So, your child will be taking the big step this summer to spending hot, happy months at sleepaway camp.

There are of course many things to take into consideration when choosing an overnight camp, but perhaps one of the most important from the standpoint of each individual child is the overall culture of the camp.

Is it more geared toward sports?

Is it large or small?

What kinds of kids tend to go?

Will your youngster feel like he’ll fit in?

ASK AROUND

Although you’ll have to take into consideration the source of any information, it’s a great idea to check with other parents of campers at a potential camp.

Often, your child will have classmates or neighbors who have attended the camp, particularly if it’s not that far away.

Of course one child’s idea of camp heaven may be quite different from another’s, but you can get an overall impression of camper/counselor interaction, how engaged kids are in camp activities, safety and supervision.

If lots of parents report their child can’t wait until next summer, you’ve probably got a winner.

TRADITIONAL OR MODERN?

With the incredible amount of camps out there, you can choose anything from rustic lakeside retreats with few of the luxuries of home …

… to upscale modern summer meccas with everything from Internet access to cell phone privileges.

Clearly, the culture of a camp brimming with contemporary comforts will be far different from that of a traditional style sleepaway camp.

PERUSE THE WEBSITES

Needless to say, every camp is putting its best foot -

or hiking boot – forward on the Internet, but these

websites are super places to get basics like:

Camper/counselor ratio

Camp size

Number of kids in each cabin

A typical day at camp

Rules on communicating with home and amount

of structure

If you feel your child would be lost in the crowds of a big camp and might do better with small groups, or if they might flounder with too much unstructured time …

… you can look for camps set up for smaller groups of campers and a more structured schedule of activities.

See if you can find out the return rate of campers, summer after summer; it says a lot about the camp’s overall culture.

TAKE A CAMP TOUR

Pile the family in the car and take a summer camp tour the summer before your child will go to camp.

This is where good planning comes in, as you’ll want to go while camp’s in session to get the best feel for the overall “vibe” of the place.

Naturally, the tour guide will be showing all the high points, but try to see if your child can get a chance to chat with some of the campers.

Look around. Do the kids seem happy and engaged in the activities? Are the counselors enthusiastic and involved?

Are the facilities clean and well-maintained? Do waterfront activities in particular seem well supervised?

Ask plenty of questions of camp staff; you’ll have your own unique concerns for your child.

Once you’re back in the car, listen carefully to your child’s feelings about the camp, and don’t let your own enthusiasm or lack thereof influence his or her decision; she’ll be the one spending the summer there, not you!

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman.

Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting.

Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime.

www.campwalt.com

Camp Walt Whitman

1000 Cape Moonshine Rd

Piermont, NH 03779

603-764-5521

cww@campwalt.com