Each year, across the nation, kids pile in buses, pack into cars, or set off in carpools to go off to camp. Sending your kid to camp can be a scary venture, and choosing the right camp to ensure your kid has a great summer can be even scarier. Here’s some tips to help you select the camp that will give you peace of mind and your kid a great adventure.

Day camp or sleep away

When selecting a camp, your first decision is going to be where your child will sleep. Day camps offer great times, while still having your child home in time for dinner.
These camps also tend to be less expensive than sleep away camps. However, they can take some of the fun out of camp, and you will need to be in charge of daily transportation, either to the camp itself or a bus location. Sleep away camps can be scary — for both parents and children. Many sleep away camps may limit phone calls to your kid, as often these “miss you” calls add to homesickness rather than ease it. If your child is not comfortable sleeping away from home or seems frightened or nervous, this may not be the year for him to go away. If you really think it’s a good idea, arrange some nights away from home or a long weekend with grandparents to help ease him into camping.

Coed or single sex

Many camps, such as Girl Scout Camps, offer single-sex camping experiences, while others are coed. Even single-sex camps may have activities that are coed. This is all up to what your child and you are looking for in a camp experience.

Week or longer

Many camps around Loudoun are just about a week long, but if you look farther afield you may find camps in great settings that are for longer period of times. If your child is comfortable being away from home for that long, this can be a wonderful experience for both of you. However, be sure to check out any parental visitation days or how much contact you can have with each other.

Great outdoors or the comforts of home

Some camps seem like luxury hotels plopped down in a forest. Forget tents, there are bungalows now with private bathrooms and hot showers. While other camps are definitely more … well … rustic. Discuss how much your child wants to rough it before choosing a camp.

Sports, academics, or just fun

It used to be when you went off to camp that you would learn to canoe, make string bracelets and build a fire. These days, camps are offered in almost every topic imaginable — from horseback riding to science and every topic in between. Even if the camps focus on these activities, you can be sure there will be some fun mixed in. Talk to your child about her interests and how she’d like to spend her time away. Discuss the options and come to a decision together, after all, an unhappy camper just means a long drive to pick her up.

Bargain or bust

Many camps seem to offer all sorts of luxuries and experiences to campers, and they have the price tag to match. Other camps are surprisingly affordable with just a few less mints on your kid’s pillow. If your child has his or her heart set on a camp outside of your price range, check if they offer financial aid, as many do.
Camp can be a great experience for your kid. And what parent wouldn’t mind a little time off? To find the right camp, discuss the options with your child, talk to other parents about where their children, go to camp and look online for camping opportunities. With a little digging and a lot of talking, you’ll be sure to have a happy camper.

Jen Lofquist is a working mother living in Sterling. She is a regular contributor to the Loudoun Times-Mirror, writing the “Rugrats” and “Sterling Boulevard” columns.