Fast Forward to Summer

Fast Forward to Summer
Choose a camp that helps you find your voice in the world.
by Peg L. Smith

TWEENS & TEENS News November 2007

In the realm of child and youth development, a common saying is “It takes a village to raise a child,” and camp provides just that! Camp provides a community of support that helps guide tweens and teens through those fun and sometimes turbulent adolescent years.

At camp, kids work together as a community. In this community, tweens and teens find their own voices and catch a glimpse of the healthy adults they may become.

Likewise, camp offers teens the opportunity to gain both leadership and team-building skills. There are no standardized tests, no teachers and no grades at camp. Instead, kids are encouraged to take healthy risks in a safe and nurturing environment. The staff members, meanwhile, focus their attention on each camper’s strengths, and how to nurture such strengths in ways that build confidence. Furthermore, camps are offering increasingly sophisticated program choices to address the challenges teens experience while growing up in the shifting world of American culture. These program choices include varied types of packages.

When choosing a camp, remember that not all camps approach their roles in the lives of young people identically. Some camps view their primary role as providing a place for kids to “get away from it all,” and these camps center their programs on fun and recreation, allowing campers to reap the benefits of sports as well as creative and free play.

Other camps view summer camp as a place that fulfills the much-needed role of teaching kids life lessons and skills that are not taught in schools, yet are essential for being able to grow up and thrive in the adult world. These camps believe they have the opportunity to substantially influence a young person’s journey through childhood into young adulthood, and thus they have a substantial influence on shaping who kids become as adults.

First of all, decide what you want to learn and develop during the summer months— skills that may not be taught throughout the school year. If you desire self-esteem, leadership, and the ability to stand up for yourself and be more assertive, certain camps provide extraordinary learning opportunities for such confidence building skills in fun, safe and effective ways.

The American Camp Association (ACA) recommends the following tips for tweens and teens to heed:

For 11-13 year olds
•Encourage your parents to include you in all important decisions about camp.
•Assume responsibility for camp preparation, including helping to shop for necessities, pack and complete registration forms.
•Select a camp that enhances your individual strengths.
•Consider a camp that concentrates on catering to your age group.
•Whether on a family camping outing or an overnight adventure program, spend some time away from home in the months before camp starts.

For 14-16 year olds
•Select a camp with your parents by discussing aspects that are important to each of you.
•Differentiate camp from school.
•Look for camps that strengthen self-esteem by providing opportunities for success in one or more activities that are important to you.
•As with the younger age group, assume responsibility for camp preparation by shopping for necessities, packing and completing registration forms.
•Consider longer camp stays as appropriate for your age and comfort level.
•Consider working as a junior counselor or participating in leadership training programs, if applicable.

Before you sign up for a camp, get to know the camp director as a person through telephone conversations, e-mail correspondence and a personal visit.
Some issues to speak with camp director about include:

What is the camp’s philosophy and program emphasis? Each camp has its own method of constructing programs based on its philosophy. Does it complement your parent’s philosophy about raising kids? Many camps actively promote competition and a healthy rivalry among camp teams, as reflected in team sports. However, some parents and educators are in favor of cooperative learning. Consider your personality and style of learning as you select the right camp with your parents.

What is the camp director’s background? ACA’s minimum standards recommend directors possess a bachelor’s degree, have completed in-service training within the past three years and have at least four months of camp administrative experience before assuming the responsibilities of director.

What training do counselors receive? At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency procedures and communication, behavior management techniques, child abuse prevention, appropriate staff and camper behavior, and specific procedures for supervision.

What is the counselor-to-camper ratio? ACA standards require different ratios for varying ages and special needs. Generally, the ratios at resident camps range from one staff member for every eight campers, ages 9-14, and one staff member for every ten campers, ages 15-17. At day camps, the ratios range from one staff member for every ten campers, ages 9-14, and one staff member for every 12 campers, ages 15-17.

What about references? This is generally one of the best ways to check a camp’s reputation and service record. Directors should be happy to provide references.

How does the camp train staff members to work with teens? Look for camps that offer separate training for the counselors who work with the adolescent age group. You are looking for more than just training counselors on how to respond to certain behaviors; you are looking for training on the issues today’s teens face and how counselors can facilitate growth in their teen campers.

Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association? ACA accreditation visitors ask up to 300 questions regarding essential health, safety and program quality issues important to a camp’s overall operation. This does not guarantee a risk-free environment, but it’s some of the best evidence families have of a camp’s commitment to a safe and nurturing environment for tweens and teens.

Peg L. Smith is the chief executive officer of the American Camp Association (ACA) and has 26 years of experience working with children, youth and families. ACA is the only national association that accredits camps. ACA promotes a safe and fun camp experience with developmental benefits backed by independent research. To learn more about the American Camp Association, please visit www.campparents.org or www.acacamps.org.