Comes summer and those sweet kids await eagerly to go to a summer camp! Campers have a gala time hiking, canoeing, and dancing around the campfire. According to the American Camp Association (ACA), over 10 million kids attend summer camps every year. A summer camp can be trip full of adventure and fun. However, as parents, we should ensure that our kids attend the right summer camps, and that their health is not compromised.

While most kids get excited at the sheer mention of the words ‘summer camp’, some others get goose bumps due to home sickness. How can we prepare our kids to stay away from home in such a situation? Camps are of various types- music, arts, sports, computers and nature. Different children have different interests. While a particular child would show interest in going to a sports camp, another might opt for a computers camp.

The idea is to get to know your child better. Understanding his interests would help you select the right type of camp. Budget, without doubt, is an important factor. There are four factors that you must consider before selecting a summer camp- Nature of camp, track record of the company organizing the camp, safety, and budget.

Where to find details about a summer camp? Schools and community centers display information about summer camps every summer. Friends and relatives can also share their knowledge. If still you do not manage to find relevant information, the Internet would surely come to your rescue.

As mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, a summer camp should be interesting for your child. However, camp organizers can borrow elements from various camp-types and organize a camp that can provide children with the best of both worlds- fun and education. For example, an English language teacher can accompany children on a Nature camp. This way, children would be able to explore the secrets of Mother Nature, and learn English in a wild atmosphere! The best thing about such a camp is that English learning would take an entirely new face for children.

Open Houses are one of the best features of summer camps. Parents can take their kids to a camp and look at pictures of previous years. This is a wonderful way to analyze the progress of a summer camp. Sports gear, for example, should be upgraded. Safety features should be updated.

One simple question can help parents decide whether a summer camp is worth or not- What would this camp offer to my child to develop confidence, independence and creativity, while having loads of fun in a safe environment?

We should not give it a second thought before cross checking the reputation of a summer camp organizer. Make sure you go through the terms & conditions of the camp. Talk to other parents and extract maximum information about the camp.

Children are prone to infections. Change of weather can easily make your child sick. Therefore, a good summer camp should have a sound medical facility. Summer is going to arrive in a few months. Start collecting information about various camps, and do not forget to prepare your child for it. I mean, mentally!