When my twin sons were in preschool, summer camp was easy. A lot of preschools offer summer programs, so we kept it simple and went that route. Drop-off and pick-up times were the same as during the school year. I already knew and trusted the teachers and staff, and my sons had no trouble adjusting to a slightly different schedule that included more time playing outside and less time focusing on traditional learning. Camp time was one of their favorite times of the year.
Finding a suitable camp
When kindergarten was over, we had to find somewhere new. Being from the area and working in local advertising for years, I had contacts at some amazing camps, but of course, the best ones I knew were either too far to make sense or a bit out of our price range.
My husband and I took the boys to a local day camp’s open house, signed up, and hoped for the best. It was affordable and nearby, and the drop-off and pick-up times were perfect for my work schedule. The boys would be able to swim twice a week, they would have weekly field trips, and they would spend plenty of time outside.
The price was right, it was conveniently located, and it fit my work schedule, but as is often the case, we got exactly what we paid for.
Figuring out what to bring
As camp got closer, we received a few emails outlining the theme for each week, a rough idea of the daily/weekly schedule, and what campers should bring each day. They would need water bottles and sunscreen daily, lunches most days, and swimsuits and towels twice a week. Parents were to apply sunscreen before drop-off, and counselors could help with reapplication in the afternoon, provided that parents sent spray sunscreen (counselors wouldn’t mess with lotion). On field trip days, campers were to arrive wearing their camp t-shirts, so as long as I washed those each weekend, we were good to go.
I’ve never been a fan of spray sunscreen — it just doesn’t seem to work as well — so I opted for face sticks and cream for the mornings, but since my guys were so young, I also bought some of the spray variety for counselors to apply in the afternoons. My kids have sensitive skin, and I like the idea of not killing coral reefs, so I went with the more expensive, organic, cruelty-free kind.
For wet swimsuits and towels, I sent some plastic, waterproof drawstring bags — the kind businesses use for giveaways — they were less likely to leak into backpacks and are a little nicer than plastic grocery bags. Before their first day, I marked their names on their towels, swimsuits, goggles, sunscreen, and water bottles. (There was definitely a chance that other kids would have the same Minecraft water bottles.)
Lost and Found
Despite clearly marking all items, after a few days, one of our sunscreen bottles was missing. I inquired the next morning at drop-off, and the staff directed me to the lost and found. Our sunscreen wasn’t there, but a counselor was happy to give us an unclaimed, unmarked, much cheaper, non-organic replacement. (It turns out that the counselors weren’t helping the kids apply sunscreen at all in the afternoons, so it didn’t matter what kind the boys had in their backpacks.)
If your kids are younger, or if they have a habit of leaving things behind, make sure you know where to find the lost and found. Though the sunscreen never turned up, I located in the lost and found water bottles, towels, and goggles that were left behind.
Your best bet is to do a bag check each day at pick-up. Before you leave, make sure nothing is missing. Even if everything turns back up, it’s best to avoid letting a wet swimsuit and towel sit in a bag all weekend.
Lunch
Some camps provide lunch, and some camps don’t. Our first camp provided pizza once a week (for an additional charge), and kids brought lunches the rest of the week. Like most kids, my sons love pizza, and they always bring lunch to school, so this would be simple. I would pack the same lunches I send to school four days a week.
When I arrived for pick-up after the first day of camp, counselors swarmed me, and my sons ran up to tell me about the horrible mistake I had made. The camp was peanut-free, but no one had bothered to tell me until after my kids opened their contraband-filled lunchboxes. My sons were so upset that they (but mostly I) had potentially put other kids at risk, and they were probably even more upset because they were hungry (their sandwiches had been confiscated).
If your kids typically eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, ask the camp about its peanut policy. Most peanut-free facilities take it seriously and make it very clear. Paperwork will have this info in bold, and there will be signs posted near the entrance, but don’t make any assumptions. Just because no one bothered to mention it or post anything on the website or near the entrance doesn’t mean peanut butter is an acceptable lunch option.
If you discover that your camp is peanut-free but you have kids like mine who don’t like lunch meat and won’t fall for fake peanut butter alternatives, invest in a thermos. It takes a little more time in the morning, but you can throw some chicken nuggets in the oven, stick them in that thermos, and ensure that your kids have lunches they will actually eat.
Camp Communication
If questions or problems arise, you should have a number and email address to direct your concerns. Our first camp provided contact info for the director. We met her at the open house, and I felt confident she would help if something came up.
Not long into the summer, my sons frequently mentioned one camper. They told me he was calling them names, pushing them, and even kicking them, but it never seemed to happen when a counselor was looking. I explained that camp counselors have a lot of children in their care and that, while they try their best, they can’t always see and hear everything. I told my sons not to retaliate; if this kid kept giving them trouble, they needed to tell a counselor.
After our talk, one of my sons told me he tried talking to a counselor, but he said she was too busy sitting on a bench, talking to other counselors, to listen. This son can be dramatic, so I didn’t jump to conclusions, but I reached out to the director to see if she might speak to the problem camper. I tried emailing her first. No response. Then I tried calling and leaving a message. Still no response. A few days later, a counselor pulled me aside at pick-up. I needed to sign a form. One of my sons had pushed this kid so hard that he fell on the floor.
Is it OK to knock a kid on the floor? Absolutely not. I was not pleased with my son. However, as I pointed out in my next email to the director, responsiveness to problems like this is essential to avoid retaliation and escalation.
Over the summer, I reached out to the director a few more times — nothing major, just a few questions about field trips and early pick-up — but it was a waste of time: My phone calls and emails were never answered.
Finding the perfect summer day camp
For our first non-preschool camp, my husband and I focused primarily on
- proximity to our house or place of work
- start date and end date
- drop-off and pick-up times
- making sure our sons would get to swim
- PRICE
It wasn’t a horrible summer. Our sons weren’t injured or traumatized – they actually had a pretty great time – but communication was lacking, and the children weren’t supervised as well as I would have liked. There were a few other things we should have focused on:
- the experience level and professionalism of the staff
- the counselor-to-camper ratio
- feedback from other parents/caregivers who had sent their children there
This summer, we’re trying somewhere new. When I told the boys they’ll get to swim every day, it wasn’t hard to convince them. It’s a camp we previously considered out of our budget, but we’ve decided that it’s worth it.
To soften the blow, we’re signing up for two fewer weeks than last year, something to consider if you’ve found the perfect camp but will struggle to pay for the whole summer. We might sprinkle in a few slightly less expensive specialty camps in between, an excellent option for children who are interested in the arts, science, sports, or the countless other programs our local camps provide.
This summer will be amazing!
This article is part of the 2024 Guide to Summer Camps.
