How do you know if your child is ready for their first camp experience?

 

Send your kids to camp before they’re ready and you can expect a potentially disastrous result. Wait too long before sending them, and you might have the proverbial, “I wish I’d done this sooner” regret.

 

Some kids are ready for camp before others. If your child is independent, goes to school, is accustomed to being separated from you for extended periods and/or has older brothers or sisters they look up to, they may be ready for camp this year.

 

On the other hand, if the above criteria do not apply, you might want to wait another year.

 

Sit down together with your child and bring up the idea of camp. Frame the conversation in a way your son or daughter will understand. Ask questions such as, “Would you like to go to camp this summer and make new friends?” or “Do you want to play some fun games and do some new activities at camp?”

 

Many parents start their kids off with a day camp experience before sending them to overnight camp. For younger children, this is a great way to go. Day camps are a natural stepping stone to sleepaway camp.

 

Also, since day camps are generally local establishments, you can visit the camp and meet the director ahead of time. Make sure to bring your child along. If he or she is excited about what they see, this is a good indication they’re ready for camp. If their reaction is mixed, negative or indifferent, now may not be the right time.

 

Summer camp can be a powerful experience for a child in terms of making new friends, building social skills, and increasing their self-confidence and esteem. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your child’s first camp experience is positive from the start.

 

If your child doesn’t enjoy camp the first time they go, they might never want to go back.

 

But if they have a ball, there’s no telling what a fantastic positive impact the experience can have on their lives.

You’ve heard it before: Summer camps have limited space availabilty which fills up fast, so you better sign up soon or you might not get in. Sometimes this sounds like a sales pitch more than anything else.

Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. But the truth is, the more popular summer camps fill up much faster than the others, and your chances of getting in is indeed limited by the camp’s enrollment capacity.

It’s kind of like an airplane: When the last seat is gone, it’s gone for good. They can’t just add another seat on the plane to accommodate you, and the camp doesn’t have room “for just one more kid.”

Here’s something about camp enrollment that’s more relevant now than ever: Camps generally fill up even faster than usual when the economy is weak like it is now.

Maybe it sounds like an oxymoron, but summer camp enrollment often thrives in a weak economy. Here’s why.

In poor economic conditions, parents will generally cut back on everything they view as non-essential, but history shows that the absolute last items they’ll slash from the family budget are products and services for their kids.

In a weak economy, moms and dads might decide against spending $10,000 for a family vacation. But they’ll still shell out $2,500 or so to send their kids to camp.

During the recession of the early 1990’s, camp enrollment was impacted across the board. This phenomenon — higher enrollment in a weaker economy — can largely be attributed to the many families who would have otherwise taken a family vacation, but with less discretionary income stayed home, thereby increasing their childcare and summer camp needs and filling camps to the brim.

Sending your children to summer camp in any economy is often viewed by parents as an American pastime. What does this mean for consumers? Simply this: you might want to start looking for summer camps earlier than usual if you want to get in to the camp of your choice next summer, otherwise somebody else might beat you to the punch.

Most popular camps often fill up by April or May, but if you wait that long to sign up for camp next summer, by then it could be too late.

One of the best places to find a camp is at http://www.findacamp.com, the American Camp Association’s camp search web site.

You can search for camps by various criteria such as type of camp, location, price and more. Just start looking soon as possible to make sure your child gets his or her first choice!

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

Summer will be here before you know it, so sun safety should be on the minds of concerned parents everywhere — and especially if you will be sending your child to camp.

Since one of the official definitions of an organized camp is that the majority of the activities must take place outdoors, you can expect your child to be spending lots of time in the sun.

You don’t want to go overboard to the extent you nterfere with your child’s opportunities to have fun, but the facts are impossible to ignore. We hear it on the news, from our friends and family, our doctors, from everyone:

“The sun causes cancer.”

“Stay out of the sun.”

“Use sun protection.”

“Use sunscreen even when you’re just going outside as a normal part of your daily routine.”

Of particular concern is that almost 25% of your child’s lifetime sun exposure will occur before they turn 18. Since overexposure to the sun can lead to premature aging, skin cancer, and a weakened immune system, it makes sense to protect your child as much as possible and educate them at a young age about the sun’s potentially harmful effects.

Since you personally won’t be able to supervise your son or daughter at camp — that’s up to the camp counselors — you should confirm with the camp that sun safety is a significant part of its risk management plan, most notably because sunburns are injuries which can be prevented.

Here are a few strategies to help ensure you child is “sun safe” at summer camp:

Before your child even arrives at camp, contact the camp director to let them know that: 1) sun protection is EXTREMELY important to you, and 2) your child may require extra reminders to apply and reapply sunscreen several times per day, every day, and especially after swimming, sweating, towel-drying and extended sun exposure.

(By the way, you should not hesitate to make these comments or feel embarrassed about doing so in any way. Assuming you have chosen a reputable camp with informed and sensitive camp directors, you can expect them to be very agreeable to, and even appreciative of, your suggestions and concerns.)

We suggest sending your child to camp with a sunscreen composed of a minimum 30 sun protection factor (SPF). There are many decent brands on the market. We do not endorse one over another, but we have been particularly impressed with Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer sunscreen , and more than one dermatologist has made reference to its exceptional UVA and UVB sun fighting abilities. You can purchase this sunscreen at Target Stores, in Malls and from the Neutrogena web site.

Although potential sun damage to the skin is well-documented, protecting your child’s eyes from the sun is often overlooked. We recommend that your child wears sunglasses at camp and that the lenses block out at least 98 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Since sunglasses are a relatively small item and may get lost or broken easily, we suggest sending your child to camp with an extra pair just in case.

Don’t forget to send your child to camp with a wide-brimmed hat. We recommend one that’s at least 4-inches around the head, and/or one with flaps that cover the back of the neck. (Girls’ hair is often long enough to cover the backs of their necks, however, if your son or daughter has shorter hair you please don’t overlook this tip.)

Finally, remember to send at least two long-sleeved shirts to camp, preferably cotton, since many cotton shirts have a slight degree of sun protection factor built-in. However, it is crucial to note such shirts are NOT a substitute for wearing sunscreen. In other words, remind your child to wear sunscreen at all times, even if they’re wearing a long-sleeved shirt at camp as well; the long sleeves are simply added protection.

Applying sunscreen several times a day should become a normal part of every child’s routine at camp. But when your child is having so much fun and making new friends, sunscreen’s probably the last thing they’re thinking of. That means it can be easily forgotten or overlooked. Because protecting your child’s skin and eyes from the sun is so critical, though, we highly advise you to review this information with your child before they leave for camp, and also with the camp director before your child gets there.

Here’s hoping your child has a blast at camp!

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

Are you looking for a summer camp for your child with special needs? Depending on your particular circumstances and location, you have numerous options and opportunities available for your child to enjoy a safe, fun and rewarding camp experience this year.

Let’s say you live in southern California and your child has autism, ADD, ADHD or another learning disability. How about signing them up for a beach camp or surf camp? Camp at the beach is so much fun and can help your child build self-confidence, esteem and lifelong water safety skills. Aloha Beach Camp in Los Angeles and Paskowitz Surf Camp in Orange County are two camps you might consider.

If your child has cancer, contact Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times. This program has an outstanding reputation and you can’t go wrong sending your child there. According to the camp’s website, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times “provides cost-free, medically supported camps for children with cancer and their families” and is dedicated to helping children with cancer recapture hope, enthusiasm, and love of life in a medically and psychologically safe environment created especially for them.

What if your child has special needs other than those discussed above? According to Theresa Torrone, a camp director in Los Angeles and a volunteer for the American Camp Association (ACA), “There is certainly a camp to serve them. Children with diabetes, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, speech impairment, hearing impairments, blood disorders and almost any other special need can find a suitable summer camp where they’ll be safe, have fun, make new friends, have a rewarding summer experience and become the proverbial “‘happy camper.’”

Torrone emphasizes that the volunteers who work for the ACA are caring, committed professionals who love sharing their knowledge and experience to help your child with special needs find the right camp for you.

She suggests visiting the ACA’s website at http://acacamps.com to conduct a free online search to find a camp to meet your needs, or calling ACA’s Indiana headquarters at 765-342-8456 for a free referral.

Last but not least, you might consider visiting a website called Very Special Camps (http://veryspecialcamps.com) for more information on special needs summer camps and programs.

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

Where “general” or “traditional” camp programs have historically been the norm, specialty summer camp programs for kids and teens — which focus on one just one activity or a few related ones — are growing in popularity year after year. Nowhere is this more evident than along the southern California coastline, where surf camps are one of the fastest growing segments in the specialty camp sector. The increased interest in the sport, especially among children, has led to the proliferation of surf camps up and down the coast. Just take a stroll along the beaches of San Diego or Los Angeles and you’ll see group after group of happy campers learning to surf from their caring camp counselors and surfing instructors.

If your child has expressed an interest in learning to surf, sign him or her up for a summer surf camp experience!

But how can you tell you’re picking the right one?

When you choose a surf camp, it’s always wise to narrow your search down to one that’s earned accreditation by the American Camp Association. If a surf camp has achieved this status, it means the camp meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards running the gamut from program and activity quality to camper safety to staffing and supervision and more.

If the surf camp you’re considering is not accredited by the American Camp Association, then you should ask the camp director why that’s the case. If you are not satisfied with the answer, it’s time to move on to the next surf camp.

Surf camp accreditation status is certainly not the only criteria to rely on when choosing a surf camp. You must also be sure the counselors and surfing instructors are experienced, qualified and have basic safety certifications in CPR, First Aid and lifeguarding. (While the ocean environment is tremendously fun, it demands respect, too. So you want to be certain your child is being instructed by capable and qualified staff who are equipped to handle any potential scenario that might come up, particularly with respect to your child’s safety at the beach.)

Concerning the individuals who will be supervising and teaching your child to surf, you want to choose a surf camp with experienced instructors who are caring, nurturing, and capable of teaching children of all ages, temperaments, and ability levels whether they are beginning, intermediate or advanced surfers.

You also want to make sure the surf camp incorporates a heavy dose of beach, water, and sun safety learning components into its program so your child gets them most well-rounded surf camp experience possible.

In addition, the surf camp should provide new equipment (including surfboards and wetsuits), and the camp program should take place only in ideal learning environments such as oceans with soft sandy bottoms and consistent wave activity.

In addition, there should be a public lifeguard supervising the surf camp program at all times.

Often overlooked in a parents’ search for a surf camp is to confirm whether the camp has a high profile sponsor connected to it. For example, if you choose a surf camp that is sponsored by Billabong or Quicksilver (which are huge companies and very well-respected in the surfing industry), you can be fairly certain you’re on the right track because these organizations will generally only attach their names to trusted surf camps with respectable camp programs.

We hope this article has helped you learn how to choose a surf camp.

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

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.

Choosing the right summer camp for your child can be a challenging and sometimes overwhelming task. Since there’s a seemingly endless variety of choices to consider, matching the ideal camp to your child’s interests, personality, and busy schedule can be daunting. Furthermore, as a parent, you have the responsiblity of ensuring the camp you choose for your child is operated in a safe and appropriate manner for your child’s age and skill levels.

The following is a camp selection checklist for parents to consider when considering summer camp opportunities for their kids:

1. Identify the camp’s program emphasis.

Every camp has a different philosophy and program emphasis. Some camps promote structured group activities, while others give campers more individualized freedom to pick and choose the individual activities that appeal to them. Some camps offer strictly traditional activities, while others may focus exclusively on sports, drama, or surfing. Or, maybe your child would flourish in a competitive camp environment whereas another child would be better off participating in non-competitive camp activities. By knowing your child’s personality, interests, personality traits, and learning style, you can better identify the right camp for you.

2. Confirm that the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.

In order to earn accreditation by the American Camp Association (ACA), camps must comply with up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to camper health, safety, supervision and activity planning and execution which are crucial to a camp’s operation.

3. Ask about the camp director’s background.

To ensure that the camp director is qualified, make sure he or she meets the minimum standards set forth by the ACA. Such standards recommend that camp director holds a bachelor’s degree, has in-depth experience in camp administration, performed in-service training during the last three years, and is at least 25 years old.

4. Camper-to-counselor ratios. To make sure your child is getting the individual attention and supervision he or she needs for his or her age, compare the camp’s counselor-to-camper ratio to ACA standards. For day camps, the general ratios range from 8:1 for 6, 7 and 8 year olds, to 10:1 for 9 to 14 year olds, and 12:1 for campers ages 15 to 17. For sleepaway camps, the general recommended ratio is 6:1 for 7 and 8 year olds, 8:1 for 9 to 14 year olds and 10:1 for campers ages 15 to 17.

(Please note, the above-cited child-to-counselor ratio standards are only ACA’s general, MINIMUM recommendations and may vary depending on various situations and/or conditions. Moreover, there could be additional standards relating to specific programs and/or activities where more supervision may be prudent, if not required. Accordingly, you should use your own judgement and conduct your own research to decide what is appropriate for you and your child.)

5. Inquire about camp staff: Your child’s counselors can make or break a child’s camp experience.

In addition to facilitating camp activities, counselors serve as role models and should be dependable, trustworthy, and show enthusiasm for their job. For safety reasons, counselors should also be CPR and First Aid-Certified and have undergone criminal background checks prior to employment by the camp.

6. Accommodation of special needs.

If your child has special needs due to an allergy or other medical condition, be sure to ask if the camp is equipped to handle these requirements.

7. Find out about how the camp handles discipline.

As in any organization, rules need to be followed and the camp’s disciplinary approach should be fair, reasonable and openly communicated. Positive reinforcement, a sense of fair play and assertive role-modeling are important things to look for. If penalties apply to certain violations, camp staff should apply them fairly, calmly and without unnecessary criticism.

8. Check the camp’s references.

References can provide you with a glimpse of the experiences others have had at a camp, and they are an important way of checking out a camp’s track record and reputation. Before you choose a camp, the camp director should be willing to provide references upon request.

Good luck choosing a camp and have a great summer!

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