INTERVIEWS AND INSPECTIONS
If you comb through your camp materials with the preceding questions in mind, you should be able to narrow down your list of possible camps to five or six. (If you end up with more than five or six, be more critical.) To help you pick that one best camp from your short list, we recommend that you talk to some parents and children who attended the camps you’re considering. If you don’t have these personal references already, you can call the directors of the camps you like and ask for names and numbers. While you’re at it, you can also interview the camp directors.
Here’s our list of the top five questions you should ask each of these sources. Add any other questions you want, and then have the list handy when you call.
Questions for the Camp Director
Unless you ask for families in your area, the camp director may give you the names and numbers only of families who were satisfied with their experience. Despite their bias, these folks will be a good source of information. However, asking for camp families in your area forces the camp director to look beyond her personal list of satisfied parents, so you may get a better cross-section of opinions.
Questions for Personal References (parents and kids who know the camp)
If you and your child still can’t decide which single camp is the best, then call the camps to schedule a visit. Few camps allow unscheduled visits, because they disrupt the daily routine. However, seeing the property first-hand, whether it’s during a camp session or during the off-season, makes a memorable impression. You’ll learn enough to finalize your decision. With all the information you now have, and all the key questions you’ve answered, you will be able to pick the camp that suits your child best.
If you comb through your camp materials with the preceding questions in mind, you should be able to narrow down your list of possible camps to five or six. (If you end up with more than five or six, be more critical.) To help you pick that one best camp from your short list, we recommend that you talk to some parents and children who attended the camps you’re considering. If you don’t have these personal references already, you can call the directors of the camps you like and ask for names and numbers. While you’re at it, you can also interview the camp directors.
Here’s our list of the top five questions you should ask each of these sources. Add any other questions you want, and then have the list handy when you call.
Questions for the Camp Director
- What is your background and experience in camping?
- What is your philosophy of running an overnight camp?
- What are the qualifications and training of your staff?
- Where do you hire your staff? What percent of them return each summer?
- Can you provide me the names and numbers of a few families from your camp who live in my area?
Unless you ask for families in your area, the camp director may give you the names and numbers only of families who were satisfied with their experience. Despite their bias, these folks will be a good source of information. However, asking for camp families in your area forces the camp director to look beyond her personal list of satisfied parents, so you may get a better cross-section of opinions.
Questions for Personal References (parents and kids who know the camp)
- What did you like most about the camp?
- What did you like least about the camp?
- What were the other kids like? Do most kids return summer after summer?
- What were the cabin leaders like at the camp? Do they care about kids?
- Did you ever go to another camp? Why did you switch?
If you and your child still can’t decide which single camp is the best, then call the camps to schedule a visit. Few camps allow unscheduled visits, because they disrupt the daily routine. However, seeing the property first-hand, whether it’s during a camp session or during the off-season, makes a memorable impression. You’ll learn enough to finalize your decision. With all the information you now have, and all the key questions you’ve answered, you will be able to pick the camp that suits your child best.
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