The camp I attended during childhood was simple, but it was well run. We had great activities like horseback riding, swimming, boating, archery and table tennis. Mealtimes were a riot — flavoring your neighbor’s meal with too much salt when he wasn’t looking, and trying to guess who had poked that tiny hole in your drinking cup. We met kids from other cities and established friendships that lasted for years. For most children, camp was more than a “mountain-top” experience. It was a life-changing event.
Recently, I picked up a copy of the New York Times magazine and saw several pages with the headline: “Choose a Summer Camp Now.” Underneath were dozens of advertisements for specialty camps that teach advanced courses in foreign languages, computer programming, chemistry, oceanography and SAT preparation. There were even a couple of camps for kids who need to lose weight.
I know this is the age of specialization, and these camps are probably very beneficial for mental or social development. But I still prefer the age of simplicity when you went to camp to have organized fun.
Today’s kids already have too much stress. Summer camp should offer them an opportunity to unplug from those pressures and learn how to dribble a basketball, make a beaded necklace or throw a horseshoe. Summer camp should teach your child how to love life and love the God who created it all.
How do you find a camp that’s right for your kids? Allow me, a summer camp fanatic, to suggest the following criteria for your consideration.
1. Program: Does the camp offer a variety of age-appropriate activities? Many facilities provide water skiing, gymnastics, biking, arts, crafts and backpacking explorations in addition to traditional sports programs. Make sure the emphasis is on fun, but check to see how the daily activities are structured. Also, ask how discipline problems are handled.
2. Location: Camp isn’t camp unless it’s outdoors. Children should escape the confines of the city and have an opportunity to explore nature.
3. Staff: This is probably the most important factor because they will become role models for your children. Are the counselors trained? Are they enthusiastic? How many children are assigned to each counselor? Do they care about the kids?
We sent our children to Kamp Kanakuk in Branson, Mo., where the 1,100 staff members are top-notch. In fact, the counselors actually corresponded with our kids throughout the year to let them know they had not been forgotten.
4. Facilities: Are the dorms, cabins, kitchens, restrooms, swimming pools and other recreational facilities designed well and kept clean? Rustic surroundings are good — camp isn’t supposed to be the Ritz. Just make sure the buildings and equipment are adequate.
5. Medical Care: Does the camp have a qualified nurse and clinic on site? Check your medical insurance requirements before sending your kids to camp.
6. Financial Value: A private camp typically costs less than $100 per day, but you can find terrific programs for less. Many camps, like Kamp Kanakuk, have sponsorship programs for inner-city youth or scholarships for the needy.
7. Spiritual Value: If this is important to you, camp is one of the best opportunities for kids to learn more about their faith. Make sure the program includes some type of chapel service where the kids will be presented with spiritual challenges.
For more information and directories of summer camps, contact the American Camping Association, Christian Camping International or YMCAs.
—Dean Merrill
