How To: Evaluating Summer Camps from Top to Bottom!

Choosing the best summer camp for your child and family!

For most kids, summer means a long break from school, but the fun of learning doesn’t have to end when the school bell rings. Attending summer camps builds character, strengthens academic skills, and provides children the opportunities to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. Given the plethora of camps in most cities, you likely won’t have trouble finding a camp, but how do you choose the right camp? Start with these steps to begin your evaluation process and find the best camp for your child.

The first step to selecting the right camp is talking to your child and gauging their interests. If you have a child who is primarily interested in arts and tech activities, then you’ll narrow your research down to camps with those concentrations. It’s always great to start with word of mouth, reaching out to people in your community, from carpool friends to fellow snack moms, and get some ideas based on where their children are going or have gone before for summer camp. You can talk with your child about the recommendations that you’ve gathered and see which ones spark the most excitement so you can make plans to go with kids they already know. Going to camp with friends makes it that much more fun and helps ease your child into a new environment and social situation.

Whether you hear about a camp through a friend or through your own research, one of the first things you’ll look at is the camp’s online presence, from its website to social media to reviews. The website should be up-to-date and user-friendly, as well as comprehensively informative. “You should be able to easily find information about pricing, dates, and descriptions of activities, as well as safety information, like confirmation that camp teachers have passed recent background checks,” says Cheryl Appleman, president of Performing Arts Workshops. Look for signs that the camp has been in business for a while, like video and photo galleries, any local awards they’ve received over the years, and online reviews. If the website does not have any verifiable history or background information, then it may not be as trustworthy. Additionally, while online reviews can help give an idea about how the camp is run, take outrageously positive or negative reviews with a grain of salt, as either side can be inflated.

After you’ve found a few camps that seem amazing, reach out to their office and get to know them a little better. Great customer service is a key factor for choosing a camp, as it speaks volumes about a camp’s communication style and company culture. When you call or email a camp office, other than answers to your immediate questions, your conversations will also reveal how thorough camp staff training is. If you call or email the office and the office staff is friendly, warm, and able to answer your questions completely and competently, then you can expect a similar experience with the onsite camp staff who are teaching your children. If the office staff is curt, indirect, or unresponsive, then this may be a red flag indicating what you and your children may experience at camp.

All of the resources you find will paint a picture for you about the camp’s culture and values. Depending on what matters most to you, there may be several factors for you to consider. Budget may or may not be a consideration—if they advertise discounts and scholarship opportunities, it shows a commitment to providing a summer camp experience for families in many economic situations, while camps without them promotes a more exclusive experience. Additionally, if you plan on going on vacation or doing other activities throughout the summer, you may want a program that only lasts a week or two. Do you want a bigger camp with lots of opportunities to make new friends, or a smaller camp with more one-on-one instructor attention? Do you need a camp with extended hours so you can pick up your child after work? The most essential features of each camp will vary depending on what you’re looking for, so using your own list of important components will help you decide which summer camp experience is best for you, your child, and your family.

Ultimately, every piece of information you find will give you insight into the company’s culture and whether it can provide your child and your family with an experience that benefits everyone. With some thorough evaluation, you’ll find a summer camp that provides your child with precious memories to last a lifetime.

PAW’s award-winning camps for kids ages 5-14 include Musical Theater, Filmmaking, Guitar,  Magic, Photography, Rock The Mic, Stage F/X Makeup, Debate Camp & Camp LOL!

Trusted for over 30 years, PAW has 10 camp locations to choose from including; Brentwood, West LA, Manhattan Beach, RPV, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, East Pasadena, Old Town Pasadena, Northridge, and Studio City. For camp information call us at (310) 827-8827 or check out our website at www.PerformingArtsWorkshops.com.

Performing Arts Workshops ~ the ultimate ARTS experience.  

Part Art…Part Play…ALL FUN!