Summer Camp Handbook

New ACA Promo

The American Camp Association (ACA), which is the primary accrediting body of summer camps in the United States, just launched a great new campaign called Because of Camp...™. Chris & Jon, the authors of The Summer Camp Handbook have done a great deal of volunteer work for the ACA and are strong supporters of its mission. Check it out:

It's Not Too Late to Find a Summer Camp

I've been noticing a flood of news articles about summer camp programs that are just now opening registration or that are announcing special programs or sessions. So, if you think it's too late to find a bunk space for this summer, it's not! Normally, we would recommend that you already had a camp by now, but with the economy, everything is running a bit behind schedule.

Here are some tips for finding a camp if you're still looking for this summer:

1) Read the appropriate chapters here. Our Table of Contents will help you narrow your reading.

2) Go to CampParents.org, a part of the American Camp Association (ACA), and use their search engine to narrow your search. The ACA has regional offices that can help you as well. Many great camps in a variety of price ranges still have openings for this summer. Rates range from less than $100 a week to over $1000 a week, so contact many camps if necessary.

3) Go to your local newspaper's website and search for "summer camp" and "camp fair" to find recent articles in your area. You can also use Google News and search for something like "summer camp Boston" or "day camp Long Island" to find both newspaper articles and blog posts.

Good luck! Check back here for more news and advice.

Spread the Word!

 As a new site, we rely on our readers to help spread the word. If you're a summer camp professional, please consider linking to us or telling your parents about us. To parents, if you have a blog or are a dedicated reader of a parenting blog, please spread the word there. We feel strongly that our free book is a great resource, and in these tough economic times we want parents everywhere to make the right decisions.

If you're new to the site, please see the Table of Contents in the left margin. Happy Camping!

Welcome Sponsors

Because each child and each camp program is so different, we don't endorse specific products. But we must say that we truly value and appreciate our sponsors and the products that they produce. We'd like to welcome three sponsors who we think provide great products or services for camp parents and we urge you to check them out and judge for yourself:

• Everything Summer Camp: Maker of cool footlockers, soft trunks, and tons of other useful things
• ProtectMyTrip.net: Provider of insurance for parents in case their child cannot attend camp
• CampSpirit.com: Producer of an excellent DVD on homesickness prevention.

If you're visiting us for the first time, the Table of Contents is here. Welcome!

Summer Camp in Tough Economic Times

(If you're new to this site, consider the Quick Start Guide)

Articles have been popping up all over the country about summer camp in tough economic times. March is a time when many parents suddenly realize they're behind the power curve in finding a day camp or overnight camp for the summer. But is camp affordable in these tough economic times? It certainly can be. Here are some things to consider:

1) Search Widely: Don't assume that you know about all the camp programs in your area. Camp costs can range from under $100 a week to well over $1000, so if you're only looking at the camp you went to 30 years ago, you might not be aware of all the great programs within a day of your hometown. How do you find camps? First, read our chapter on it here. Then use, a camp search database such as those provided by the American Camp Association.

2) Scholarships: Most camps offer some sort of economic assistance to campers in need, so talk to camp directors or even school guidance counselors about what opportunities might be available. Some camps also have financial aid available.

3) Shorten Rather than Eliminate: Consider sending your child for one or two weeks rather than a longer session. Academic research has shown that short camp stays can be just as effective as longer ones for some children.

 4) Camp Benefits Children: Remember that summer camp offers benefits for children other than just a fun experience. Spending money on camp is helping your child grow and mature, providing long term benefits.

Site of the Day!

We've been featured as site of the day on The Mommy Blog, so welcome Mommy Blog readers! If you don't know about the Mommy Blog, please check them out when you get a chance. If you've never been here before, please consider the Quick Start Guide.