Getting Ready for Summer Camp

For many families, attending summer camps is an annual rite of passage. For kids, it’s a chance to learn new skills outside of a classroom, and for parents it’s a well-earned vacation. This year is a little different, of course. As of this writing, some states have reopened, and a lot of summer camps are still on schedule. 

Choosing whether to send your kids to those camps does require a little more thought than normal. If you’re still planning on having your kids attend one, you’ll want to gather additional information and be a little pickier about which camps you select. Get into contact with the camp sponsors as soon as you can. Some of the key questions you’ll want to ask include how they plan on keeping things clean, whether they’ll still observe the CDC’s social distancing guidelines and what contingency plans they have in place if there is any type of outbreak. 

In most other instances, the normal rules for summer camp apply. For example, you’ll still want to book early so you can take advantage of any early bird discounts. Many camps also offer bulk discounts, ideal if you have several children or want to go in together with friends or neighbors. One thing you do want to pay careful attention to is the camp’s refund policy if you decide later that a particular camp isn’t a good choice for your family, or the camp ends up being canceled due to the coronavirus.

Finally, consider some alternatives like virtual camps. While they lack the true ‘camp’ experience, many of the better ones still provide valuable learning activities as well as a sense of community.

Summer camp is a great tradition that’s still possible in this new age. Just use common sense and ask plenty of questions to make sure you and your family have a great experience this summer.