Ten Questions in Selecting a Wisconsin Summer Camp

By Lonnie Lorenz

Sending your child to a Wisconsin Summer Camp is a great idea if you have done your homework. The American Camp Association suggest you try these top questions.

What's the camp's ideology? Are you comfortable with this ? Is it a good fit for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? What religious observances or practices are part of the program?

How does the Summer Camp get and train its staff? Do counselors have criminal background checks? First aid training? Drug Testing? What's the training all about?

What about return rates? How many counselors are returning this year? How many campers are returning? ask the director why? Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Summer Camps Wisconsin

What's the ratio of counselors to campers? ACA guidelines for overnight camps call for a 1:6 ratio for ages 7 and 8, 1:8 for ages 9-14; and 1:10 for ages 15-18. Day camp guidelines call for 1:8 for children ages 6-8; 1:10 for children ages 9-14; and 1:12 for ages 15-18.

What's the age of Staff ? Eighty percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise.

What medical staff work at the camp and what backup facilities are nearby? The ACA recommends that an overnight camp have a licensed physician or registered nurse on the site every day, and that day camps should have direct phone access. If your child takes medication, has food allergies or a chronic medical condition, be sure you are comfortable that the camp will be able to handle your child's needs.

How does the camp Punish campers? Know what your summer camp's rules and regulations. Be sure they match yur parental thoughts. Know what breaches would send a camper home.

What does a camp Day look like? This will help you decide if your child will be happy with the level of physical activity or the amount of time devoted to arts and crafts. Ask how much freedom a child has to choose activities.

Does the camp have vans for transportation? How often are camp vehicles inspected? Who will be driving them and what's the training.

Get References and more References, Get the names of parents with children who have attended the camp. They will tell you what makes camp so special and why they want to return.

Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Summer Camps

Still looking for a resource to help you sort out all the summer camp confusion? Try Selecting a Camp - 30224

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