STEP 4: GO NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL
To learn more about overnight camps, you’ll want to extend your search across the country. (Those of you who are fairly certain that you want to go to camp close to home should skim this next section. Some of the information sources we discuss are helpful for local and regional searches as well.)
The Internet
Camps have discovered that the Internet is a great way to advertise. Thousands of camps now have their own web pages. A few more just got added in the time it took me to write this sentence. If you have Internet access, through your local library, school, or home computer, this can be a great way to
search for camps. Of course, like any search on the Internet, you will have to sift through much fluff before finding substance. However, with a bit of perseverance, you might find just what you’re looking for.
Camp web sites offer unique features: colorful, interactive pictures and up-to-date information. Your child might even be able to take virtual tours of certain camps. However, keep in mind that advertising is advertising, and just because a camp is on-line does not mean that it is any better or worse than one that is not. If a camp in which you are interested does not have a web site, don’t assume that they are behind the times. They may not need any additional advertising, or they may be taking a philosophic stance against electronic media.
There are two basic methods we recommend you use to search the Internet for camp web sites. The first is to search for the keywords “camp” or “summer camp” using your favorite commercial search engine. The second is to go to an organization’s web site and use their own search engine. Often this second method will be faster and more organized, but you never know what helpful information you’ll find if you search on your own. Remember to bookmark or print out the web sites you like so that you can refer back to the information later.
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©2009 by Jon Malinowski & Christopher Thurber. All rights reserved.
