Answers to Your Questions about Sending Your Child to Camp This Summer

By Hugh C. McBride

With schools across the nation either already closed for summer vacation or about to be, parents from Connecticut to California are asking themselves that age-old question: "What am I going to do with my kids for the next three months?"

It's rare that any parenting question can be answered with either certainty or succinctness, but queries about how to provide children with a motivational, educational, and beneficial summer experience can be addressed with two words: summer camp.

For some families, summer camp is a tradition that dates back generations, while for other families the concept of shipping the kids off to camp is wrought with concerns. Either way, don't fall into the "this is how we always do it" summer vacation trap.

Instead, take a few moments to educate yourself about the many summer camp options that are available these days. The more you learn about summer camps, the better equipped you will be to make the best decision for your children.

Regardless of whether your kids are resigned to being the 75th family member to attend summer camp, or if the idea of a few weeks in the woods is greeted with the same enthusiasm that is summoned by a trip to the dentist, taking the time to find the perfect opportunity for your children will go a long way toward ensuring that they have a safe, satisfying, and enjoyable experience at summer camp

Who Can Go to Camp?

Once upon a time, summer camps were best suited to healthy, physically active children who had the wherewithal to navigate the complex social structures of a youth-dominated society that operated under the "guidance" of barely-trained counselors who were not that much older than the campers themselves.

Today, this is not the case. In fact, a number of professionally operated, reputable, and effective summer camps are designed specifically for children who years ago would have been dissuaded from attending a summer camp.

Talisman Camps and Programs in Zirconia, North Carolina, offers a variety of highly supervised, professionally operated summer camps for kids with ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, and learning disabilities. Talisman's summer camps are staffed by highly trained counselors and therapists who ensure the safety of all campers while providing them with a fun and educational experience.

At locations throughout the United States, the renowned Wellspring Weight Loss Program operates more than a dozen weight loss summer camps for overweight and obese children and teens. Far removed from the "fat camp" concept, the Wellspring weight loss summer camps provide a nurturing and supportive environment in which overweight young people learn about healthy nutrition and participate in a series of fun activities that are designed to improve their health, boost their self-image, and create wonderful summer camp memories.

Won't My Child's Behavior Problems Disqualify Him From Summer Camp?

Depending upon the nature and severity of your child's behavior problems, sending him to traditional summer camps may not be in the best interest of your child or your family. But that doesn't mean that kids with behavior problems can't attend summer camp – it just means that you need to do your homework to select an appropriate summer camp for your child.

Selecting the right summer camp for your troubled teen will accomplish much more than keeping him out of trouble – and out of your hair – when school is out of session.

The most effective summer camps for children and teens with behavior problems don't just "warehouse" troubled children; instead, they provide comprehensive therapeutic services that can identify, address, and begin to remedy the underlying issues that are contributing to or exacerbating your child's behavior problems.

Is Summer Camp a Safe Experience?

The summer camp industry has matured, established professional standards, and increased the level of care, guidance, and support that are provided to campers. This doesn't mean that every summer camp is worthy of your money and your child, but it is much easier today to determine if the camp you are considering is safe and reputable.

Camps such as the ones operated by Wellspring Weight Loss Program and Talisman Camps and Programs adhere to the highest standards and place a premium on the safety of every child. Staff members at these summer camps are much more than "glorified baby sitters." They have been specifically trained to identify and address the unique needs of each camper, and are dedicated to ensuring that every child has a safe and beneficial experience at summer camp.

For more information about alternative summer camp opportunities for your child, follow the links in this article or call (866) 828-6450.

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