As school-age kids in the Poudre School District are getting ready to burst out of school for the summer, many parents are wondering how they’ll keep them occupied all summerlong. This is one reason summer camps – day camps as well as weeklong or longer camps – are increasingly popular. Do your kids like sports? Art? Music? Hiking and camping? Whatever their interests, there is a camp that’s perfect.
Or at least that’s what many of those glossy brochures and/or colorful Web sites filled with idyllic descriptions of the camp experience want you to believe. Although many camps live up to the hype, it’s still your job to look beyond the sales pitch to ensure your child or children are safe and well-supervised.
When choosing a camp, use the same care and common sense you would in evaluating a day care program. Look for a camp that provides activities that are of interest to your child and is appropriate for his or her age and skill level. Some camps, such as those organized around a particular sport, are highly structured and stress development of specific skills. Others are more flexible and give campers the opportunity to choose some of their activities. Your child’s interest and personality should be your guide in choosing an appropriate program.
Standards for day and overnight camps may be different, but each should have your child’s safety and well being as its highest priority.
The BBB offers the following tips:
- If possible, always visit the camp before submitting your deposit. Check its location and view the living, eating and recreational facilities. Ask about safety procedures (particularly for water activities, archery and out-of-camp trips), and assess the quality and commitment of the staff.
- What are the total fees and payment deadlines? Is your deposit refundable? Are there extra charges for any activities? Are meals and transportation provided?
- What is the camper return rate? The counselor return rate?
- What is the camp director’s background? How is the staff trained? Are criminal checks made for employees and volunteers? What is the ratio of campers to staff members?
- Are medical facilities adequate and is a nurse or doctor on site? What are the procedures for transporting injured or sick children to nearby medical facilities?
- What are the safety rules and how are they enforced? Does the camp have appropriate insurance coverage?
- Are family visits or other communications with campers allowed? How is homesickness handled?
- Are references from parents of repeat campers available? If so, call and ask about their children’s experiences and why they recommend the camp.
- Finally, look for camps that are certified by the American Camp Association. ACA-accredited camps have met up to 300 nationally recognized standards.
Don’t go a day without your BBB. Follow us on
Twitter,
Facebook,
LinkedIn, and
Flickr. For more consumer information or to check out the
BBBlog, visit
wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 128 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving northern Colorado and Wyoming topped 1.1 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in 2009. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
Luanne Kadlub, BBB Media Specialist, 970-686-9307, lkadlub@wynco.bbb.org