10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp

INTRODUCTION

MAKING THE CASE FOR SUMMER CAMP

Throughout childhood and into our teenage years, summer is about adventure and discovery.

The academic year is about following directions. You’re told what classes to take and what to study. You’re tested and graded. You are expected to perform at a certain level. But summer is about making your own choices, exploring the world at your own pace. It’s a time to keep your mind open and allow your spirit to wander free, to seize upon whatever captures your attention and follow it wherever it may lead. As your child enters their pre-teen and early teenage years, their summers will become increasingly ripe with opportunities to experience new things, gain new perspectives, and expand their horizons. These are the years your child will start getting serious about their academic, artistic, or athletic interests. These are also the years during which they may find unexpected new interests — interests that may sustain them through high school, college, and even into their career field.

SUMMER IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR YOUR CHILD TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS AND DEVELOP NEW ONES

Unfettered from testing and grades, children are more apt to take risks in the summer than during the school year. They will challenge themselves more if they are in environments that encourage them to explore. Summer is also the season to combat “brain drain,” the creeping loss of learning that occurs between school years. And perhaps most importantly, summer gives your child the chance to venture outside the bubble of their school or neighborhood, to meet new people with fascinating and diverse points of view.

Because summer is such a valuable opportunity for your child, you don’t want to wait until it’s too late to start searching for an educational summer camp.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

INTRODUCTION

WHEN SHOULD YOU BEGIN YOUR EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CAMP SEARCH?

START YOUR PRELIMINARY RESEARCH IN THE FALL OR WINTER.

If your child has never attended an educational summer program, it’s a good idea to start your search early so you have plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the many options available. You may find that educational programs are different in format and style than the outdoor camps and athletic clinics your child may have attended in the past. Plus, some educational summer camps are popular and in high demand. Popular programs will have sections that fill up in the winter. Larger camps with more staff can often take enrollees later in the spring.

INSIDER’S TIP DON’T FORGET ABOUT EARLY ENROLLMENT Some educational summer camps offer small discounts for enrolling early (typically, in the fall). Many camps are first- come-first-served, for the overall program and the options within it. Early enrollment will give you a better chance of securing your top choices.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

FACTORS TO CONSIDER

WHAT IS THE ‘PERFECT’ EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CAMP?

This guide will help you find the “perfect” educational summer camp for your child, but what does that mean? “Perfect,” of course, means different things to different families. The perfect summer educational camp for your child depends on your child’s interests and abilities, their goals, and your family’s goals.

STILL, THERE ARE A FEW FACTORS TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE “PERFECT” EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CAMP.

FOCUS OR EXPLORATION?

Do you want a camp where your child can focus intensely on a single subject area, one where they can explore new areas, or both? Exploration programs are built around choice. They allow your child to try out different subjects that spark their interest and perhaps discover hidden abilities. Exploration programs can take your child from art, to science, to engineering, to business, to athletics — all within a single session. Focus programs take a deep dive into a single subject area, often a subject for which a child has discovered an aptitude during a previous exploration program. Participants in a focus program can learn about career choices, meet professionals, and work on intriguing, hands-on projects in that field.

INSIDER’S TIP KIDS NEED A BALANCE OF WORK AND PLAY While focus programs go more in-depth, they’re not as all-consuming as they sound. Children still have time to relax, try extracurricular activities, socialize, and have fun.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

FACTORS TO CONSIDER

YOUR CHILD’S AGE

This can be a great age for children to have their first sleepaway experience and move on to camps with broader and deeper offerings. Children at this age are more communicative with adults than they will be in a few years; they are often receptive to guidance from caring adults who can help them transition gracefully to being away from home.

AT AGES 10 AND 11 YOUR CHILD MAY BEGIN TO OUTGROW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DAY CAMP.

By ages 12 and 13 , adolescence has arrived. It’s a tumultuous phase, with confusing bodily changes and rapid, frequent swings between child and adult behavior. During these ages, children start to develop their identities and become independent. Peer pressure is prevalent throughout adolescence, and children can get swept along easily. It’s important they develop a clear sense of self and have opportunities to practice making their own decisions. Places where they can try on different hats and reinvent themselves can be useful to their growth. You may want a program that encourages their curiosity, taking them past the surface level of subjects with hands-on projects organized by an expert curriculum team.

AT 12 AND 13, IT’S IMPORTANT THEY DEVELOP A CLEAR SENSE OF SELF AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

Older teens may benefit from a pre-college experience, academically, socially, and emotionally: meeting people from different parts of the country and world, learning to live away from home, navigating campus, and thinking about what subject areas they’re curious about and want to pursue further. Teens can begin exploring career paths. They can benefit from a rich environment in which they have opportunities to make many choices. The teenage years are an excellent time for young people to engage in trying to find their purpose, the place or places where their interests and strengths intersect with doing something that will have a meaningful impact on the world. We know that people who have a sense of purpose, and who can act on it, lead much more fulfilling lives.

IT’S IMPORTANT FOR TEENS TO LEARN BALANCE BETWEEN ACADEMICS, TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES, CULTURAL PURSUITS, HEALTHY SOCIAL LIVES, AND ATHLETICS.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

FACTORS TO CONSIDER

DAYVS. OVERNIGHT CAMP

High-quality educational summer camps can offer both day and overnight options.

If you choose a day program , ask if it provides transportation for your child to get to camp. Look for flexibility within the day, so your child can come early and stay late, as needed. If you’re looking for the full pre-college experience, an overnight program might be the best option for your child. Reports from colleges and universities across the U.S. are that many students simply are not prepared for the independence of college. They are often better prepared academically than they are socially and emotionally. Better to get in some practice living away from home prior to the first year of college. The risks are lower during the summer. Plus, a good pre-college experience will not treat high school students like college students. The program will be a bridge between home and life as an adult college student. Good pre-college programs provide more support and supervision than what first-year college students receive. This means more guidance and coaching, which increases the chances that students will arrive at college truly ready to take advantage of all of the incredible opportunities it offers.

INSIDER’S TIP TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, IF OFFERED A camp with a residential program can offer many benefits to day attendees: a more diverse student body, a global community, and opportunities to take part in residential community activities on weekends and occasional overnights.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

FACTORS TO CONSIDER

LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM

Educational summer camps can be as short as one week and as long as seven (a few are much longer). Each program has its reasons for its specific length.

Here at EXPLO, for example, we’ve learned through experience that three weeks hits the “sweet spot.”

During week one, participants explore the question, “Where am I?”

During week two, they answer, “Who am I in this place?”

During week three, they take what they’ve discovered in the first two weeks and run with it. They take advantage of the safe environment of the camp to experiment with and redesign who they are, all the while receiving supportive feedback from others who are doing the same.

COST

We can’t tell you how much your family can afford for an educational summer camp. Your budget is unique to your family. However, as you compare tuition prices for various summer programs, keep in mind that lower-cost programs have to cut costs somewhere. That may mean a higher staff-to-student ratio, fewer field trips, no on-campus nurse (which means medical decisions are put in the hands of untrained adults), and technology that is out of date. Some camps will have on-campus dining services — similar to a university — while others will save money in that area by providing picnic-style dining options.

INSIDER’S TIP THE ADVERTISED PRICE MAY HAVE HIDDEN ADDITIONAL COSTS When researching the cost of a summer camp or program, make sure you understand if the tuition includes almost everything or if there are additional charges that are not clear up front.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

10 STEPS

HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CAMP

Now that you have a sense of the perfect educational summer camp for your child, how do you go about finding one that fits your family’s criteria? To help you stay organized, on task, and arrive at the best decision for your child, we’ve outlined a 10-step process.

Steps 1-3: Build Your List

It’s impossible to say precisely how many summer camps exist in the United States, but the American Camp Association lists 14,000, nearly 50 percent of which report “some relationship to schools or school curricula.” That’s not even taking into account the many excellent programs that are not on the ACA because they are not just a camp. Needless to say, you have plenty of options to choose from. As you start your search for an educational summer camp, be prepared to compile an extensive list and then gradually whittle down your choices.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

10 STEPS

Step 1 PERFORMA GOOGLE SEARCH

Most searches (for anything) these days begin on Google or another online search engine. Search engines are useful for getting an idea of the breadth of summer camp options available. Search engine tips The search terms you choose can make a big difference. Searching for “summer camp” may yield too many results to work with. Think about what is important to you and your child and include that in your search. For example: “educational summer camps near Boston,” “summer programs in science,” and so on. Be aware the results near the top of a search engine’s results may be paid advertisements. This doesn’t mean they are the best programs for your child.

Step 2 CHECK OUT ONLINE LISTING SITES

Just as you can find listings of restaurants, vacation destinations, and doctors online, there are a number of websites that list summer camps and programs. Most of these let you choose your search criteria, such as size, age, location, and subject area. To segment your choices, look for an option like “filter” or “advanced search.” Searches on online listing sites usually lead to capsulized descriptions of each camp, along with relevant statistics, contact information, and links to their website. Some include reviews from other families. But be aware, when there are only a few reviews (or none), they may not be representative of all the families who have attended. Online listings of summer programs include (but are not limited to):

Summercamps.com Mysummercamps.com Teenlife.com

You might also want to go “old school” and peruse lists that have been curated by local publications, such as the Boston.com Guide to Summer Camps, or summer camp listings from Time Out New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

10 STEPS

Step 3 GET TO KNOW SOME OF YOUR CHOICES, VISIT THEIR WEBSITES

Most (if not all) educational summer camps have websites where you can learn more about their programming and what makes them different. These websites are, of course, designed to make each camp look good, but they are good starting points. Many camp websites include video testimonials from campers and families, sample schedules, and other features that can help you get a feel for the program.

Here is some crucial information to look for when visiting a summer program’s website:

How long has the program been around? What is the staff-to-student ratio? How much supervision do the participants receive?

What health and wellness resources does the camp provide? How much choice do campers have in the programming? What is the makeup of the student body? How does the program describe its overarching educational philosophy?

INSIDER’S TIP CHECK OUT THE CAMP’S SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

Don’t overlook a program’s social media presence. Some camps have built active communities on sites like Facebook where you can ask questions, read comments from campers and their families, learn about upcoming events, and read reviews.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

10 STEPS

Steps 4-6: Get Help From Others

Digital tools will only take you so far. For the next few steps, enlist the help of experts who, more than likely, will be happy to advise you.

Step 4 ASK FRIENDS AND OTHER PARENTS

Who better to start your inquiries with than the friends, family, and acquaintances you know and trust? Some of the best summer programs see word of mouth as their most powerful marketing channel. When children have a good experience, they can hardly contain their excitement. It spreads to their parents and friends and, from there, throughout their family’s social network. These days, you can get quite a few recommendations just by posting a question on Facebook or your social media tool of choice.

Step 5 CONSIDER A REFERRALAGENT

If you live in a highly-populated metropolitan area, such as New York City, you can be inundated with advertising for summer programs. It can be hard to pick out the quality programs that align with your needs. Referral agents can help. Referral agents are professional experts on summer camps and educational programs who will use their expertise to help you find the camp that best fits your child and your goals. Think of a referral agent as a “personal shopper” for summer camps — except referral agents are paid in commissions from the camps, not by you.

Learn more about the agency and its agents, read their biographical information. Ask other families you trust. Set up a phone or in-person meeting with the agent to gauge how you feel with them. Find out how many camps the agent visits per year. If they aren’t visiting camps frequently, they may be behind the times. Ask what standards they use to assess camps. How do they separate the good camps from the ones that are below their standards? Make sure they get to know their clients well. Some agents will give you a list of camps to check, while others do real placement and matchmaking.

HOW TO VET YOUR CAMP REFERRAL AGENT

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

10 STEPS

INSIDER’S TIP CONSIDER WORKING WITH AN EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT

If you are thinking about camp as one element of the greater educational life of your child, you may want to meet with an independent educational consultant. Members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) have gone through rigorous training. However, unlike referral agents, you do have to pay educational consultants.

Step 6 VISITA CAMP FAIR

A summer camp fair is an opportunity to meet and talk with staff members from several different camps, all at the same time and all in the same place. To find a reputable summer camp fair, talk with other families you trust about fairs they have attended. So you won’t have to spend all your weekends traveling from fair to fair, focus on bigger fairs with plenty of options.

“ IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SUMMER CAMP OR SUMMER PROGRAM EXPERIENCE IS A CONTINUANCE OF YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION. A REFERRAL AGENT PROVIDES UNBIASED OPINIONS ON CAMPS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE PERSONALLY VISIT, AND ENSURES A HANDS-ON APPROACH TO FINDING THE BEST FIT FOR YOUR CHILD. — JOANNE PALTROWITZ THE CAMP EXPERTS + TEEN SUMMERS

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

10 STEPS

Steps 7-10: Make Contact

If you’ve been following the 10-step process so far, you’ve created a list of educational summer camps, read up on them online, and consulted with other parents and referral agents to winnow down your list. The only thing left is to get in touch with your leading contenders.

Step 7 GET ON AN EMAIL LIST

Some of the best educational summer programs aren’t just places to send your children; they’re valuable information sources in their own right. Many camps will offer free email newsletters that include information about the camp and important registration dates, as well as expert tips on parenting and education, book reviews, videos, and website recommendations. Getting on an email mailing list is an excellent way to start learning about a camp’s community and philosophy without making too much of a commitment.

Step 8 MAKE PHONE CALLS

Despite all the digital technology at our disposal, the phone is still a great tool for reaching out and forging connections. When you call an educational summer camp or program, pay attention to who is on the other end. Have you reached a phone bank? A receptionist? Your best source of information will be someone who actually works in the program and has personal knowledge of the experience your child will have.

1. What’s the background of the camp director? How long have they been with the camp? 2. Who develops the curriculum and oversees the academic program? What is their background and how do they keep abreast of changes in the field of education? 3. Does the camp director work year-round or just during the summer? If just for the summer, who is in charge during the school year? 4. What is the philosophy of the camp? What are its values? 5. When camp ends, what do most students say they took away from the experience? 6. What do parents say their children took away? 7. What parts of the country and the world do the campers come from? 8. What type of students do best at the camp? Which students struggle? 9. How long is the program and what are the significant dates to be aware of?

NINE QUESTIONS TO ASK ON YOUR FIRST PHONE CALL WITH AN EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CAMP

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

10 STEPS

Finally, it’s time to meet with camp staff in person and ask your questions. Because many educational camps are hosted on university campuses, not all choose to offer tours. But when they do, it shows they have a good relationship with the university and are focused on helping families make good decisions. Whether you’re taking a campus tour or attending an informational meeting, it’s good to come prepared. Write down your questions and bring them with you. Find out ahead of time who will be speaking or leading the session. Will you have the opportunity to hear from a high-level administrator? What about families or alumni who have been through the program? If you can’t make it to an informational meeting or campus tour, some programs provide online sessions or allow families to schedule personal appointments to meet with someone from the camp. Step 9 VISIT THE CAMP OR ATTEND AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Step 10 CONTACTA REFERENCE FAMILY

In some ways, searching for an educational summer camp is like searching for a new employee. Your final step is to check references. Many camps will have designated families that have been through their programs as “reference families.” Reference families are happy to discuss their experiences, answer your questions, and describe the program and its outcomes from their insider’s perspective.

Some programs will only offer a few families. High-quality programs will offer a range of reference families. Look for reference families that had similar goals as yours.

INSIDER’S TIP BE SPECIFIC IN YOUR REFERENCE REQUEST When requesting a reference family, try to get specific. Ask for a family from the same state or country as yours. If the camp can narrow the choice of reference family down to that level of specificity, it may show they have many families willing to act as references.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

GET STARTED

READYTO STARTYOUR SEARCH?

Now that you’ve learned the 10 steps for finding the perfect educational summer camp for your child, you can begin working through them. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete each step thoroughly and to carefully consider each of your options. Also remember, your child — the soon-to-be camper — should be integral to the process. Keep the lines of communication open with your child so you can find a camp they’re as excited about as you are. You may even want to have your child call each of your final choices. (It’s a good sign if a camp is willing to chat with a potential attendee.)

HOW WILLYOU KNOWYOU’VE FOUND ‘THE ONE’?

For you and your child, your final choice of educational summer camp is a personal decision, a combination of meeting your criteria and “feel.” It’s not unlike touring colleges as a prospective student. At some point, you step on a campus and think, “Wow, this one feels different. I can see myself here.” The right summer camp will evoke the same feelings in you and your child when you visit the camp, when you speak on the phone with staff, and when you speak with reference families. If you complete the 10-step search process outlined in this guide, when you’ve found “the one,” you’ll know it.

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org

GET STARTED

HOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EXPLO

If you or your teen is interested in a transformational experience at EXPLO this summer, here’s how to learn more:

Visit our website, explo.org Call us at 781.762.7400 or schedule a call online Attend an informational meeting Connect with a reference family - give us a call and we will be happy to put you in touch.

COULD EXPLO BE “THE ONE”? The curriculum at EXPLO is unusual: it’s designed to be explorative and transformative. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.

LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

10 Steps to Find the Perfect Educational Summer Camp | explo.org