How To Choose A Summer Camp
6 Qualities All The Best Summer Camps Have In Common
The best summer camp experiences are not only fun and safe; they also help children create meaningful memories and develop skills that will last a lifetime.
In the right setting, summer camp can boost your children’s confidence, strengthen their social skills, help them form lifelong friendships and allow them to pursue passions and talents they otherwise may not have discovered. The best overnight summer camp will do all this and more. It will be a second home.
It takes a special place to foster these kinds of experiences. So how can you be confident that you’re choosing the best summer camp for your child?
Look for these qualities.
1. A Rich History
If a summer camp has been growing and thriving for many years, it’s a sign that the staff is doing something right. It also usually means the camp will have a deep sense of tradition and community, which helps campers to feel like part of something bigger than themselves.
Falcon Camp’s history is a perfect example. Founded in 1959, Falcon Camp has been a beloved summer camp all along and has only gotten better with time.
2. Staff Members Who Started As Campers
When campers choose to come back year after year and then eventually work to give other, younger campers the same types of experiences, it shows just how positively that summer camp has affected them on a personal level.
Many of the staff members at Falcon Camp began as young campers. In fact, the current director/owner, Dave Devey, began as a camper in 1964.
3. A High Staff-To-Camper Ratio
Supervision is, of course, a matter of safety. The amount of personal attention campers get can also help shape the quality of their summer camp experience. The best summer camps will have plenty of staff members to help guide and care for all their campers
At Falcon Camp, there’s a 1:4 staff-to-camper ratio for campers ages 9 through 16, and a 1:2 ratio for campers ages 6 to 9. The presence of so many trained, caring staff members helps ensure that each camper receives as much individual supervision and instruction as he or she needs.
4. Diverse, Enriching Activities
Childhood and adolescence are ideal times for exploration and self-discovery. That’s why the best summer camps offer a variety of activities to try, rather than limiting campers.
For example, activities at Falcon Camp range from arts, crafts and drama to archery, horseback riding, canoeing and much more.
5. Options And Flexibility
Each camper is unique, and while structure is important, summer camp is also a time to nurture individuality and independence. In fact, some degree of autonomy is critical to a camper’s happiness. That’s why it’s important to give campers a say in how they spend their time.
To create a healthy balance of structure and freedom, Falcon Camp allows campers to choose their summer camp activities within a reasonable framework.
6. Enthusiastic Parent and Camper Recommendations
The best summer camps have earned passionate advocates. Happy campers and their parents are not only willing but often eager to talk about their positive experiences.
Before you choose a summer camp, look at online reviews and social media comments — and don’t stop there. A high-quality summer camp will be glad to refer to you campers’ parents who have offered to share their feedback with other parents. Speaking with these other parents directly about their children’s experiences can help give you a better sense of what to expect and put your mind at ease.
Vetting a summer camp for your children may take some research, but it’s worth it. When you’ve put in the careful consideration it takes to choose the best summer camp for your children, the experiences you’ve given them will be priceless.
For more information about Falcon Camp, look around our website or contact us. If you’ve already decided that Falcon Camp is the best overnight summer camp for your child, enroll here.
Sources:
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/choosing-summer-camp/
