Should I send my child to a day or residential camp?
In North America, most children go to day camps.  Day camps are usually not too far from home; this is a reassuring consideration for most parents.  Residential camps, however, provide children the opportunity to become more independent and to develop greater self-discipline.

You should consider sending your child to a residential camp if s/he asks to go, or when you think s/he is ready.  Talk to your child, and explain to him or her the advantages and the disadvantages.  Some children jump at the opportunity to be away, while others are apprehensive.  If your child has benn away from home on his/her own or been to extended sleepovers, s/he may be ready. Do not push your child into agreeing with your recommendation. After all, if your child ends up going to a residential camp without being ready emotionally, s/he may have a hard time adjusting to camp life. And if your child is not happy, there is no point in sending him/her to camp. top

What if my child gets sick away from home?
Rest assured that your child will be well cared for if he/she gets sick while at camp. Every residential camp has at least a nurse or another medical professional on site at all times. There will also be a physician connected with the camp.  Although the physician may not live on the campus, s/he will make daily visits to the camp to examine children in need of medical attention. Make sure that your child understands the camp's procedures for seeing the nurse or the doctor and encourage him/her to request help at the first sign of not feeling good.

The camp will also have an infirmary where ill campers stay while they recover. If the nature of the illness is such that the camper needs many days to get better, the camp may request that you take him or her home to recuperate. But you should be consulted before any action is taken. top

What if my child does not like the camp and wants out of it?
In spite of your efforts to find the best situation for your child, it can happen that, after just a few days at a residential camp, your child may decide that it is really not for him or her. Talk to your child, and listen carefully to what s/he has to say. Talk to the counselors and the director(s). If it appears that your child is genuinely unhappy with the camp, and that it is not a case of homesickness or temporary upset brought on by some conflict or setback that can be resolved, you may well want to remove him/her from the camp.

Camps have different policies regarding refunds for campers who leave because they are unhappy, so you will have to discuss the matter with the director. If you do take your child home, try to have an alternative plan to quickly involve him or her in another program. The last thing you'd want to do is leave your child with a feeling of having "failed." After all, summer camps are for fun and enjoyment, not disappointment. top

What if my child is injured in an accident?
Again, trust that the camp has procedures in place to assure speedy and appropriate care if your child is injured in an accident. All the camp's activities should have basic first-aid kits on site -- and the supervising counselor(s) should know how to use them -- as a first measure. The nurse will be contacted immediately if the injury is such that it requires more attention than can be provided with first aid. The camp physician will have attending privileges at a local hospital, should the injury require hospital care.

While accidents can and do happen, any reputable camp will make every effort to ensure that all its activities are conducted with the children's safety as the primary consideration. You should talk to your camp ahead of time if you have concerns about safety. top

How often should I keep in contact with my child?
The answer depends in part on your child's age and personality. Younger children will feel more secure when they hear from you frequently, even every day. Older children and adolescents may be content with two letters or postcards a week. If a camp's policy permits phone calls, one telephone conversation a week would probably be very welcome.

Be sensitive to your child's individual needs in regard to communicating with him or her. Ask how often s/he would like to receive mail, and then follow through faithfully. It can be very upsetting for some children if an eagerly anticipated letter does not arrive when expected. To teach children responsibility, parents must live up to their own. top

What if my child does not like one or more of the bunkmates?
One of the great opportunities (and challenges) of a residential camp is that of making new friends and learning to get along with other children with different personalities. When you are living in close quarters and spending lots of time together, it may not always work out.  Hopefully, at the beginning of camp, the counselors will have provided activities to help bunkmates get to know and appreciate one another.

If you become aware that there is a problem among bunkmates, talk to your child's counselors and make sure that they are aware of the conflict. Ask them what they are doing to help resolve the situation. Give them suggestions based on your own understanding of your child, and encourage your child to work for resolution and remain open-minded. Isn't this one of the reasons why you send your child to a residential camp? top