what people often think of when envisioning summer camp—canoeing, hiking, archery, relay races, swim lessons, crafts and more. They can be considered “jack-of-all-trades” camps because they offer all types of activities for kids to try. Some traditional camps offer many of the activities listed in A, B and C. If your children enjoy exploring and experiencing new things or don’t have one specific activity they are passionate about, then traditional camps are a perfect choice. Some are half- or full-day, while others are overnight camps where kids experience campouts, campfires and lake or beach activities.

Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/ blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness and environmental issues.

May 2021 • SanDiegofamily.com • 17