Could this be the end of summer camp as we know it?

Have traditional summer camps – where kids enjoy horseback riding, archery, nature hikes, and s’mores around the campfire – seen their final days?

Probably not. But compared to the way specialty camps are gaining popularity among today’s youth, traditional camps may be losing traction.

Theresa Torrone, a volunteer for the American Camp Association and the owner/operator of Aloha Beach Camp, a beach and surfing specialty camp in Malibu, California, “Specialty camps appeal to kids who’ve got very specific interests. Rather than participate in a wide variety of general activities, like they’d rather spend their summer focusing on just one camp activity instead.”

Torrone cited cooking camps, art camps and surfing camps as among the top three fastest growing specialty genres in the summer camp field.

“As a volunteer for the American Camp Association, I visit various types of camps each summer, and I’m intimately familiar with many others. I can tell you that the specialty camp sector is growing like gangbusters.”

Given the fact surfing camps – where kids not only to learn how to surf, but also about surfing etiquette, wave judgment and selection, ocean science and water safety – are becoming more prevalent, is Torrone concerned about the inevitable added competition for her own camp?

“No way!,” she said with a smile. “The more kids who experience camp at the beach, the better. If they come to my camp, great. But the most important thing is that they experience the ocean somewhere. I’m glad there are so many available opportunities for kids to enjoy the learn to surf experience at camp.”

Most likely, the traditional summer camp experience will last forever, principally because many parents view sending their kids to traditional camps as a virtual American pastime.

But specialty camps are gaining on them … of that there is no doubt.

Los Angeles is rich with a host of summer camp opportunities for your child. An increasing trend among Los Angeles families is to send their kids to several summer camps over the course of the summer, compared to the traditional way of picking a single camp alone.

A confluence of factors — principally, kids’ diverse interests plus an increasing array of available specialty camps and flexible enrollment packages offered by Los Angeles area camps — has fueled this trend. And for your son or daughter, it’s a pretty good deal!

By attending a variety of summer camps rather than just one, your child can enjoy many different experiences which would otherwise be unavailable to him or her. And there’s definitely no shortage among available camps in Los Angeles!

A recent online search revealed the following types of summer camps (among others) in metropolitan Los Angeles alone: Surf camps, beach camps, science camps, technology camps, music camps, acting camps, Jewish camps, cooking camps, space camps, horseback riding camps, academic camps, rock star camps, nature camps, entrepreneurship camps and traditional camps.

And remember, this is just a partial list!

If you’re considering a Los Angeles summer camp for your child this summer — or if you’re considering more than one — here’s how to find out what’s available.

A great place to start is by asking your friends for recommendations. Assuming they’ve got kids of their own, your friends can usually direct you to some of the more popular Los Angeles summer camps.

The internet is also a wonderful resource, because it offers numerous camp-specific Web sites that allow you to filter your camp search by geography, camp type, and other criteria to suit your needs.

For example, LASummerCamps.com and LASurfCamps.com are just some of the places to start.

Here’s hoping your child enjoys many safe and fun camp experiences this year. With so many available opportunities, there is surely a multitude of Los Angeles summer camp options designed to suit your needs!

Summer camp enrollment season is here. But the economy stinks and camp’s not cheap. If you’re looking to save few bucks on camp this year – or, even better, to send your kids to camp for FREE – here’s a great way to do it: Barter.

Well, maybe not entirely free. But pretty darn close.  You can send your child to summer camp without outlaying any cash whatsoever. And you don’t need to run up your credit cards, either!

Just in case you’re unfamiliar with the term, “bartering” is just a fancy word for “trading.” So, in this context, we are talking about your trading goods and services in exchange for camp time.

In exchange for providing goods or services, you can send your child to camp for no cash outlay. Camps are as interested in saving money as much as you are, so it’s a pretty good deal for both of you.

If you can find something the camp needs or considers worthwhile, you’re in great shape. Here are some creative ways people like you have traded goods and services to send their kids to summer camp in the past: 

One final important point. Even though bartering involves the best of both worlds (with both parties getting valuable goods or services without paying cash), there may be tax implications. For example, our understanding is that the IRS generally considers the fair market value of what you “sell” via barter taxable income. Since we are not qualified to give tax advice, you should not take this information as such. Instead, consult your tax adviser before taking action based on the information provided in this article.

If you’re a parent considering summer camp opportunities for your child, you might consider a day camp rather than (or in addition to) a sleepaway camp experience.

Parents often view sending their kids to day camps as a “stepping stone” to overnight camp. They might think day camps are for “younger kids” and sleepaway camps are for older ones. In some cases this is might be true, but not always.

In fact, some day camps actually specialize in meeting the unique needs of older kids who don’t want to go to sleepaway camp, but who still require worthwhile activities and adult supervision during the summer.

 Activities at such day camps are often designed for the teen or “tween” age group.

One of the advantages you have as a parent when comparing day camps to overnight camps (or even day camps to day camps) is that a day camp’s customer base is generally restricted to its local geographical area. This makes things easier for you to learn more about the camp.

For example, you can contact the camp’s current or former customers for references, and you can even visit the camp before making a decision.

So how do you know you’re picking the right day camp for your child? We’ve indirectly touched on a few points above. In particular, though, we recommend following 4-point checklist to help ensure the day camp you choose is the right one for your child.

1. Make sure the day camp is ACA accredited

If the day camp you’re considering is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), then you are assured it meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to camper health and safety, program quality, camper supervision, activity planning, transportation and more. If the day camp you’re considering is not ACA-accredited, ask the camp director why not.

2. Check references

Since day camps primarily serve local customers, it should not be difficult to find a few families who’ve attended the camp before. Talk to them about their impressions of the program. If you hear good things, you might have a winner. Mixed reviews, on the other hand, could be a “red flag” alerting you to research the camp further. But if everyone you speak with has only negative things to say, then rule that day camp out, pat yourself on the back for taking the time to conduct a thorough investigation, and keep looking for a different camp.

3. Involve your child in the decision making process

Research shows that kids enjoy camp more when they’re included in the decision-making process. Since there are so many different types of day camps to choose from, it’s important to match your child’s interests and personality with the activities the day camp offers. Accordingly, it’s advisable to take a tour of the camp and/or attend an open house together with your child. After you’ve toured the camp, ask for your child’s opinion. This can be a much better approach than unilaterally deciding which day camp your child will attend without consulting them ahead of time, as asking for their input means they’ll probably have a more positive camp experience in the end.

4. Tour the camp and meet the staff

Most day camps hold open houses or organized facility tours during the prime camp enrollment season (generally springtime). These events are great opportunities for you to meet the staff, ask questions and see how the camp operates on a day-to-day basis. You might even decide to attend several camps’ open houses for a point of comparison and to see where you get the best “vibe.” In this author’s opinion, attending a day camp open house or touring the facility is the single BEST way to see what you’re getting into ahead of time.

Camp is such a personal experience. You want your child to connect with his or her counselors on a personal level and admire them as leaders and role models. You owe it to yourself and your child to pick a day camp that your child will look back on later in life and say, “I remember that camp, and it was the best experience of my life!”

Your child deserves the best. It’s your responsibility as a parent to put him or her in an environment where they can thrive, and choosing the right day camp can make this happen for you.

Happy day camping!

Copyright Eric Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.