Send It Snail Mail
Let kids unplug while they’re at summer camp
By Bethany Kandel
I just received a postcard from my son at sleepaway camp, and I’ll have to preserve it. After all, it’s going to become a relic of the past, along with hand-written love letters and thank-you notes from the days before fax machines, email and IM. Read more
Daytrippers
10 things to consider when choosing a local camp
Summer camp options include everything from specialty camps that focus on theater, sports or academics to general all-inclusive programs. In general, day camp is a wonderful experience for children of most any age, as it allows them to grow by making new friends while learning new skills from positive role models. And for those who may be making last-minute plans, day camps generally have more openings than overnight camps as we get closer to summer. Read more
A Camp That Works for Every Kid
Expert advice on how to choose a summer program for a child with special needs
By Teresa Tobat
Every kid should be able to look back on summer camp as a memorable time having fun, making friends and gaining new skills and independence. Yet, as if the process of finding the right camp isn’t baffling enough, parents of children with special needs come to the search with an additional—and often complex—set of concerns. To get at the heart of some of parents’ most important questions, we spoke with Gary Shulman of Resources for Children with Special Needs, who assures parents that, in the end, it’s worth the effort to find a program that both you and your child will love. Read more
CAMP UNPLUGGED
TECHNOLOGY IS PERVASIVE, BUT CAMPS ARE ONE PLACE CHILDREN CAN ESCAPE THE DIGITAL TIES THAT BIND
By Christopher A. Thurber, PhD
Electronic technology has done a lot to make life more convenient. But the seductiveness of new technology probably contributes to most Americans’ working longer than 40 hours per week. For many people, checking e-mail outside of work hours is habitual. This summer, I regularly saw parents “on vacation” at the beach checking their e-mail on handheld devices while their children splashed in the ocean. Sure, these gadgets are convenient, but they easily blur the lines between work, play, and family time.
Electronic technologies also provide a Read more
Set for Summer
Families got a head start on their children’s summer activities with the Camp Fair Series this past weekend. New York Family Magazine played host to more than 400 families and representatives of 50-plus camps who attended fairs on the Upper East and Upper West sides. The fairs featured both city day camps for younger children and beginning campers, and sleepaway camps from around the country for older children seeking a traditional camp experience. Representatives were on hand to answer questions from both parents and prospective campers, giving a complete idea of camp life. Two additional fairs will be held this weekend in downtown Manhattan and in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Read more
Summer Camp Savings
Tips for making your child’s camp experience more affordable
By Mary Squillace
Camp can be the experience of a lifetime, but in the here-and-now, budgeting for your child’s summer adventure may seem daunting. Fees range from $75 to more than $650 per week for accredited day and resident camps, according to the American Camp Association, with day camps being a little less expensive (weekly fees are about $182 on average) and resident camps being a bit pricier (with a median weekly cost of $390).
However, even as parents are pinching pennies, Adam Weinstein, executive director of the American Camp Association, says he hasn’t seen camp-goers cut back on their summer experience.
“Childhood only happens for a defined amount of time, and we’re finding that the last dollar parents cut is for their kids,” he said. Read more
Destination Day Camp
Spending summer days outside of the city
By Christine Werthman
Summer is the ideal time for kids to romp around outdoors after having spent nearly 10 months cooped up in the classroom. To keep children active and learning throughout the summer months, many parents look to day camp, which takes the nurturing environment of school and injects it with a little summertime fun and outdoor play.
Day camp offers kids “a place to learn to take risks in a very safe environment,” said Renee Flax, director of program services at the New York branch of the American Camp Association. Day camp gives children the chance to build friendships, to mature and to experience everything from new sports to nature, Flax explained. Read more
Tackling a Camp Fair
A how-to guide for parents on making the most of a camp expo
By Renee Flax
For the past several years, Manhattan Media and the American Camp Association-NY have successfully worked together to bring New York City families camp fairs. The purpose of these fairs is to bring together families and camps so that people can explore the various choices concerning accredited summer programs for their children. The response from both camps and parents has been incredibly positive, and therefore we will once again be offering families a wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with camp directors.
Many families trying to select a camp best suited for their child will schedule camp tours the summer before attending. Visiting camps allows you to see the camp “in action” by checking out the facilities, observing activities, seeing the interaction of the campers and staff and having an opportunity to talk to program directors and camp owners. Read more
The Four-Week Option
With two shorter sessions, camps offer families more summer flexibility
By Aline Reynolds
Years ago, summer camp was typically an all-or-nothing experience: young people rushed home from school, packed their bags and said goodbye to their families for eight weeks.
But today’s kids, with their jam-packed schedules, often can’t sacrifice two months for sleepaway camp. And so more and more camps have accommodated families by offering two- and four-week options.
“There was a time that you went to camp, camp ran the schedule, that was kind of it. Today, kids have so many choices,” said Renee Flax, director of program services at American Camp Association, New York. Read more
Camp vs. Cash
The benefits of camp can far outweigh the costs
By Aline Reynolds
Summer camp might not be the first item on a family’s list of budget necessities during the economic slump. But many experts believe that camp is crucial for a child’s educational and social development, arguing that parents should think twice before cutting back.
“Parents do a disservice to their children when they think that camp is fun and school is learning,” said Scott Brody, owner and director of Camps Kenwood and Evergreen, brother-sister resident camps in New Hampshire. “What kids learn in camp is complementary to what they learn in school.” Read more
