Find a Camp:
http://find.acacamps.org/finding_advanced.php
Consumer reviews here:
http://www.campratingz.com/search.jsp
The advanced camp search allows you to put in all type of specifics.
Make sure to ask ahead of time:
How much are you willing to spend? ---- some camps can be very expensive
How long are the kids wanting to go away for? --- camp sessions can range from 1-8 weeks.
Single Gender? Co-ed? Brother/Sister Camps?How large is camp? ----- Single gender is just that, and many believe it takes away social pressures from kids when they no longer have to impress anyone. Co-ed camps are fully co-ed with integrated classes and activities. Brother/Sister camps are two seperate camps (usually about a mile apart), with seperate classes and facilities, but the genders will come together for special events about once a week.
Where will kids live? Cabins or tents? Which do you prefer? --- If the kid is living in a cabin see if cabins have electricity or not. Ask if bathrooms are located within cabins or if in another central location. How close are the bathrooms to the cabins/tents? Do counselors live with the kids in a cabin or tent or are the counselors somewhere else at night (I prefer counselors in the hut because lack of supervision may allow teasing to go on). How many kids in each cabin or tent?
What activities are available? Are all activities included in cost of camp? --- Look for activity list, see how often instruction is offered. Some camps charge extra for a premium activity such as water skiing or horseback riding. Other camps may offer water skiing only on an off site lake that requires travel.... and hence this activity is not taught as often.
Will my child be able to choose their own classes? --- Most camps allow a kid to choose a schedule based on their own interests with only a few required classes (swim is always required). Other camps have age groups always travel together with all the kids doing same activities together in order to be a bit more well-rounded.
Does the camp have a religious background? ---- once again quite a few camps do have religious backgrounds while others are more secular. If you want your child to receive or not receive religious instruction make sure to ask.
If the camp has been in operation for more than 25 years, Are there 2nd generation campers at camp? What is your camper return rate each summer? Return rate for first time campers? --- Any good camp will have 2nd or 3rd generation campers if they have been around a long time. A camp with loyalty is probably a good camp. If a camp has a high return rate then it is probably a good place.
Is camp achievement oriented or participation oriented? --- some camps are aimed at athletics are accomplishing skill levels. Very high emphasis is placed on this. Other camps are more about experience and participation, more about the fun of an experience. What do your kids prefer?
Look for a camp where the counselors are *mostly* former campers. A camp with a majority of international staff implies the kids didn't like the place well enough to stick around to become counselors. It may also imply low standards as some places use international staff to cut costs.
In the end pick out a couple camps you like and feel comfortable with, then give your kids the promo videos and let them choose which one they like best. Kids generally do better at camp if they feel they got to pick it out. Also, when watching a promo video see what activities or featured the most as these are most likely their specialties. Look in the background of the movie, just not the person in foreground to see if the kids appear to be having fun.
Good luck!
A couple recomendations:
Boys:
http://www.fallingcreek.com/
Girls:
http://www.waukeela.com/index.php
