The Early Show

Picking The Right Sleep-Away Camp

April 23, 2007 / 7:53 AM EDT / CBS

If you've decided to send your child to a sleep-away camp this summer, there's plenty to consider when selecting a camp, or camps, and there are more to pick from than ever.

On The Early Show Monday, Kiwi magazine Editorial Director Sara Gragnolati told co-anchor Hannah Storm the wealth of choices means you can zero in on your child's interests when crafting his or her camp experience.

And, even though Gragnolati focused on sleep-aways, most of the guidelines she offered apply to day camps, as well.

Camps, says Gragnolati, are "life experiences." Many kids will use camp experiences for college application essays, and use skills they learn as a springboard to a career. Camps are also the place where many people form lifelong friendships.

She says parents tend to know when their youngsters are ready for sleep-away camp. One sign is when their kids start talking about their friends going. Gragnolati says it's often the parents who are more neurotic about their children going away to camp than their kids! She estimates that the average age when children begin attending sleep-away camp is 7.

The way to start your decision-making process is with the person of interest: your child! Talk with her or him. What type of experience are they looking for? Do they want to just do traditional outdoor activities? This is also the time to determine if they are interested in or ready for sleep-away camps.

Then consider these factors:

Location: Local camps are easier to evaluate, but a camp that's farther away may provide more options, such as living within a different culture and learning a new language.

Length: Short sessions are less expensive; longer sessions, though a little pricier, offer more opportunities and time for kids to develop specialized skills and social relationships.

Type: Traditional camps offer a variety of activities. However, many kids are opting for specialized camps, which enable them to pursue a specific area of interest.

Essentials: Pay attention to living arrangements and food options. For example, many camps offer vegetarian food options or will accommodate a child with food allergies.

Cost: Consider your budget. The American Camp Association (ACA) says the average weekly cost of a resident camp is $597, while the day camp norm is $303. There are sites that offer some form of financial assistance.

You can visit the ACA Web site for a directory of camps. You can also visit Camp Fairs.

Call prospective camps before making a final decision. Speak with the camp director. Ultimately, your choice comes down to whom you're comfortable with caring for your child and having your child spend time away from home with.

If the process seems overwhelming, there are experts to help you. Camp consultancies such as Camp Experts will help identify the right camp for your child, and their services are free to you.

Another helpful Web site is that of the National Camp Association.

TRENDS:

Multiple camps: Parents are choosing to send their kids to shorter sessions at more than one camp, rather than a long session at one. That way, their kids get to enjoy different types, such as a week at a traditional camp, a week at an educational camp, and another week pursuing a personal interest, such as a sport or the arts.

Specialized camps: More camps are offering programs developed around a specific interest or theme. Options run the gamut from organic farming and sailing to outer space exploration and wildlife preservation.

To read a Kiwi magazine article on picking camps, click here.

During The Early Show segment, Gragnolati mentioned several specific camps.

Among them:

"Laurel South" Camp in Casco, Maine

"Pali Adventures" in Lake Arrowhead, Calif.

"Sail Caribbean" Camp in the British Virgin Islands

YMCA camps

Brian Dakss

Brian Dakss is a longtime New York-based editor and writer for CBS News, at the Radio network and with CBSNews.com. He has written and edited for NBC News, Dow Jones and numerous radio stations and been a radio anchor and reporter.

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