Eric D. Naftulin is the owner/operator of Aloha Beach Camp, an aquatic sports summer day camp for kids and teens ages 4 to 15 in Los Angeles, California. Try Aloha Beach Camp and learn to surf, boogie board, wakeboard, jet ski and more.
Camp enrollment season’s here. It’s time to review the common mistakes parents make when choosing a camp for their kids. To help your child say, “This camp rocks!” instead of “This camp sucks,” stay away from these mistakes:
Choosing a Camp without your child’s Input
Studies show kids have more fun at camp when they’re involved in the decision-making process. When parents unilaterally pick a camp for their kids, the entire experience could turn out negative. Want a happy camper? Sit down with your kids and choose a camp together with them. This is the #1 one way to increase the odds your child will love camp.
Choosing the Same Camp where all your child’s Friends are going
Kids love going to camp with their friends. And parents often feel better knowing their kids will have friends at camp in advance. But choosing a camp on that basis alone can be a mistake. Camp is for kids, not somewhere their parents think their kids want to go. Let's say you choose a camp that specializes in horseback riding just because your child’s friends are going there. But what if your child hates horseback riding? Knowing other friends ahead of time generally won’t compensate for this and your child will end up having a poor time. Besides, one of the main purposes of summer camp is to make new friends anyway.
Not Choosing an ACA (American Camp Association) Accredited Camp
You wouldn’t send your child to a non-accredited school, so why would you send them to a non-accredited camp? Choosing an accredited camp is your best guarantee that the meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to program and activity planning, campers health, safety and supervision, and many more important facets conducive to operating an above-board program. Non-accredited camps are not necessarily “bad” camps – there are indeed many good ones – but since non-accredited camps may not be required to conform to the same high standards, you don’t want to take the chance of making a mistake.
Don't you owe it to yourself (and your child) to find a camp your son or daughter will love? Avoid the common mistakes many parents make when choosing a camp and you’ll be on the right track for your kids to have a blast at camp.
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