Summer camps are often seen as opportunities to have fun, make new friends, and take on adventures during the school break. But they can be much more than that. Camps can help children learn something new, explore a field of study, or develop a skill that will help them in their future academic and professional pursuits. This makes camps a worthwhile investment. But it is important to choose the right camp to get these benefits.

Tips for choosing camps
Certain factors are crucial for making a summer camp a smooth and productive experience. Choosing camps based on such factors can help one ensure they are making the right choice.

1. Look for new learning opportunities
Children constantly discover the complex and challenging nature of the world around them through new experiences. Engaging them in useful, out-of-school activities like summer camps can be one way to broaden their horizons. But these activities should be designed to offer learning opportunities that teach them something new, which the school curriculum does not cover. A few unfamiliar learning opportunities, like picking up a foreign language, learning how to cook, or discovering the basics of money management, can open the minds of children and help them develop critical thinking skills. Also, by challenging them with fresh perspectives, certain summer camp activities can encourage kids to step out of their comfort zone.

So, reviewing camp activities to determine if they are adequately challenging yet fun for children is a key step when choosing a camp.

2. Check if the camp caters to diverse interests
A wide range of activities at camp allows participants to explore their interests. Whether it is learning about nature, developing valuable life skills, or nurturing their artistic side, the right camp should have something for everyone. Also, certain camps encourage the participation of children from diverse backgrounds, which can encourage them to interact with peers they wouldn’t meet otherwise. So, one should compare camps and choose one that encourages such diversity in activities and participation to broaden children’s minds.

3. Consider interest-focused programs
Children may often develop interests in specific subjects—some may be covered in school, and others may not. Summer camps can be a great way to explore such interests in depth. For instance, for children interested in science, STEM-focused summer camps can be a great way to engage in activities centered on robotics, computer engineering, coding, lab work, and much more. Like science and technology, the arts can also be of interest to children. So, for creatively inclined children, art camps can offer activities focusing on the visual and performing arts, including dance, music, calligraphy, and theater sessions. Similarly, finding camps that align with children’s academic interests is a great way to keep the learning going outside of school.

4. Consider the camp’s mission
When choosing a summer camp, it is not only the camo activities that parents or guardians need to consider. The camp’s mission and values should also be assessed. The mission will define the overall camp experience for children. So, before enrolling children in a camp, parents should look up the host, company, or institute organizing the camp and the camp’s mission statement. This objective should align with the parents’ goals for children and their children’s preferences. Through brochures or webpages, parents can see if shortlisted camps offer the right environment for their children to grow and learn. Ideally, camps that prioritize character development, inclusivity, encouragement, personal growth, and teamwork are worth considering.

5. Prioritize camp credibility and safety
This is arguably the most important factor to consider. The camp one is considering should ensure the safety and well-being of children. To check how reliable a camp is, one can check if it is accredited by recognized organizations. Then, one can ask the camp organizer about the safety measures in place. Also, looking up staff qualifications, staff-to-camper ratio, and emergency procedures can help one determine if the camp is secure for children. One can always check the camp facilities in person to verify if it can keep children safe.

Benefits of summer camps
1. Opportunity to make new friends
Summer camps bring together children from different backgrounds and locations who may otherwise not meet each other. The games and activities involved in such camps are often group-driven, so the children have to depend on other team members and communicate with them to complete tasks. Through these experiences, children get to build new connections, which can often be lasting relationships, and develop skills like teamwork, communication, and cooperation. 

2. Way to promote independence
At some point, children need to be taught the significance of being independent and taking care of themselves. Summer camps can be a great starting point by temporarily removing children from the sheltered environment of their homes and allowing them to carry out daily tasks independently. Also, the camps allow children to exercise some freedom while being under the supervision of camp staff. So, this can be a safe way to encourage independence.