STEP 2: BRANCH INTO THE COMMUNITY
Places of Worship
There are two ways to gather information at your place of worship, if you attend one. The first is to find out whether the organization sponsors its own camp. If you’re looking for a religious specialty
camp, this is your best bet. Even if the organization doesn’t sponsor its own camp, the clergy may have contacts with a related religious organization that does run a camp. The second way to gather information at your place of worship is to ask questions of other families. Presumably, these families share similar values, so they may have had experience with an overnight camp that would also please your family.
Community Organizations
There are many community organizations that either sponsor or provide information on overnight camps. Examples include the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club, the YMCA, the YWCA, Young Judaea, the YMHA (Young Men’s Hebrew Association), Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts USA, the United Way, 4-H, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and your local school system. (See Chapter 18 for a listing of these and other national organizations.) If you or someone you know belongs to one of these organizations, ask them for a recommendation. Otherwise, you can call, write, or stop by the chapter office and get whatever information they have on local camps. If any of their recommendations match your preferences for type, location, length of stay, gender mix, and structure, fill out an index card or a notebook page so that you can send for a packet of information later on.
If you’re looking for a special needs camp, you should ask for recommendations from the health care professionals who know your child. If your child is treated at a hospital, ask the staff for camp recommendations. (Hospital staff often volunteer at special needs camps.) You should also contact the national association that corresponds to your child’s special needs. For example, the American Burn Association can provide a listing of all the burn camps across the country. Because they are sponsored by national and regional organizations, many of these special needs camps cost very little. Some are even free. It pays to call around.
Places of Worship
There are two ways to gather information at your place of worship, if you attend one. The first is to find out whether the organization sponsors its own camp. If you’re looking for a religious specialty
Community Organizations
There are many community organizations that either sponsor or provide information on overnight camps. Examples include the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, the Kiwanis Club, the YMCA, the YWCA, Young Judaea, the YMHA (Young Men’s Hebrew Association), Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts USA, the United Way, 4-H, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and your local school system. (See Chapter 18 for a listing of these and other national organizations.) If you or someone you know belongs to one of these organizations, ask them for a recommendation. Otherwise, you can call, write, or stop by the chapter office and get whatever information they have on local camps. If any of their recommendations match your preferences for type, location, length of stay, gender mix, and structure, fill out an index card or a notebook page so that you can send for a packet of information later on.
If you’re looking for a special needs camp, you should ask for recommendations from the health care professionals who know your child. If your child is treated at a hospital, ask the staff for camp recommendations. (Hospital staff often volunteer at special needs camps.) You should also contact the national association that corresponds to your child’s special needs. For example, the American Burn Association can provide a listing of all the burn camps across the country. Because they are sponsored by national and regional organizations, many of these special needs camps cost very little. Some are even free. It pays to call around.
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