Tour and Travel

Posts Tagged ‘Summer’

To be licensed, a campsite has to meet state health and safety standards. Licensing and accreditation are two different matters, however. You may feel better about your child attending a camp that is periodically inspected by an independent and knowledgeable organization, as well as by authorized inspectors. In some places, short-term camps, such as one-week sports camps or day camps run by city recreation departments, are not required to have permits or licenses.

Generally speaking, camps that cost more are probably going to provide more physical comfort and more activities. But many of the less expensive camps run by scouting organizations, churches, and the YMCA will offer the opportunity for your child to meet children from different cultural and economic backgrounds.

TIP: Make sure you understand exactly what the camping fee covers. Many camps charge extra for such things as laundry and equipment use.

Staff ratio is important. For campers under the age of 12, there should be a counselor-to-camper ratio of about 1 to 6. For campers older than 12, a l-to-8 ratio is fine. Ask how the camp figures the ratio. Some include office and kitchen staff to lower their ratios. You should be specific and ask what the ratio is at night, when a higher ratio might be acceptable, and for activities such as swimming, canoeing, and hiking, where a lower ratio might be desirable.

You probably will not be able to meet your child’s counselor if you visit a camp off season, but you should be able to meet the camp director. It is a good sign if the director asks you and your child a number of questions about what you want and expect in a camping experience. A good director should address any concerns you and your child have about such common camper worries as what will happen if the child becomes homesick, what kind of food the campers will eat, or what happens if a child doesn’t want to participate in a certain activity.

It’s a good idea to take a list of questions with you to the camp for the first visit. Questions that parents commonly ask are:

■ Where do most of your campers come from and how many of them are repeat campers? The more repeat campers, the better.

■ How do you hire and train the counselors?

■ What are the age range of the counselors? Some camps have counselors as young as 15 or 16. Many employ college students. Again, the ratio of younger to more experienced counselors is worth checking; the more experienced counselors, the better.

■ What is the camp philosophy? Does it jibe with your expectations for a camp? Does the camp philosophy tend toward wanting campers to learn skills or just have a good time? Do the staff seem to want to fit the camper to the philosophy or the philosophy to the camper?

■ Do you have any medical staff onsite at the camp?

How sick does a child have to be before you call the parents? Are all staff trained in the essentials of first aid and CPR?

■ Can my son bring his favorite stuffed animal?

■ Can my daughter be in a tent with her best friend?

■ How do you train your staff!? Some camping professionals worry about camps that outsource training of their staffs. These professionals believe that with outsourced training, neither the camp director nor camper parents really know about the type or quality of training.

■ How many of the staff return year after year? Again, the more the better.

Discount summer vacations do exist, but to many they really are only a myth. There is certainly some individuals who believe that there’s no such thing as a discount summer vacation. If they do believe that discount vacations exist, many assume these are only to low-quality destinations. If you have an interest in choosing a summer vacation, you could be encouraged to not believe this common myth.

To locate discounted summer vacations, all you need to do is a little bit of research. Once you begin looking, you’ll likely see that discount summer vacations are obtainable, for even the most well-liked summer vacation destinations. Discount summer vacations are obtainable as a result of vacation packages, online coupons, and price reductions.

Vacation destination packages are one of the most well-liked ways in which you or your loved ones can decrease your rates when choosing a summer vacation. These packages are quite often available through a resort. Theme park resorts, golf resorts, and beach resorts, all world wide, are likely to offer summer vacation packages. These packages can be considered all-inclusive or they may just cover many vacation accommodations. Vacation packages can easily be found online or by talking to an experienced travel agent.

In relation to discount vacations, most people receive a discount in the form of a price reduction. Price reductions are often used as a final attempt to increase the number of vacationers at in style hotels, restaurants, theme parks, or beaches. If you are looking for upfront discounts, in the form of price reductions, they can easily be found online or by directly contacting a hotel, restaurant, or theme park.

As well as price reductions used to lure in additional vacationers, many popular vacation destinations offer price reductions to vacationing families. Rather than paying full price for your kids, you might be able to receive a considerable discount for them. These discounts are often found at vacation resorts, hotels, and theme parks. The cost of a family discount will rely upon the destination. However large or small the discount, many families enjoy saving the money.

Online coupons are a good way to get a discount on your next summer vacation. A lot of vacation destinations offer online coupons, as well as offline coupons. Most internet users have the choice of requesting a coupon booklet or they can obtain printable vacation coupons. The only real downside to using coupons is that you should remember to take them with you whenever you set off to reach your vacation destination. Without them, you may be required to pay for full price for all of your used services.

While discount vacations are obtainable, you must note that not all destinations can be vacationed for a low price. Despite what perhaps you believe, a lot of the most popular vacation destinations offer valuable savings and discounts to travelers. Popular summer vacation destinations that may be visited for a low price include, but shouldn’t be limited to, the Caribbean, Mexico, Myrtle Beach, Bush Gardens, Six Flags, Disneyland, or Disney World. Many times, you will end up paying more to vacation at destination that isn’t as popular.

When trying to find a low-cost summer vacation destination, you can search using numerous methods. If you already have a vacation destination in mind, you can look for discounts being offered in or around your intended vacation spot. If you have yet to select a destination, you can examine the discounts available and then make your decision. Whichever method you select, you’re sure to find valuable discounts that can be used on your next vacation.

First consider the age of your child…

Before you decide to send your child to camp, whether day camp or overnight camp, you must consider the age of your child. Not just the physical age, but the maturity age as well. Some children are ready for overnight camp at age 7 and some camps do take children that young. Consider if you child can make friends without you there to prompt them. Does your child have an independent streak in them? If so they may be ready for camp. Remember, all children get homesick at camp – it does pass and the counselors are trained to deal with this – no one has ever died from being homesick.

What is your child interested in?

When considering camp for your child, if you pick one that specializes in what your child loves, the camp experience will be a happy one. There are camps for animal lovers, surfers, swimmers, future actors and cooks. You can find a camp for almost any interest by checking the internet and asking around at school and church functions. Does you child like to be around different animals? Consider a horse camp. Or are they more outgoing and free spirited? Consider a theater camp.  Do they love the water? Consider a surf camp. Always ask your child what they would be interested in and then show them what camps are available.

Consider what kind of camp, overnight or day camp?

Ask your self the following questions: has your child ever been away from you for more than a full day? When they spend the night at a friend’s house, do they seem comfortable or hesitant to be gone that long? Has your child ever spent the whole weekend away from you? Can you handle not knowing what your child is doing 24/7? Do you trust others to take care of your child? Does you child have any ongoing health concerns such as asthma or any thing that needs daily medication? The answers to these questions should help you decide on a summer day camp where they come home each night, or a residential camp where they are gone 5-7 days.

Fees – What can you afford?

Camp fees run from 0 a week to 00 a week. Residential/overnight camps are usually the most expensive, but some day camps with your local museum or scouting group can be expensive as well. To find a camp in your price range, decide what you can afford BEFORE you start searching. It is easy to be swayed by all the activities a camp offers to pay a little bit more but careful searching will help you stay on budget.  Church, YMCA and Boys/Girls Club camps are available at reasonable rates and sometimes offer scholarships to campers. Ask at school and at church to see if they recommend any particular camp.

Consider Transportation to and from the camp…

Always check to see how the child will get to camp. Do you need to take them there to check them in or is there a bus that takes them to the camp? Either way, make sure you know what time of day you need to have the kids at camp or at the bus stop. Some camps sign in on Sunday morning and pickup to go home is the next Saturday morning. Some camps are Monday through Friday and may require you to take time off work just to drop them off at camp. Make sure you are available at the right time to pick up and drop off your child.

Some Additional Concerns…

Most camps require a recent physical or doctor’s and dental check up before registering for camp. Check with the camp you are applying to and they can send you the form for your pediatrician to fill out. If you are considering sending your child to camp this summer, it might be a good idea to schedule a physical and dental exam before school is out. This information is usually mentioned in the registration process but is often overlooked or put off until it is too late.

Many of today’s camps are aimed at giving your child personal improvements, develop skills, start hobbies that grow into passions, or just fun and fitness.  As a parent, there are a few things you can do to make your child’s summer camp experience extra special.  Here are ten tips to help your child enjoy summer camp more:

1.  Preparation for Summer Camps:  You and your child will have a much better summer camp experience if you have prepared you and them.  Make sure that you all the important information about the summer camp.  That includes any requirements the camp has as well as a shopping list of things your child needs to bring.  Check when physical exams are required and keep up to date on any deadlines the summer camp imposes.

2.  Choices in Summer Camps:  It’s important that your child have an input into what type of summer camp they want to attend.  You don’t want to send them to an all boy’s camp if they want to start making friends with girls.  Find out if your child wants to continue to build on a certain skill such as surfing, or do they want to try something different, maybe golf for example.

3.  Early Registration for Summer Camps:  Two reasons to look into early registration when choosing a summer camp, the first is that many summer camps offer 20 to 50 percent discounts to early registrations.  The second is that you give yourself and your child plenty of time to get prepared.

4.  Comfort Zone and Summer Camps:  Many times your child will want to go to summer camp with their friends.  However, your child’s friends may be preventing your child from broadening their social circle.  Try to get them to join a summer camp where they will meet new friends doing new activities.

5.  Summer Camps Foster Independence:  Many parents find that summer camps are a great place to begin fostering their child’s independence.  Try not to set your child up for failure by assuring them that if they are unhappy you will come to pick them up.  Being homesick and getting through it is part of the summer camp experience.

6.  Summer Camp Levels:  In your search of summer camps, you will find specialty camps that focus on your child developing a specific skill.  These camps have instructors who have an expertise in those areas, but may not be good at helping your child through their homesickness.  Investigate the levels of the summer camps you are contemplating.  If your child has certain needs, discuss them with the summer camp administrator.

7.  Specialized Summer Camps:  You will find that some summer camps are more specialized than others are.  If you send your son to baseball summer camp, will they offer him other activities such as swimming, hiking or canoeing?  On the other hand, is this a baseball summer camp that immerses your child in the advanced training in baseball?

8.  Consider All Your Options for Summer Camp:  Is your child contemplating a local or long distance summer camp?  Make sure that you take into consideration how they are transported if it’s a local summer camp.  How are they picked up and dropped off?  Are there special services to get your child home safely?

9.  Tour the Summer Camp:  Whenever possible, tour the summer camp your child will be attending.  As a parent, you may find details that are overlooked when you are registering your child.  Does the summer camp provide enough restrooms or adequate sleeping facilities for example?

10.  Recommendations for Summer Camps:  When it comes to summer camps, referrals are great, but don’t rely on them entirely.  You will find professional summer camp agencies on the Internet that can give you unbiased opinions.  They can address your questions and concerns to help you make sure that your child and their summer camp are a good fit.