As appeared in The Union County Voice – article about our NJ summer camps held at Seton Hall

As appeared in The Rancho Santa Fe…

As appeared in The San Francisco…

As appeared in The Union County Voice – article about our NJ summer camps held at Seton Hall

April 22nd, 2007 by: Ryan

Summer camps offer fun and so much more

By Sarah Magnola

While it’s only just beginning to feel like spring, parents are already wrestling with a big summertime decision: should their kids go to camp this year and if so what kind and which one? In our area, the options are plentiful: day or overnight, general or specialized, one week or four, co-ed or just girls or boys. Regardless of variety, one thing is for sure, choosing the right camp is an important consideration, since the experiences and life lessons it will provide will help your child learn and grow, all while discovering innovative activities and making new friends.

TRADITIONAL OR SPECIALTY

Summer camps are categorized as either being traditional, meaning they offer a variety of activities to campers, or specialized, in that they offer instruction in one area of interest. Traditional camp activities usually include outdoor and indoor recreation, arts and crafts, team activities and games. These types of camps are best suited for children who have a wide spectrum of interests and need a great deal of stimulation to maintain their attention. On the other hand, specialized camps are geared toward improving campers’ skills at doing one particular activity, such as ballet, soccer, computers, or acting. Children who go to specialized camps should be extremely motivated to pursue their area of interest and have the ability to stay focused on one thing for extended amounts of time.

ID Tech Camp is a popular specialty camp that focuses on teaching kids to utilize cutting-edge computer software to record and edit digital movies, create video games,

design websites and even build robots. These camps, which offer both day and overnight programs for kids ranging from 7 to 17 years of age, are held on major university

campuses, including Seton Hall University in South Orange for the first time this year. In addition to promoting the idea of higher education, by immersing the kids in a college setting, this camp gives them an invaluable opportunity: they use the tools of the pros and are taught by people who work in the industry. “We really bring learning to life and turn a hobby into a passion (for the kids),” say Karen Thurm Safran, Vice President of Marketing. “These kids are empowered by what they learn and walk away with something that changes their lives. They also get a real edge in school. Students have started clubs and even begun selling products they learned how to make at camp. It increases their self-esteem and they learn to use creativity through technology.”

For the less computer savvy, camps such as Atlantic Club Summer Camp in Manasquan, offer a wide range of specialties within one organization. “It depends on the

child and the family’s interests,” says Janice Grasso, the aquatics director at Atlantic. “There are benefits to both specialty and general camps, with traditional being more relaxed.” At Atlantic they have a variety of sports camps, such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey, as well as learning-enrichment camps. “Our goal is to contribute to the health and wellness of the kids by putting together programs that are developmentally appropriate for the age of the child. The element of fun has to be part of the equation, to keep them interested. That is what summer is all about for the kids: to be in a fun environment and enjoy themselves.”

DAY OR SLEEPAWAY

To help point parents in the right direction, the American Camp Association (ACA) suggests parents ask themselves a few questions about their child. Is the child younger than seven years of age? If so, they most likely won’t be ready for a sleepaway camp. Is your child showing a sustained interest in camp and what is it that

he or she is specifically looking forward to doing there? Has your child had positive experiences sleeping away from home at friends’ houses or has there been

separation anxiety?

Marla Coleman, President of Camp Echo (part of Coleman Family Camps) in the Catskills, and spokesperson for the American Camp Association, stresses the importance of a child having a “basic foundational level of independence” before being sent to sleepaway camp. She recommends starting kids out in day camps at a young age, so they get accustomed to the camp experience, which will make the transition to sleep away camp easier.

Some anxiety surrounding the issue of separation is very normal even if the child is only attending day camp, since the child is immersed

in unfamiliar surroundings with new people. “Any change is difficult, at any age,” says Grasso. At Atlantic they introduce new campers to the entire staff and give them a tour of the campgrounds to help them feel more comfortable. Learning to be independent and to make new friends is a key component of the camp experience, and dealing with some initial homesickness is perfectly normal.

To minimize homesickness, Coleman recommends parents be verbal in validating the decision to go to camp. “The parents need to express their confidence in the child’s abilities and reinforce the positive aspects of the situation.”

She also points out that the experience of letting go can be equally hard for the parents themselves. “As a parent you need to let your kids go and allow them to learn to navigate on their own.”

CAMP MEMORIES LAST A LIFETIME

Despite the types of activities your child participates in at camp, the rewards garnered from the experience at large are consistently positive, according to a study conducted by an independent research firm for the American Camp Association. The study found: “Camps build skills necessary to assume roles as successful adults, including self-confidence, independence, making friends, exploring and learning new activities. It provides growth experiences for youth that can benefit them through adulthood.”

When asked about their camp experiences, kids cited “getting along with peers, looking at challenging situations differently instead of giving up, finding a way around them, and better sportsmanship and listening skills” as things they learned. Likewise, 70 percent of parents polled reported their children “gained self-confidence, remain in contact with camp friends and continue to participate in the new activities they learned at camp.”

“In the end, the specific skills the children learn at camp are secondary to the life skills, such as how to navigate on their own, feel connected and included, and how to make their own decisions,” says Coleman. “There really is a camp for every child. As a parent you need to do your homework.”