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

Making kids happy with that last-minute summer camp choice.

By Jess Michaels

Summer is in full swing and your children are finished with school. Now what do they do? Do you regret putting off looking for a summer camp? Don’t worry, there are still some summer camps with availability for your child. And keep in mind that looking for a camp this summer for next year also has many benefits.

Call the Camp Director
If you have a specific camp in mind, call the camp director and ask what sessions are still open and if there is space in your child’s age group. Try to be flexible. Maybe you had the month of July in mind for camp, but be open to the second session of programming. This may mean changing around vacation plans or trips to see grandparents, but the more flexibility you have, the better chance you have of finding the camp you want at the last minute.

Even with last-minute camp decisions, parents want to make sure they are doing their research and choosing the right camp for their child. Ask the camp director about the camp’s philosophy and program. Does the philosophy of the camp match your family’s? Does the camp offer a program that is of interest to your child? Do you feel that the camp director is answering all your questions and is happy to do so? You are forming a partnership with the camp director, so you want to make sure you click with them and feel comfortable leaving your child in their care.

Be sure to look at the camp’s website with your child. Let your child search the site and see a sample schedule, pictures and what the camp menu is like. The more involved your child is in the camp process, the more successful the experience will be.

Not Sure Where to Start?
You can call the American Camp Association, NY and NJ, at 212-391-5208 for free, one-on-one advice on finding a camp. Their camper placement specialists can help guide you in your decision and help narrow down the many summer camp choices. Talking to friends and neighbors is also a good way to find out about summer camps. But families should keep in mind that just because a camp is the right fit for your friends’ child, it doesn’t mean it will be the right camp for your child. Take their suggestions, but make sure to do your own research. You know your child best.

Summer 2013
It’s not too early to be looking for a camp for next summer. Looking this summer gives you the opportunity to go visit camps. “Tours are a great way to really connect with a camp, the campers and the camp’s leadership,” said Sam Borek, owner and director of Woodmont Day Camp in New City, N.Y. “Going on a camp tour gives you an opportunity to see the activities in action and get a feel for the spirit and tone of the camp. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions and even talk to a camper or two in your child’s age group.”

Touring camps allows you and your child the chance to see what an actual day at camp will be like and see the lake, pool, bunks and dining hall. Both day and sleepaway camps offer camp tours throughout the summer. A camp tour gives families a good feel about whether the camp is the right fit for their child—and if you decide to send your child there the following summer, he or she will feel part of the decision process.

Rookie Days
There are many resident camps that offer Rookie Days or Weekends, designed to give future campers a chance to experience the camp in session by joining in on camp activities before going to camp. While children enjoy the camp activities, parents are taken on a tour of the camp. Rookie Days are a wonderful way for children and their parents to get a feel for what the camp is like and to determine if it is the right fit before registering for the next summer.

Looking Early Can Help You Plan Financially for Camp
By touring the summer before and deciding on a camp almost a year before sending your child there, you will be able to plan financially for camp. Some camps offer payment plans for registering early, allowing you to pay over time for the camp. You can also make camp part of birthday presents and holiday gifts over the upcoming year. Many camps also offer early bird discounts for registering early, giving you a savings on the price. Families should inquire about sibling discounts for registering more than one child.

“Parents should keep in mind that choosing a camp early also gives you time to prepare your child for the camp experience throughout the year,” said Susie Lupert, executive director of the American Camp Association, NY and NJ. “By the time your child goes off to camp the following summer, he or she will be so eager from the excitement built throughout the year.”

Jess Michaels is director of communications for the American Camp Association, NY and NJ.

By Meghan Gearino, Kat Harrison and Elizabeth Raymond

Mohawk Day Camp.

If you tally all of the day camps in the city along with all of the day camps within an hour’s drive, you have an extraordinary menu of summer experiences. From traditional day camps that offer a mix of sports, crafts and field trips, to camps that devote more of their day to culture, music and other specialties, chances are you can find a camp that’s a good fit for your child depending on his or her age and interests.

If you have a child 4 years old or younger who is not ready for a full day of camp, much less a full summer, day camps typically offer sessions that are just a few hours a day and one or two weeks long. If you have an older child, he or she might be ready (and you might be, too) to be put them on a bus in the morning to a camp outside of city, so they can have fun in a more rural setting and perhaps take the first step in the direction of a sleepaway camp experience.

For info on academic day camps, read our recent educational day camp guide at www.NYPress.com. Visit www.NewYorkFamily.com for more on day camps.

Whatever you decide is right for your child, there is one standard where you should not compromise: Camp should be fun, and your child should feel like he or she is making friends. If that’s not happening, it ain’t the right camp—keep looking!

GENERAL-INTEREST DAY CAMPS IN NEW YORK CITY

It’s important to keep kids active when school’s out for the summer. The Summer Breeze Day Camp by Gymtime Rhythm & Glues and York Avenue Preschool is a perfect choice, letting young campers tuck & roll in a state-of-the-art gym while cooking and enjoying library time. And with a new facility in Battery Park City, Summer Day Camp at Asphalt Green has everything from T-ball to martial arts, with weekly trips to popular venues like the Bronx Zoo and Liberty Science Center.

Speaking of animals, the Art Farm in the City is a diamond in the rough for city kids, with its on-site petting zoo and specialization in animal care. They organize the summer by themes like “Tropical Excursion,” “Circus Mania” and “Wild Wild West.” Special days like pajama and BBQ day dot The Mandell School’s Explorer Camp schedule, where all of the counselors are experienced teachers. Or you can give your tot a head start on the camp experience with Poppyseed Pre-Nursery. This mini-camp allows you to join your toddler for picnics, singing and painting.

For an all-around summer camp experience, look no further than Bank Street Summer Camp. Depending on their age, kids can partake in swimming, fishing, Spanish immersion and cabaret. A summer at Camp Léman features woodworking, silly science experiments and a rooftop playground. With multi-borough locations, Oasis Day Camp spotlights field trips and special guests. Plus, kids can get pumped up every morning with cheers and a song—classic camp-style. Thespians and dance aficionados ages 5-10 will love the Babes on Broadway camp by Discovery Programs whereas the LIU Children’s Academy Summer Camp leads children in a different direction, offering robotics, fashion design, cinema and comic book creation.

GENERAL-INTEREST DAY CAMPS OUTSIDE THE CITY

Quintessentially summer, Woodmont Day Camp offers performing arts, athletics, and arts and crafts for each of its age-appropriate “villages.” Looking for a nurturing Jewish environment? The Neil Klatskin Day Camp will take your kiddo boating, hiking and even host a few carnivals. If your child is ready to unleash his or her creative side, don’t miss Gate Hill Day Camp for jewelry-making, tie-dye and ceramics. North Shore Day Camp also provides woodworking and leather arts. For something off the wall, Buckley Country Day Camp offers special events such as a camp-wide talent show, Olympics Week and pony rides.

Can’t get your fish out of the water? Pierce Country Day Camp has their very own sprayground and water park with below-ground geysers and fountains, and also offers water ballet and volleyball lessons. Only 35 minutes from Manhattan, The JCC’s Day Camp @ Pearl River offers twice-a-day swimming with a slide just for the big kids.

Future farmers should check out The Nature Place Day Camp, which houses a chicken coop, beehives and composting piles. Located in White Plains, Mohawk Day Camp (pictured) has an onsite farm with chickens, cows and peacocks alongside gardens and an apple orchard. If petting zoos, gardening and fishing is more your child’s forte, check out Spring Lake Day Camp.

For the athletic-minded, Deer Mountain Day Camp provides all things fencing, archery, rugby, cricket and GaGa. In New Rochelle, Mount Tom Day Camp features a menu of more traditional sports such as kickball, football, golf and tennis. The New York YMCA Camp offers adventurous outdoor adrenaline rushes on their ropes courses, with some fast-flung archery in between. And the 92YCamps not only offer soccer, a mini-zipline and skateboarding activities, the fun is a mere 20-minute bus ride away.

SPECIALTY DAY CAMPS

Thematic

A haven for children ages 3 to 4, Camp Apple Seeds engages kids in activities like cooking and dramatic play according to weekly themes such as “American Road Trip” and “Make Believe.” Running for 11 weeks, the Summer Days Camp at 74th St. MAGIC provides a plush, private rooftop for outdoor play—a boon for “Growing in the Garden” week. At Kidville, we’re especially tickled by the Fairy Princess and Superhero Training camps which let storybook heroes and heroines come to life for little ones. And then it’s all about the sea and stars at Camp Intrepid, where campers ages 5 to 13 can curate their own exhibits, speak like a swashbuckler and explore the next frontier.

Life skills

It’s never too soon to get your child prepared for the “real world.” She could be the next Donna Karan thanks to SewHo’s summer camp, which teaches a variety of hand and machine sewing skills through projects like pillows, handbags and American Girl doll apparel. The Textile Arts Center of Manhattan is offering two camps this sun-filled season—one concentrated on weaving and another on the surface design of textiles, which includes printing and dyeing. Worth every penny, the nonprofit organization World of Money offers a three-week Youth Financial Literacy Training Institute program for campers ages 7-18 and teaches necessary financial skills such as budgeting, investing and money management.

Multi-sport

With low coach-to-camper ratios, your budding athlete (of any sport) is sure to succeed in the age-divided Kids in Sports summer sessions, which also feature storytime and arts & crafts. Or join the Sports Academy at Chelsea Piers for a roster that includes volleyball and European team handball, among the usual sporty suspects. At Corbin’s Crusaders Day Camp—located a mere 25 minutes from the city—ultimate Frisbee, archery, GaGa, and Go-Kart fun will fill the hours.

Tennis

Dust off those racquets! The Advantage Sea & Sports Camp gives your athlete a chance to play on the beautiful Maritime College waterfront and provides your child with 4 to 6 hours of instruction and practice, with an optional swim time. Another great option is the 2012 Excel Summer Camp by the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME Randall’s Island. Along with intensive instruction and technique development, campers can also participate in tennis-specific cross-training like soccer and ultimate Frisbee.

Soccer

Just in time for Euro 2012, Super Soccer Stars offers various camps, depending on your little kicker’s age and skill set. Summer camp at the Carlos Oliveira Soccer Academy focuses on both individual skills and fundamentals of team play. This Brazilian-style soccer camp on the Upper West Side is available for half or full days.

Baseball

Boost your slugger’s sense of sportsmanship and teamwork with the Baseball Center NYC’s summer program—which includes both indoor and outdoor segments of pitching, hitting, fielding and base running. And develop a real love for the game through On Deck NY with skill-building drills and daily competitions in Central Park.

Jodi’s Gym

Gymnastics

Tiny tumblers should somersault their way to Jodi’s Gym (pictured) for parachute play and hands-on art fun for a summer camp where music usually reigns at the beginning of each day. And with two locations, NYC Elite offers families a full or half day option to experience a world of swimming, balance beams and storytime.

Dance

Culminating in a Friday family performance, the Joffrey Ballet School’s Summer Dance Camp lets its youngest dancers recreate the greatest stage stories of all time with basic movement concepts and DIY costumes. The Explore Dance program at The School at Steps caters to those who love the entire spectrum of movement—from hip-hop to tap—and lets them mix and match the styles they like into an ideal schedule. For dancers ages 6-12, Peridance Capezio Center is offering an August Dance Camp combining jazz, ballet and salsa, as well as elements of dance history and choreography. And for those who already have at least a year of classical ballet training under their belt, the New York Theatre Ballet offers its Summer Dance Camp complete with field trips to break up the intensive training. Prospective campers must be between the ages of 7 and 10 and must audition in order to attend.

Performance

Applause NYC’s weeklong Musical Theater Intensives give your kids the chance to learn stage techniques, song placement and costume design in the presence of a Broadway star. If your little one’s interest lies more in the arena of choreography, Vital Theatre’s Junior Performance Camp gives your child a chance to work one-on-one with a professional choreographer and learn all the right moves. A guaranteed good time, the Kids Weeks at the New Victory Theater range from circus tricks to puppetry to playwriting. Performers ages 6-15 get the bonus swank of a major concert hall by attending the Summer Musical Theater Workshop by the Lucy Moses School. And at TADA! Youth Theater, the themed weeks (we’re especially intrigued by (“Broadway Bieber”) culminate in an original camper composition.

Art

Unique in its location, we think Children’s Museum of the Arts’ Summer Art Colony on Governors Island is an escape all in its own. Kids can explore an NYC treasure while creating a few artistic keepsakes to take home. At HiArt’s Culture Bugs Surreal Summer Camp, creative types are introduced to the world of surrealism and bookmaking. Escape the heat and head to Kids at Art for half-day workshops offering the best in mask-making, clay molding and papier-mâché technique. And Make Meaning’s Creative Escapes program lets campers go on an artistic staycation, drawing inspiration from global cultures and test tubes.

Cooking

Addicted to the Food Network? With 13 delectable themes, Taste Buds is offering a new Iron Chef Camp this summer where young gourmands will learn how to whip up treats and compete with their fellow campers. If you’re looking to instill a sense of food responsibility in your child, consider Butter Beans Food and Garden Camp so they can explore farmers markets, create their own sweet jam and write a cookbook utilizing a farm-to-table philosophy. Home Cooking New York’s summer camp in Chelsea is a stellar introduction to kitchen basics as well as to cuisines from all around the globe.

Music

Stationed in Chelsea, the Kids at Work summer camp offers up an awesome blend of age- appropriate music and artistic activities for your groovy kiddos to engage in. Perfect for preschoolers, the Diller-Quaile School of Music is offering an Early Childhood Preschool Music and Art Program this June. Take in summertime music, engage in creative play and catch special concerts all before heading home. If you have more of a rocker on your hands, Day Jams lets rhythmic children learn and perfect their skills on guitar, bass, drums vocals and keyboard under the tutelage of a music pro.

We doubt that anyone thinks of New York City as a summer camp mecca—but by most standards, it really is. Consider all the children’s activity centers and enrichment programs that the city is blessed with—some go on hiatus and some slow down in the summertime, offering the same programming but less of it, but many others take what they do best and build wonderful day camps around their core offerings.

Academic

Keep your kiddo’s mind fresh this August with the academic day camp offered by Drake Bennett Summer Schools. Divided into two sessions and housed at The Epiphany School, 1st-6th graders can brush up with lessons in literacy, math and science, while chess and drama pepper the afternoon hours. Or join Mathnasium for their Summer Re-Boot Camp. Specifically for 2nd-8th graders, this half-day camp is filled with math-centric games and activities.

Language

Set your kid on the fast track to becoming bilingual. Collina Italiana is offering Italian Summer in the City Camp, which includes Italian-infused music, theater, movies, cartoons and museum outings. Children as young as 3 can start learning “bonjour” and “merci” at the French Institute Alliance Française, where culture and language will be taught through stories and workshops.

The Language Workshop for Children is a great tool to get your child speaking like a native. Offering summer camps in Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese, immersion activities include costume days, arts and crafts, baking and birthday celebrations.

Media

Future video game creators will love the options in Summer Media Camp through the Museum of the Moving Image, where campers get to flex their software muscles learning animation, live action video and more. Or send your wannabe MTV VJ to New York Film Academy’s one-week Music Video Camp, designed for kids with little or no knowledge (but a passion) for the industry. And let’s not forget about summer camp at Take Two Film Academy, which will show your budding director the ins and outs of production, acting and editing. Each student gets to keep an online and DVD copy of their final product to show off to friends and family!

Nature

Wonder about wildlife? Kids ages 8-12 can get friendly with hyenas and lions at the Bronx Zoo’s Animal Kingdom Camp, where they will observe creatures up close and learn how to best protect an animal’s habitat. Taking full advantage of Prospect Park, the Park Explorers’ Camp Explorers program is ideal for the elementary school set. Be prepared to get a little dirty as this camp takes a hands-on approach to Mother Nature—think sprinklers, hill rolling and a host of field trips. And regardless of where you live, an awesome camp adventure awaits with NYC Parks Experience Summer Camp. With locations in every borough, this über-affordable camp provides structured hiking, swimming and sports.

Science

Inquisitive young minds will love the American Museum of Natural History’s Fossils and DNA Camp, where they can explore the evolutionary timeline. If your elementary school-aged child is more into constructing and electronic, the range of camp choices at Launch Math will give him or her the chance to build rockets and robots or design video games.

Budding scientists can use the city as their laboratory with the SciTech Kids Summer Camp. In Central Park, campers build solar ovens, learn about gravity thanks to the thrills of Victorian Gardens and make a few insect friends.

Visit newyorkfamily.com for even more day camp options.

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.

I worked myself into a frenzy thinking about the tasty food and heartwarming reunions. But not everyone shared my enthusiasm for visiting day at summer camp.

From the ages of nine through 15, I spent my summers at Camp Scatico in upstate New York. I have wonderful memories of sleeping on sagging mattresses in un-air-conditioned bunks, where I participated in water balloon fights and laughed at fart jokes.As visiting day approached I was understandably excited about showing my parents how much I had matured during my time away from home.

My mother and father were always the last parents to arrive, but my wait was rewarded with camp’s most valuable currency: food. The backseat of their car was weighed down with my mom’s crispy-fried chicken, brisket swimming in gravy, various fruit pies and a blimp-sized watermelon.

The feast would be spread on a blanket, as my bunkmates abandoned their parents to share in the banquet. I felt as popular as I did on my birthday in August, when I was presented with a cake in the camp’s dining room, giving me the power to decide which of the dozens of well-wishers crowding around me would receive a piece of cake or a spoonful of frosting.

After lunch my parents and I headed over to the ball fields for the father-son softball game—although my dad always had some type of injury, which kept him on the sidelines. Following the game, it was off to the lake for a swim before saying goodbye.

When my parents left I felt sad—not only because I had to go back to eating overcooked hamburgers and drinking metallic-tasting “bug” juice, but because I missed home. I assumed my parents felt sad as well, and enjoyed visiting day as much as I did.

I knew my mother liked visiting camp. She had been a camper at Scatico and loved reminiscing about the Girl’s Sing and her bunkmates (she never said anything about water balloons or fart jokes).

My dad also went to a summer camp, but hated it. He was overweight and a spaz, making him the target of his camp’s bullies. He carried his nightmarish camp experience into adulthood, to the point where his normally homing pigeon-like sense of direction would abandon him on the drive to Scatico.

“That’s why we were always late to visiting day,” my mother recently told me. “It was the only time I ever saw your father get lost.”

When I confronted my dad about my mother’s revelation, he acknowledged his camp-phobia and admitted that he faked injuries to avoid playing in the father-son softball game: “I was afraid that the other fathers would make fun of me.”

Finding out that my father hated visiting day was nearly as disillusioning as realizing that parents see summer camp as a vacation from their kids. It feels bad to think that while I was happily stuffing my face with watermelon and fried chicken, my dad was having flashbacks to fat jokes and wedgies.

Despite learning about my father’s visiting day traumas, I get nostalgic when my friends tell me about visiting their children at camp. They are looking forward to this summer’s visits and their kids will undoubtedly be happy to see them… especially if they bring a care package stuffed with Ring Dings, Mallomars, jawbreakers and licorice. n

–
Ben Krull is a lawyer and essayist who lives on the Upper West Side.

A message received on my phone on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend prompted a reply to this kind lady, and her sharing the letters with me. In one of the letters, mention of the camp name was made, and a Google search revealed that while the camp was no longer in operation, a website including alumni news and a contact was available. The alumni contact put me in touch with a gentleman (like myself, a camp lover) who put our investigation into motion. It gives me pleasure to say that in less than a week, one of the daughters was located. I have conversed with this woman twice, and will be meeting with her in the very near future. How moved and delighted she was, after almost 81 years, to have these letters placed in her hand.

In the hustle and bustle of life, eight decades later, four people took the time and made the effort to reunite this treasure, four beautiful letters, to a loving father’s two remaining daughters.

Allie Tabak
East 72nd Street

Letters have been edited for clarity, style and brevity.

Day camp offers kids “a place to learn to take risks in a very safe environment,” said Renee Flax, director of program services at the New York branch of the American Camp Association. Day camp gives children the chance to build friendships, to mature and to experience everything from new sports to nature, Flax explained.

New York City offers a wealth of day camp opportunities, but with many convenient and nature-filled day camps just outside the city’s borders, parents should keep their minds open and consider a full range of options.

“The number one thing camp outside of the city offers is space,” said Sam Borek, owner and director of Woodmont Day Camp in Rockland County. Borek and his wife are former Manhattan residents and parents of two. Each summer, they welcome about 40 percent of their 350 campers from New York City, offering children ages 3 to 15 the freedom to play and learn on 50 acres of open land. The camp is only a 20-minute drive from the George Washington Bridge, but Woodmont, like many other camps outside New York City, offers campers a bus service straight from the city.

As Doug Volan can attest, taking a camp-provided bus is an easy way to reach offerings beyond the five boroughs. Volan started taking such a bus to New Rochelle’s Mount Tom Day Camp, in Westchester County, as an 8-year-old camper living in Manhattan. Today he is the camp’s owner and director. Mount Tom offers a slew of activities, from swimming and sign language to origami and art. The camp is even home to some traditional farm animals—along with some quirkier creatures: “Instead of being normal and getting a hamster and a guinea pig, [we’ll] get a chinchilla and a hedgehog,” he said. Volan says that camp goes beyond recreation to help campers build life skills in a safe, supportive, non-graded, country setting.

More rural environments also allow children to get a break from city living without going far. Rockland County’s Gate Hill Day Camp, in Stony Point, is only 25 minutes from the George Washington Bridge, but the 33-acre wooded space “makes you feel like you are further upstate,” said owner and director Josh Male. Male co-runs Gate Hill with his parents, Bob and Jennifer, both educators who bought the camp in 1989. Nearly 25 percent of its 500 campers come from the five boroughs, with many taking the camp’s buses from Manhattan to “what families in the city call ‘the country,’” Male said. City parents and children who tour the camp often get particularly excited about the pond, which is often mistaken for a lake. City visitors seem to think that “anything larger than a puddle is a lake,” he joked.

Pierce Day Camp, in Roslyn in Nassau County, is another family-run camp. Doug Pierce is the third generation of Pierces to run the camp, founded by his grandfather in 1918.

“This is family nepotism at its best,”
he said.

The coed camp, for children ages 3 to 13 years, hosts more than 1,000 campers every summer. But kids did not always come from New York City. Fifteen years ago, a former camper and counselor pushed Pierce to publicize his camp in Manhattan. Pierce finally agreed to give it a try, sending a couple of vans to pick up campers in the city. All of the vans came back filled with eager campers, and the camp now welcomes nearly 40 percent of its campers from New York City aboard the door-to-door buses.

Pierce sees firsthand the excitement and growth children experience at camp, through everything from athletics to simply sitting around the campfire and toasting s’mores with new friends. Though he encourages the idea of venturing farther into nature for a full day-camp experience, he believes that regardless of location, “Going to camp is the most important thing.”