Besides traditional letter-writing, many camps offer families different forms of communication to stay connected to their children.

ONE-WAY EMAILS
Today’s parents are busy, and camps know that email is an easy and convenient way for them to keep in touch with their children while they are at camp. Many summer camps subscribe to services that allows parents to send one-way emails to their campers; the emails are printed out and given to campers with the mail. Most camps don’t allow email correspondence back, but campers can write their parents letters in response. One-way email is a quick and efficient way for parents to correspond with their children.

CELLPHONES
The majority of summer camps have a no-cellphone policy. Parents and children are asked to honor this policy and leave cellphones at home. Some parents try and hide a cellphone with their children’s clothes, but by doing this, parents are going against the camp’s policy and they are teaching their children that it is okay to break rules. Camp is a chance for children to gain independence from their parents and learn to solve problems on their own or with the assistance of camp staff. Even if parents find this policy difficult because they are accustomed to contacting their child whenever they would like, they should remember that camp is a place for campers to unplug from technology, build independence and be a positive, cooperative and rules-respecting member of a community while being apart from their family.

ONLINE PHOTOS/VIDEOS
Many camps post daily or weekly pictures of campers enjoying activities on a password-controlled website. Through these services, parents are able to email their favorite pictures to friends and family, download pictures and purchase the photos. Camps also post pictures and video on their camp’s Facebook page. The advantage to these pictures and videos being posted is that parents are able to get a glimpse of their child at summer camp doing various activities. The disadvantage is parents can read into an emotion they see on their child’s face. For instance, a look of concentration on a child’s face when focusing on playing a sport can be misconstrued as being unhappy. Or if a photographer doesn’t capture a photo of a child for a few days, parents can think something is wrong and they may wonder where their child is. (Insider Tip: If you feel you’re not seeing enough of your child in the photos, tell them in your next letter to pay more attention when the photographer comes around.)

PHONE CALLS
Each camp has its own phone policy when it comes to camper and parent phone calls. Some camps allow scheduled phone calls once a week, some a few times a session, others once a session and others not at all. If your child has a birthday during the camp session, a phone call is almost always allowed for that special day. Make sure you check with your camp before camp begins to understand their phone call policy. Families should keep in mind that while they may be excited to hear their child’s voice, sometimes hearing a parent’s voice can be difficult even for a well-adjusted camper having a wonderful summer.

Frost Valley YMCA, a resident camp in Claryville, N.Y., has a no-phone-call policy between camper and parents. “Our campers are here for two-week sessions. A child that is here can often take three or four days to get adjusted to camp. If a child hears their parents’ voice, even if the child is well adjusted at camp, he or she could get upset,” says Dan Weir, director of Frost Valley YMCA. “Parents are welcome to call us for updates on their child. We also post 80 pictures online every other day of each age group, post on our blog throughout the summer, and allow for one-way emails from parents to camper. Parents want information about their child and we do our best to provide it while maintaining our camp philosophy.”

Campus Kids-Minisink in Port Jervis, N.Y., a weekday resident camp where children go home on the weekends, allows campers to call home up to two times a week. “We draw many new families that aren’t considering traditional sleepaway camp. These children want to try sleepaway camp but they aren’t interested in long sessions,” says Jani Brokaw, director of Campus Kids-Minisink. “Just knowing that phone calls are an option eases any concerns our parents and campers have. We have many kids that don’t take advantage of the phone calls, but knowing that calling home is an option is comforting to them.”

WRITING LETTERS
Letter writing between campers and parents has always been the traditional way to communicate while a child is at resident camp, of course. In an age where children don’t often write letters, camp gives children the chance to maintain the almost lost art of letter correspondence. Many camps have a scheduled number of letters that campers must write their parents during the summer, and camps encourage parents to write letters to their campers. “The hand-written letter is important both as a real, personal account of events, thoughts and feelings between parents and children, but also as an important step in the child’s in-camp development of life skills including self-expression and communication,” says Andrew Keener, director of Camp Sloane YMCA, a resident camp in Lakeville, Conn. Camp Sloane has a no-phone-call policy but posts pictures online and allows parents to send one-way emails.

Find the perfect camp for your child at TheRightCamp.com

By Jess Michaels

When searching for a sleepaway camp—or resident camp, as some call them—there are many factors families need to consider. The most basic decision involves the type of camp but even that has its subtleties. One must consider the pros and cons of a general camp versus a specialty camp. Likewise, do you want your child in a coed setting or single sex—or a kind of hybrid known as brother-sister camps?

Here are the key differences between camp types. It is not that one type is better than the other, of course. It is simply a matter of where your child will be more successful and happy.

Single Sex Camps
Single sex camps don’t have campers of the other sex at camp. At single sex camps, female campers may be more willing to try new things and feel less self-conscious since boys are not around. The way they look, how their hair is, or the type of clothes they wear all become less relevant. (Note: There are single sex, coed and brother-sister camps that have uniforms for this reason as well). For some boys, a single sex environment will allow them to be more sensitive and not feel like they are going to be judged. Finding it easier to center their program on the interests of just one sex, many single sex camps go for more of a specialty mix than a general mix, with a focus on certain activities or themes, like sports or arts. “After we explored several options, we chose an all-girls camp for our daughter,” said parent Barbara Leshinsky. “I wanted to counter the social pressure most kids face in school. I also felt convinced that the all-girls camp would prove to be valuable to help build her self-esteem during her adolescent years. My daughter is also extremely athletic and I knew she would be challenged athletically and not afraid to express her competitiveness or ability.” Although campers spend their daily activities, evening activities and special events with children of the same sex, single sex camps often have regular socials with nearby camps of the opposite sex. The number of socials with another camp usually increases with the age of the campers.

Coed Camps
At coed resident camps, the girls and boys have many shared facilities, including the waterfront, dining hall, and sports fields. Coed camps have a clear separation of boys’ bunks and girls’ bunks. Gail Gold chose a coed camp for her three girls. “Camp is like a mini version of the real world. A coed camp has given my girls a chance to experience friendships with boys and build strong social skills in a safe, nurturing environment,” she says. “The girls have a distinct living area away from the boys which allows them to have bonding with other girls but they get to experience other camp activities with the boys at camp—they get the best of both worlds.” Even though coed camps have shared facilities, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all daily activities are coed. Each coed camp is different: some camps have some coed daily activities, other coed camps keep daily activities separate, but the boys and girls come together for meals, some evening activities, canteen, and special events like carnival, color war and off-camp trips.

Brother-Sister Camps
Brother-Sister camps are two camps on the same property or close by to each other. They usually have the same owners but each camp has its own traditions while also sharing traditions between the two camps. Each camp has their own facilities including different waterfronts and dining halls. Brother-Sister camps allow girls and boys to participate in separate activities during the day just like a single sex camp or some coed camps, but for many Brother-Sister camps, girls and boys come together for meals, special events and some evening activities. Many Brother-Sister camps also schedule special sibling activities so brothers and sisters have a chance to see each other and spend time together on a regular basis during the summer. “When we were looking for a summer camp four years ago, I had never heard of Brother-Sister camps,” said Amanda Greenblatt, the mother of twins, one boy and one girl. “My daughter said she wanted an all girls camp and my son was interested in a coed camp. I was trying to figure out how I was going to manage two different camps and two different visiting days until I came across a Brother-Sister camp that felt right for both of my children. Each camp has their own colors, traditions and songs and my children get to do separate activities during the day but are brought together on weekends to do activities together. My kids often bicker at home but when they talk about camp, they recall the fond memories of times they spent together.”

Traditional Camps: Traditional summer camps offers children a varied camp experience with many different camp activities such as swimming, archery, ropes course, arts and crafts, soccer, basketball, boating and drama, among many others. For parents looking to provide their children with a social and developmental experience, such as learning life skills, developing independence, learning responsibility and connecting with people, the traditional camp will provide these experiences. Campers at traditional camps also become part of a community and will enjoy traditional summer camp activities such as Olympics, Color War, Bunk Activity Days, Community Service Projects, Carnival and trips off camp.

Specialty camps
Specialty camps focus on a specific camp activity or related camp activities for a given period of time. There are many different types of specialty camps available for children for just about every interest; for example horseback riding, tennis, drama, gymnastics or soccer. Some kids who have a dedicated passion during the school year look to a specialty camp to help them take it to the next level. Other kids with a long-term specialty want just the opposite: to use summer camp as a chance to try new things, and a big variety of things. In addition to interests and activities, other specialty camps are distinguished by their focus on children with special needs like autism or diabetes. Religious orientation can be a unifying theme of certain camps too, thought they still will be segmented by sex and by the general or specific focus on the day-to-day activities.

If you’re worried about how to afford summer camp,
here are some cost-saving steps to consider

Summer camp is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn life lessons like leadership, independence and self-confidence, as well as trying new activities like sailing, ropes course and waterskiing. It’s hard to put a price tag on your child’s learning and growth experiences, but parents should know that with a little planning and research there are a number of ways-some perhaps obvious, some less so-to help make summer camp more affordable. Adam Weinstein, executive director of the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, said, “With careful planning, parents can find a camp that works within their families means. When you think about how much it costs to have a child home all summer, with child care and activities, you realize you can be paying a very small premium for a very rich experience.”

Look for camp early
It isn’t too early to look for a summer camp for the summer of 2012 or even 2013. Tour camps this summer while the camp is in action. Some camps offer early bird specials for registering now so you can register soon after the camp tour for savings. Searching for camp early also gives families a longer time to plan financially for camp.

Gifts
Camp can be given to children as part of birthday gifts and holiday gifts and parents can budget for these gifts throughout the year. Likewise, members of the extended family, like grandparents, may also contribute to a gift like camp.

Search camps by cost
There is a camp for every budget. Families can search the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey’s website searchforacamp.org by cost as well as day/sleepaway, location, activities or single-sex/coed/brother-sister camps. (Therightcamp.com also has a good camp search engine.) Likewise, families can also call the American Camp Association, NY and NJ camper placement specialist at 212-391-5208 for free, one-on-one advice on finding the right camp at the right price for your family. Keep in mind that some Y camps, in particular, view it as part of their mission to accept a certain percentage of kids from families with modest means.

Assistance offered from the U.S government
The government offers programs that may help families save money on summer camp.
A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account-A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or attend school full-time while they are caring for qualified dependents. Visit the FSA Feds website at fsafeds.com for more information. In certain circumstances, day camp expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services.
• Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit—the IRS allows an income tax credit of up to $6,000 of dependent care expenses if you have two or more dependents (up to $3,000 for one dependent). The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. This applies to qualifying day camp expenses as well. Visit the FSA Feds website for more information.

Talk to the camp director
Parents should talk to the camp director at the camp they are interested in sending their child to. Some camps offer sibling discounts or early bird specials for registering early and payment plans‚Äîand that‚Äôs just the official policy. If you have your heart set on a camp but can’t afford it, talk to the director to see if he or she would consider a sliding scale rate in your case. You never know.

Hold a fundraiser
I know this might seem like an overly self-serving solicitation, but if you do it in a way that shows spunk and creativity-and your child helps take the lead on it-you’d be surprised how friends and neighbors might be charmed by the idea of an effort to raise money for camp. Even something as old-fashioned as a lemonade stand with good signage about where the money is going might be an attention-getter and profit-maker.  But use real lemons.  People appreciate authenticity.

A priorities list for your camp search

| By Jess Michaels

When researching a summer camp for your child, there are certain pieces of information you should know in order to make an informed decision. Whether you speak to the camp director in person or by phone, the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey (ACA, NY and NJ) recommends asking these 10 questions to help you get started.

1. What is the camp’s mission and philosophy? Each camp is unique in its programming and approaches, so it’s important that the director can easily explain what they’re all about. Ask the director about the type of child that is typically successful. Renee Flax, director of camper placement for ACA, NY and NJ, said, “Knowing your child’s personality and learning style, along with carefully considering whether or not the camp’s philosophy matches your own philosophy, are valuable in selecting the right camp.”

2. What does the camp’s programming involve? Think about if you are looking for a well-rounded camp experience or a specialty program, like martial arts or theater. What activities are must-haves for your child? How long is each activity? How many electives do the campers get and what kind of guidance do they receive in choosing them?

3. What type of training and education does the director have? The ACA recommends that directors possess a bachelor’s degree, have completed in-service training within the past three years and have at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience.

4. What are the enrollment options? What is the length of the program offered? Is there flexibility? You should also inquire about available transportation.

5. What is the staff like? It’s important to know who will be caring for your child.Ask about the age make-up, pre-season and on-going staff trainings, the camper-to-staff ratio and cabin supervision. “Parents should not only ask the camp about how many hours or types of training the staff has, but more importantly, the overarching philosophy and message being delivered to the staff,” said Paul Isserles, director of Buckley Country Day Camp in Roslyn, N.Y. At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency procedures and communication, behavior management techniques, child abuse prevention, appropriate staff and camper behavior and specific procedures for supervision.

6. What percentage of the campers return each year? A large number of returning campers usually indicates a high level of satisfaction with the camp’s programming and operation.
7. What are the safety procedures? Ask about the safety measures that are in place. These can include medical personnel on property, emergency plans, staff screening procedures and instructor qualifications.

8. Is the camp accredited? Find out if the program follows a nationally known accreditation process and if it’s inspected each summer by the Department of Health. The ACA is the only national organization that establishes uniform standards for reviewing camps.

9. Can the camp accommodate special needs? If your child has special requirements, such as food allergies, religious obligations or a learning disability, ask how the camp proceeds.

10. Can the camp provide references? This is generally one of the best ways to check a camp’s reputation and service record. Ask other parents about the experiences of their children at the camp and whether their child is returning or attending for the first time. “Parents can provide you with an ‘inside’ perspective on how camp impacted their children directly,” said Sam Borek, owner/director of Woodmont Day Camp in New City, N.Y.

Still have questions? Come ask them in person at a free camp fair hosted by New York Family and the ACA, NY and NJ. Visit newyorkfamilycamps.com for more info.

But today’s kids, with their jam-packed schedules, often can’t sacrifice two months for sleepaway camp. And so more and more camps have accommodated families by offering two- and four-week options.

“There was a time that you went to camp, camp ran the schedule, that was kind of it. Today, kids have so many choices,” said Renee Flax, director of program services at American Camp Association, New York.

But the mini-sessions, still part of the full-summer schedule, can cause anxiety for some campers. Those who attend only the first four weeks can lack closure, while those who arrive four weeks into the summer can have trouble fitting in.

The shorter four-week summer camp schedule minimizes repetition, keeping things fresh.

So in the late 1980s and early 1990s, American camps began creating two distinct four-week sessions in order to consolidate the full-summer experience into one month. The program has proven very popular among American families. “The key is that all the campers arrive together and go home together,” said Jennifer DeSpagna, director of Timber Lake West, a sleepaway camp in the Catskills. Timber Lake West, one of the first four-week camps on the market, switched to the four-week program in 1988.

The agenda of the four-week session is similar to that of the summer-long camp: both consist of opening campfires, closing banquets and a full lineup of sports, arts and other activities.

The shorter schedule minimizes repetition, keeping things fresh.

“It doesn’t really get stale or tired. There is always life to the four-week program,” said Justin Dockswell, director of Camp Wicosuta, a girls’ camp that overlooks Newfound Lake in New Hampshire.

Nowadays, parents often organize multiple plans for their children during summer break. Rather than view the shorter session as a stepping stone for a longer session elsewhere, families tend to choose the short option so that they can devote the rest of the summer to specialty camps, day camps or pre-season sports training. Kids visit grandparents, spend time at family vacation homes or travel; children of divorced parents spend time with the parent they don’t live with.

For some families, four weeks is an appropriate break from their children’s year-round itinerary of school, athletics and family time. Amy Simon’s 12-year-old son Matt and her 9-year-old daughter Kate attend three-and-a-half-week sessions at Camps Cobbossee and Kippewa, brother-sister camps in southern Maine. The family didn’t consider full-summer session camps, instead allotting part of the summer for family getaways to national parks or sports.

“They also like being home,” away from the structured setting of school or camp, Simon said. “It gives them a chance to have some down time.”

Simon herself attended eight-week sessions as a child.

“It wasn’t a choice for me,” she said, explaining how her parents regarded summer camp as a form of childcare while they were at work. “Parenting was not as hands-on as it is today.”

For parents who themselves didn’t experience camp as children, sending their youngsters away for four weeks is just long enough to stomach.

“Some families think of seven weeks as a prison sentence,” said Josh Cohen, director of Camp Cobbossee. Cobbossee, once an eight-week program with a four-week option, discontinued the longer season in 2007 when attendance declined.

“There was a lot of pressure on the first-session boys to stay on because they felt they would miss something by not staying for second session,” Cohen said, which can cause tension between parent and child. “With our current program, that doesn’t happen.”

Other families choose the four-week over the eight-week sessions to trim expenses, as the shorter sessions usually cost around 40 percent less.

“Some think of it as money they can spend on a family vacation,” Cohen said.

For counselors, saying goodbye to campers four weeks into summer can
be difficult.

“The biggest guys that never thought they’d get emotional would cry,” Cohen said.

But a break midway through the summer can also rejuvenate the staff.

“It gives them the chance to be mentally prepared for the next group coming in,” said Ginger Clare, Camp Kippewa’s co-director.

In 2008, Clare and her husband and co-director, Steve Clare, transformed the traditional seven-week program of Kippewa into two distinct periods.

“The three-and-a-half-week sessions give kids time to do other things in the summer that’ll look good on their college application,” Clare said. “It’s the best of both worlds.”

Though month-long camps are the trend among families these days, Flax anticipates that there will always be a demand for full-summer sessions.

“The parents who’ve experienced them themselves will keep these eight-week camps alive,” she said.

But for other families, summer is a busy time, and traveling to multiple camps in different states can be a difficult and exhausting task. Now that the summer has come and gone, many parents worry that they’ve missed out on camp tours and are at a disadvantage in their decision-making process. This is not the case, and here’s where camp fairs come to the rescue.

Manhattan Media and American Camp Association-NY camp fairs allow families to meet with multiple camp representatives, obtain written materials along with videos and ask questions regarding many different types of programs—all at one prime Manhattan location. The fairs are not only a wonderful time-saver, but a fruitful introduction to the many options that are available to your child. However, before you grab the kids and head out to the fair, it’s wise to be prepared. By asking yourself some of these questions, you will narrow your approach and not feel overwhelmed when you arrive.

• Are you interested in a day or overnight camp?

• If you are looking at day camps, do you need bus service and/or extended hours?

• How many weeks do you want to send your child to camp?

• Do you prefer a co-educational, brother/sister or single sex camp?

• What is your budget?

• What locations are you focusing on?

• Will your child prefer to pick his/her own activities at camp or do you want a structured program?

Having the answers to these questions before you arrive at the fair will give you a better idea of where to begin and on which camps to focus your attention. When you register at the fair, there will be a list of participating camps available for your review—the guide can be very helpful in knowing which direction to take. The map provided will indicate which are day camps and which are overnight camps.

Once you have selected the type of camps you want to consider, here is a recommended list of questions you can ask the camp representatives in order to make your interaction with them productive. Keep in mind, camps typically have two staff people in attendance, and they want to touch base with as many families as possible in the few hours they have, so having a list of questions prepared will help you make the most of your time spent with them.

• What is the camp’s philosophy?

• Is the camp accredited with the American Camp Association?

• What is the background of the director?

• What is the camper-to-staff ratio?

• What kind of training do the counselors receive?

• What is the percentage of returning campers and program staff?

• What is a camper’s daily schedule like?

• Is the camp equipped to manage special requirements (food allergies, medication, etc.)?

Be sure to bring a notebook, as you will probably be talking with many camps, and it will be difficult to remember each camp’s specifics. If your children are with you, have them get involved in asking questions. It’s important they feel involved in this process as well. Camp representatives will be happy to respond to any questions and can provide you with names of current camp families who can speak with you about their experience. Camps will also provide you with promotional written materials and videos/DVDs to give you a glimpse into their camp world. Manhattan Media will supply you with a goody bag to carry all of the materials you collect along the way. Some camps participating in the fair will also have camp-related gifts and treats for your children to make the experience a fun one.

If you have any questions, please look for ACA-NY representatives at the fairs as well. We would love to talk to you and help you make this important decision. We look forward to seeing you there!

Renee Flax, director of program services of the American Camp Association-NY, is a professional camp advisor for the American Camp Association. She works closely with families who are choosing camps for their children. She can be reached at 800-777-2267 or Renee@aca-ny.org.

New York Family Camp Fair Series:

Saturday November 8, 2008: Upper East Side
Lycee Francais, 505 East 75th Street
(@ York Avenue), Noon-3pm

Sunday November 9, 2008: Brooklyn
The Berkeley Carroll School, 762 President Street
(between 6th and 7th Avenues), Noon-3pm

Sunday November 16, 2008: Upper West Side
Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd Street
(between CPW and Columbus), Noon-3pm

How much should you involve your child in the process of choosing a camp? I think it’s important to involve your child a lot in the process for two main reasons: because you want him or her to feel ownership over the experience and to promote good adjustment. Children who feel forced or feel that everything has been done for them are more likely to feel homesick. Having ownership over the experience means that once they are at camp, they are more invested in meeting friends, trying new activities, and being more adventurous. Now, you can’t involve your child in 100 percent of the choices-he or she might choose a camp that is not in your budget, or whose mission and values don’t match your own. Parents should do some homework first and then involve their kids.

Camp Cobboossee

How important is it to look at return rates as a measure of a camp’s success? I would look at the tenure of the camp director. In the life of the camp, how many directors have there been? If the turnover is high, I think that’s a sign of an unhealthy camp. Staff return rates are another indicator. Obviously, not all the staff can return-some are college students. If more than 50 percent of the staff return from summer to summer-that’s a really strong rate. Camper return rates are also a good indicator. The question to ask is what percentage of age-eligible campers return summer to summer. If it’s more than 50 percent, that’s great. If it’s more than 75 percent, that is remarkable and a real sign of strength.

What other traits should parents look for? There are still some questions I would ask, and they have to do with the features and character of the camp. For features, you want to look at the activities, what is the landscape like (rocky, mountainous, desert), and what’s the daily structure. Do kids get to choose their own activities? What time do they wake up to begin the day? Talk about the features of the camp with your child, and find out what appeals to him or her. In terms of the character of the camp, this is where parents have to weigh in. Parents should consider the tradition, mission, and values. Even specialty camps will have a mission-to promote good sportsmanship and self-confidence, or something like that. Parents should also look for evidence that the mission is being put into practice through the daily schedule and activities.

Do you have any thoughts on the idea of sending your child to a camp with his or her friends from school? It depends on the child. That said, there are some distinct advantages to going to camp on your own, because you are going to make wonderful new friends. When you ask kids at the end of the summer what they liked best about camp, they most often state “the friends and the opportunity to be myself.” And a close third are the activities. The nice thing about going on your own is that you can shed your school reputation and your neighborhood reputation and really be yourself, and that is wonderfully refreshing for many kids. If the child requests to go with a friend from school, I see no disadvantages to that. However, there is a misconception that if you send your child to camp with a friend from home, he or she will be less homesick. I have a lot of data that show it’s just not true-having a friend there is not an antidote to homesickness. The same is true of a sibling.
What do you do if you drop your child off at camp and he or she has “cold feet”? When you show up at camp and it’s very hard to separate, parents need a great deal of resolve. If you have involved your child in the choice and avoided the terrible mistake of a pick-up deal, you should leave him or her at camp. Find a staff member or the camp director and get that person involved in the separation and adjustment. Nine times out of ten, once the kickball game starts, the kids are over it. Parents can call the camp the next day to see how the adjustment is going. I know it’s not easy to do what I just said, but if you take the long view, there is something to be said for the nurturing of a child’s independence and self-reliance.