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

From stress relief to reducing the risk of heart disease, there are many reported benefits to swimming. And on a hot summer day in New York City, it’s also a great way to cool off. These are just a few reasons why some adults who never learned to swim are signing up to learn now.

“Everybody can learn to swim—it has nothing to do with age,” said Lori Pailet, managing director of Aqua Skills, a swim instruction group in Manhattan. “There are so many benefits—it’s great cardio, great for circulation, great for flexibility and it doesn’t hurt your joints.”

Aqua Skills offers group classes as well as private and semiprivate lessons for adults at different locations in Manhattan. It offers a flexible schedule with classes seven days a week and an “Early Bird” class that begins at 6 a.m., said Pailet.

Many other programs also offer beginner swim classes for adults in the city.

Mary O’Donoghue, aquatics specialist for the YMCA of Greater New York, said there are five YMCA locations in Manhattan that all offer swimming classes for adults. She said participants range from adults in their twenties to those over the age of 60.

“One of our members was 65 when she started taking lessons,” she said. “When she grew up, she didn’t have the finances or time to learn to swim. She wanted to enjoy the water with her grandchildren, so she decided she was going to do it.”

The adult beginner classes cover the basics of swimming as well as addressing any fears that adults may have about being in the water. The class is a good fit for adults who have never swum before or those who can swim a little bit but have not gone into deeper water, O’Donoghue said.

For more information about Aqua Skills, visit www.aquaskills.com or call 212-206-6976. To find a YMCA location, a class schedule and rate information, visit ymcanyc.org or call 212-630-9600.

Below are a few options available in Manhattan:

Asphalt Green: Freestyle 101
Learn the basics of freestyle swimming in this intro course—breath control, floating, submersion, kicking and arm movements. Note: Swimmers must be able to comfortably float on their front with their face in the water.
Dates: Saturdays, June 30–Aug. 18
Time: 3:30–4:15 p.m.
Price: $240 for members, $288 for nonmembers
Location: Asphalt Green, 555 E. 90th St.
For more info or to register, call 212-369-8890 or visit www.asphaltgreen.org.
Private beginner lessons for adults are also available at Asphalt Green for the summer term, which runs June 25 through Aug. 18. Half-hour lessons are $65 per lesson, and 1-hour lessons are $130. For more information, email privatelessons@asphaltgreen.org or call 646-981-2387.

NYC Parks: Learn to Swim Program
The city’s Department of Parks and Recreation offers swimming lessons for people of all ages free of charge. Space is limited and registration is by lottery. Applicants who do not win a spot are placed on a waiting list.
Dates:
Session 1: July 9–July 24
Session 2: July 25–Aug. 9
Session 3: Aug. 10 – Aug. 24
Classes are Monday through Friday.
Time: 7:15–8:15 p.m.
Price: Free
Location: Lasker Pool, 110th Street and Lenox Avenue
For more info or to register, visit www.nycgovparks.org/registration/aquatics,

92Y: Beginner Swim Group
No experience is necessary for this adult beginner swim class, where you’ll learn basic skills and proper body alignment.
Dates: Sundays, July 29–Aug. 19
Time: 6–7 p.m.
Price: From $132
Location: 92Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street
For more info, to register or to find more sessions this summer, visit www.92y.org.
92Y also offers “Water Fear Wash-Away for Adults” courses for individuals with aquatic phobias. Check out their website for more details.

The Jewish Community Center: Adult Beginner Swim
The JCC offers adult learn-to-swim classes taught by American Red Cross-certified instructors. Beginner courses cover the basics: breath control, self-propulsion, buoyancy and water safety skills.
Dates:
Summer Session: Mondays, June 18–Aug. 13 (classes are prorated for late registrants)
Fall Session: Mondays, Sept. 10–Nov. 5
Time: 7:30–8:30 p.m.
Price: $315 for members, $405 for nonmembers
Location: JCC, 334 Amsterdam Ave.
For more info or to register, call 646-505-5708 or visit www.jccmanhattan.org .

Physique Swimming
Physique Swim School offers adult beginner swim classes throughout the summer at different locations throughout Manhattan, including uptown, the Upper East Side, Midtown East and Downtown.
Dates: Various
Time: Various
Price: $400 for 8 courses, $720 for 16 courses
Location: Various
For more info or to register, call 212-725-0939 or visit www.physiqueswimming.com/schedule/ny/adult.

WEST SIDE LAWMAKER PROTECTS PREGNANT WORKERS
Last week, Upper West Side Rep. Jerrold Nadler joined three Democratic co-sponsors in introducing new federal legislation that would provide protections for pregnant woman against unfair job discrimination.

Nadler joined fellow New York City Rep. Carolyn Maloney and two others in presenting the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The bill is supported by 119 advocacy groups from across the nation and has 63 original cosigners. The law would require employers to give reasonable working accommodations for pregnant women and prevent employers from forcing these women onto leave, paid or not, when a reasonable adjustment can be made to their workload.
The bill will also relinquish hiring discrimination toward women who are pregnant and in need of certain accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.

“When American families are struggling to make ends meet, we must do everything we can to keep people in their jobs. This is especially true for pregnant women who are about to have another mouth to feed,” said Nadler. “Ensuring that a woman who needs minor and reasonable job adjustments to maintain a healthy pregnancy gets that accommodation should be central to our society’s support for strong and stable families.”

The bill follows the introduction of a similar measure at the state level from State Sen. Liz Krueger.
“When pregnant women cannot be provided reasonable accommodations at their workplace, they lose wages and opportunities for advancement, their newborns are disadvantaged and both their employers and the economy as a whole suffer unnecessary losses,” Krueger said.

The sponsors of the national bill cite recent examples of pregnant women losing their jobs after asking for minor accommodations, like carrying a water bottle or help with certain physical tasks, as the impetus for creating the protections.

LAWYERS HONORED BY STATE BAR
Two Upper West Side residents were recently recognized by the New York State Bar Association’s prestigious 2012 President’s Pro Bono Service Awards. The award recognizes lawyers who have provided their expertise and counsel to those who are unfortunate enough to be victim of crimes but cannot afford attorneys.

The Bar honored Caroline Heller, a lawyer at the firm Greenberg Traurig, and Natalie Fleming Nolen, who works at Morrison & Foerster, at the Law Day luncheon May 1 at the State Bar Center in Albany.
Heller was recognized for her free assistance to victims of domestic abuse in 2011. Nolen received the Young Lawyer award for leading a project within her firm that dealt with Humanitarian Parole for Haitian Women Project, a human rights initiative to assist post-earthquake victims of sexual violence.

“The work of pro bono service attorneys makes ‘justice for all’ a reality for New Yorkers. Whether they are a solo practitioner or work in a large law firm, every lawyer can help solve someone else’s problem,” said State Bar President Vincent E. Doyle III in a press release. “It is an honor to recognize such a distinguished group of recipients, including Ms. Heller and Ms. Fleming Nolen. They represent the best of our profession.”

HACKING INTO BREWER’S NEW LAW
The city’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) is holding a Policy Hack day to collaborate on the technical aspects of the implementation of Local Law 11, the Open Data Law, which was sponsored by City Council Member Gale Brewer. The law mandates that the city publishes its databases online in machine-readable formats through a centralized, public website. The event this Saturday, May 19 at 11 a.m. is a day for anyone interested in the open government movement to discuss, plan, hack and draft the technical standards that will be used to execute the law. At Pivotal Labs, 841 Broadway, 8th floor. RSVP at nycopendatapolicyhack.eventbrite.com.

TOUCH-A-TRUCK DAY
The West Side YMCA is holding its seventh annual Touch-a-Truck Street Fair and Fundraiser this Saturday, May 19. Kids are invited to touch, climb on and sit in a collection of trucks that will gather on West 64th Street between Central Park West and Broadway. Last year’s festival attracted almost 2,000 children and had trucks from UPS and FreshDirect, fire trucks, construction machines and old-fashioned buses. There will also be face painting, crafts and activities for kids, food and entertainment. Kids can get unlimited access wristbands for $25 or pay $1 a ticket to access the activities. All proceeds benefit the West Side YMCA.

FLIP-FLOP FOR ESPAILLAT’S SEAT

City & State reports that as State Sen. Adriano Espaillat’s primary run against Rep. Charlie Rangel heats up, insiders have been whispering about the possibility of Northern Manhattan Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez jumping into the race for Senate. Last week, the councilman confirmed to City & State that he was indeed considering announcing a run—until he called back to rescind that statement.
If Espaillat prevails in the June 26 primary against Rangel, there will be a fierce battle for his empty Senate seat. Assemblyman Guillermo Linares has already announced his intention to run, as has Democratic district leader Mark Levine. Rodriguez confirmed that he will be supporting Levine in the race if Espaillat’s seat opens up.

Today’ Host Raises Funds for Breast Cancer

Last week, Today show co-host and breast cancer survivor Hoda Kotb delivered the keynote address at Beth Israel Medical Center and St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospital’s Breast Service Luncheon at the Pierre Hotel on the Upper East Side. Her speech was followed by an exclusive fashion show by designer Zang Toi. The event, now in its 21st year, raised $600,000 to benefit breast cancer programs.

Proceeds from the luncheon, which was chaired by Continuum trustee Betty Yarmon and hosted 500 socially prominent women and men, will benefit the Appel-Venet Comprehensive Breast Center at Beth Israel Medical Center and the Comprehensive Breast Center at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals. These programs provide diagnosis and treatment, educational programs, screenings, genetic counseling, clinical research, support groups and wellness programs for thousands of women and their families.

UES Recycling Event

Upper Green Side is holding a recycling event Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at St. Catherine’s Park, 1st Avenue between 67th and 68th streets. They will be accepting electronics (including computers and related accessories and equipment, TVs, DVD players, video games, cell phones and other devices but not appliances, such as toasters, etc.) paper and clothes of all kinds.

Winners of East River Design Competition

CIVITAS NYC, an Upper East Side community urban planning group, recently chose the first, second and third place winners in a competition that challenged designers and planners to envision ways to revitalize the waterfront of the Upper East Side. They reviewed over 90 submissions from more than 25 different countries.

“The area we are looking at is the waterfront park esplanade on the East River from 60th to 120th Street,” said Hunter Armstrong, executive director of CIVITAS. “A lot of people want to see the waterfront on par with downtown and the Upper West Side.”

Although the neighborhood was recently outfitted with a new bridge at 78th Street and has a project in the works for the nearby 91st Street esplanade, Armstrong pointed out that most of the waterfront greenway of the Upper East Side in these areas is falling apart and slowly crumbling into the river.

The competition, which was co-sponsored by Community Board 8, was opened to designers from all over the world in the fall of 2010. While the contest is designed to open a forum for discussion on what can be done to improve the waterfront, there have been no plans thus far by the city or the Parks Department to take up the project.

The first place winner was Joseph Wood, a designer from Hopewell, N.J. His elaborate design called for an underground river of rainwater that would span the distance between 60th and 120th Street. The river would nourish a park on the esplanade above it and provide a way to send rainwater into the East River.

His design also calls for adding several new bridges to the waterfront spanning over the FDR Drive. For his visionary outlook on handling revitalization and water management, Wood was awarded $5,000 by CIVITAS and will have his work displayed at the Re-imagining the Waterfront exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York beginning June 6.

Armstrong hopes that when the exhibition is put on display at the museum, contractors will take notice of the designs and perhaps put a request in to bring one of the ideas to life.

Healthy Kids Day

The Vanderbilt YMCA is hosting its annual Healthy Kids Day this Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. There will be activities for kids and adults, including a bounce house, carnival games, art projects and a family concert with Rolie Polie Guacamole at 11 a.m. The programs are designed to encourage kids to stay active and healthy as summer vacation approaches. The event will take place at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, on East 47th Street between 1st and 2nd avenues. All events are free.

New UES Landmark

Last week, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) officially designated the former Barbizon Hotel for Women building, at 140 E. 63rd St., as the Upper East Side’s newest landmark. The 23-story hotel, constructed in 1927-1928 and designed by architects Murgatroyd & Ogden, became famous in its heyday as a respectable place for single women in the city to find lodging.

The LPC recognized and praised the building for its “masterful handling of its eclectic mixture of North Italian Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance ornament.” It was built with studio and rehearsal spaces specifically to attract women in artistic fields, and over the decades many talented and soon-to-be famous women—from comedian Elaine Stritch and actress Candice Bergen to writers Eudora Welty and Sylvia Plath, who fictionalized the place in her novel, The Bell Jar— stayed there. Many women who came to the city for modeling careers or as art students filled the hotel, which was strictly monitored for the presence of men and enforced dress codes and curfews on its young residents.

The Barbizon changed hands several times and was converted to condominiums in 2005, but the LPC determined that it retained enough of its architectural glory—and fascinating New York City history—to be worthy of designation as the 127th individual landmark on the Upper East Side.

Neighborhood Meeting

The East 79th Street Neighborhood Association will be holding its next monthly meeting on Thursday, May 10 at 6 p.m. Officers from the 19th Precinct will report on neighborhood safety concerns, and guest speakers from the group Residents for Sane Trash Solutions, which was formed in opposition to the East. 91st Street Marine Transfer Station, will present information. Representatives from local elected officials will also give updates. At the City University of New York, 535 E. 80th St.

Aziz Ansari, a cast member of the comedy Parks and Recreation, ceremonially makes the first mow of Sheep Meadow to celebrate the seasonal reopening of Central Park’s lawns.

STANLEY ISAACS RALLIES 

Parents, children and local officials gathered to protest proposed cuts to the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center’s Beacon Program on Tuesday. The mayor’s preliminary budget would defund the program entirely; the Department of Youth and Community Development has notified the Center that it would have to close the program July 1 if the cuts are enacted.

The Beacon Program provides child care after school, on weekends and during the summer. It works to prevent students from dropping out of high school through attention to academic enhancement, career-oriented training, health and fitness education as well as through a focus on arts and culture. Isaacs Center Executive Director Wanda Wooten called the Beacon Program “a critical part of the efforts of this community to provide role models and quality programming,” and said that the young people it serves would be devastated if the program ended. The budget is still being finalized in the City Council.

MALONEY TAKES ON GOOGLE

The National Association of Human Trafficking Victim Advocates, along with 37 other anti-trafficking organizations, applauded Upper East Side Rep. Carolyn Maloney earlier this week for her support of the investigation of Google’s role in perpetuating the trafficking of women and girls through the sale of online adult services advertisements. Many advocacy groups say these ads are barely disguised endorsements of prostitution and trafficking—they are often used to sell sex and traffic women—and are working for their removal from major publications and online companies.

Maloney, a Democrat, and fellow Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, wrote a letter to Google CEO Larry Page, urging him to seek cooperative solutions by addressing some of the company’s advertising policies. “Their letter demonstrates that this issue is not about politics,” said Phil Cenedella, executive director of the Association. “It is about victims—and corporations like Google that need to take responsibility and behave ethically.”

WALK IN THE PARK

The City Parks Foundation will kick off its spring season of yoga instruction and walking classes for seniors the week of April 30. The classes are free and designed for those 60 and older. In Carl Schurz Park, at East 86th Street and East End Avenue, walking classes will be held Mondays and Wednesdays at 8 a.m., while yoga takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. In John Jay Park, at East 77th Street and Cherokee Place, yoga is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. At Thomas Jefferson Park, at 112th Street and First Avenue, yoga is on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Call 718-760-6999 for more information.

VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

The Vanderbilt YMCA named Andrew Curtis, a vice chair of the branch’s Board of Managers, their volunteer of the year for his work in bringing positive changes to the youth programming there. Damisha Fraser, 17, was named the youth volunteer of the year. Fraser has been involved with the Y’s early childhood, after-school and summer camp programs, as well as helping out in the administrative offices. Both honorees were recognized at a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in March.

“We are so proud of Andrew and Damisha’s ongoing commitment to the Vanderbilt Y,” said Executive Director Anita Harvey. “Their work, their commitment, their energy, their spirit of goodwill is an inspiration to all of us.”

ISLAND CHERRY BLOSSOM WALK

Even in Manhattan, you can still escape to an island for a spring getaway. On Saturday, April 21 at 11 a.m., the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) will be leading a 75-minute tour of the cherry trees on the island while they’re in full bloom. Judith Berdy, the society’s president, will lead the tour and lend her botanical and historical expertise to the experience. To get to Roosevelt Island, take the tram from 59th Street and Second Avenue; the group will meet at the visitor center kiosk at the tram plaza. Email rooseveltislandhistory@usa.com or call 212-688-4836 to make reservations. A $10 donation to RIHS is requested and can be made via PayPal on the website.

SECOND AVENUE BUS STOPS RESTORED

As the Second Avenue construction saga continues, Upper East Siders can begin to savor the victories of small improvements that point toward a distant but construction-free future. Claudia Wilson, the community liaison for the Second Avenue Subway project, recently announced that contractors and the MTA are now able to reinstate two major bus stops along the construction corridor thanks to the completion of work that had directly interfered with the stops. The crosstown westbound M86 bus stop has been reinstated on East 86th street between Second and Third avenues and the local southbound M15 bus stop has been reinstated on Second Avenue between East 86th and 85th streets. The express southbound M15 bus stops on Second Avenue at East 88th and 79th streets. Here’s to one more step toward a normalized Second Avenue.

Photo be Andrew Schwartz

Nathan Warszawski shoots for two points to raise funds for the Strong Kids Campaign during the Second annual Basketball Shootout Contest at the west side YMCA March 31st. Participants earned points be making baskets, with the most points winning a prize, as did the child who collected the most pledges.

1. Involve Your Child—to a Degree

“Obviously, you maybe don’t let the child pick the exact camp, because they may pick it from the pretty picture in the brochure and not based on safety or some other issue,” said Jon Malinowski, Ph.D., camping author and expert. “But the worst thing a parent can do is to just choose a camp, decide that the child is going to camp and not involve the child in the process at all. It’s a recipe for a very unhappy, very homesick child.”

Christopher Thurber, Ph.D., camping author, said that even with children as young as five, parents can do research ahead of time then present a few options, any of which they’d be happy to follow through with. “You can make it collaborative at any age,” he says. “Just kind of tailor it to what is developmentally appropriate.”

Alternatively, consider bringing your child along when you shop for camping supplies, even for things as simple as a new toothbrush or pair of sneakers.

2. Accreditation

Many camp experts believe that accreditation is the first thing a parent should look for when evaluating camps. Unfortunately, this is not as cut-and-dried an issue as parents might wish. Just because a camp is accredited doesn’t mean it’s good, while a camp that lacks accreditation isn’t necessarily bad. And finding an accredited camp certainly doesn’t let a parent off the hook when it comes to doing additional research.

Accreditation is typically given by the American Camp Association (ACA). Two highly trained standards visitors, one of whom is often a camp director, tour the site for about a day, poking through cabins, prowling in the mess hall and scoping out the waterfront to make sure the camp meets the association’s approximately 300 safety and health standards. There’s also a thorough review of paperwork beforehand. (You can read more about the process at acacamps.org/accreditation.)

And don’t immediately dismiss camps that aren’t accredited, either, according to Malinowski.

“I know of some established camps that have been in business for a long time,” he said. “They do their own thing and don’t feel a need to be involved with the ACA.” It’s not uncommon for YMCA, Jewish and Christian fundamentalist camps to pass on accreditation, he explained. The bottom line, though, is that if a camp isn’t accredited, parents should ask why.

3. Are People Sticking Around?

Accredited or not, parents should try to find out if people are coming back. That goes for the director, staff and campers.

A camp that attracts directors who stay for a long time is probably stable, has a consistent vision and is generally a fun place to be. But don’t just ask how long the current director has been around, says Thurber—the current director might be a relative newcomer. Instead, ask what the average tenure for directors has been in the life of the camp.

Also ask about return rates. No camp will have all at its staff or campers return the following year, since many become too old for the program. But a 70 to 80 percent return rate is “fabulous,” according to Thurber.

If between 50 and 70 percent of campers and staff return, that’s “very good.” But if less than half of eligible campers and staff are choosing to return, it could indicate problems with the camp’s quality.

A caveat: Specialty programs may have lower return rates by nature.

4. Meet and Greet

We know you’re busy, but once you’ve narrowed down a short list, be sure to visit camps or at the very least meet the director. Many camps offer rookie days or weekends for prospective campers, according to Joanne Paltrowitz, founder of the advisory service Camp Experts. A visit also lets a parent see firsthand that the waterfront is safe (can you easily identify who’s in charge?), the grounds are well kept (is there broken glass underfoot or tools laying around?) and the bunks meet fire codes (are there fire alarms and fire extinguishers?).

5. Be Honest About Your Child

Your kid is obviously better than everyone else’s. But try, when you’re chatting with the director, to give the full picture.

“Tell [directors] not who you want your child to be, but who your child really is,” said Flax.

Believe it or not, a director will tell you if your child won’t fit in, Flax says.

An honest assessment of your child’s personality will also help the director decide on counselors and bunk placement. Honesty means being frank about your child’s interests and talents as well.