No Title 1066

Supplement to “Greetings from Camp Cool”

Cindy J. Johnson, publisher of the annual Camps for Kids & More! Family Planner, offers these tips for selecting a camp that matches your child’s interests and needs:

• Talk with your child and list, together, the things he or she is interested in—whether that’s soccer, painting, or playing a musical instrument. This gives you direction for the types of camps you should research.
• Decide whether an overnight or non-overnight camp is better suited to your child’s needs, depending on age and willingness to be away from home.
• Call the camp director to get answers to any questions you may have. Getting feedback and referrals about the camp from parents whose children have attended is helpful.
• If finances are an issue, don’t let a camp’s registration fee automatically deter you from investigating it. Many camps offer scholarships, and some—like the Kentucky Lions Summer Camps for children who are blind or deaf—are even free for campers who meet certain criteria.
• If possible, visit the camp in person before signing up to ensure that the facilities are safe and up-to-date.
• Consider registering your child along with a friend. That’s a “big key,” Johnson says, since having a buddy nearby can help new campers feel comfortable at camp more quickly.

To read the Kentucky Living April 2005 feature that goes along with this supplement, click here: Greetings from Camp Cool