The moment has come. Summer is around the corner and you need to choose a summer camp for your kids. For them, this is an opportunity to learn, have fun and make new friends. For you, a time off from them.
However, before enjoying that moment you will need to go through the headache of deciding which summer camp you are going to send them to but… The offer is massive, and with so many options, how to choose the one that better fits your needs?

1. Beach or mountain?

Ok, let’s start easily: if you live in the coast area, choose something in the mountain/forest. If you live in the mountain, go for the beach camp. At the end of the day, the goal is for them to see and do something new, so use this opportunity for that: to live in a place that they cannot access the rest of the year.

2. What type of summer camp?

As we previously mentioned, there is such a broad and varied selection of summer camps, that choosing the perfect one can take days or even weeks. A few years ago, the summer camps meant to go to the mountain with hundreds of kids doing a bunch of different activities every day. However, nowadays, we can choose from a really wide range of options: camps for specific sport activities, for environmental education, for learning languages, for survival or even just a random mix of all of these.

Our suggestion is, first of all, to ask your kids what are they interested in (and a summer camp about videogames is not a correct answer). The aim is to spend as much time as possible outside, in the nature while learning something new.

Therefore, there are many summer camps that mix these activities, such as languages with a specific sport, and survival or environmental education with sports. Talk to your kids, and give them a few options regarding their liking.

3. How long?

We understand that this may be the hardest part for you. You probably don’t want to be away from them for a long time. However, a 7-day camp is not enough: as soon as they will be used to the new environment, start making new friends and gathering the first memories, they will need to go back home.

Give them at least 15 days, enough for making new friends, get used to it and learn.

4. Where?

Of course this last question depends on many factors, not only your own resources, but also how old your kid is and the specific camp that you are choosing. However, at least, try to give them the opportunity of seeing something new, and to step outside their comfort zone.

Anyway, whatever camp you choose, keep in mind always that their safety and wellbeing is the priority. Ask your friends, as probably you have more than one whose children have gone to a summer camp and can tell you about their experiences. Find a place where you know that they are going to be safe and protected and where the instructors are well trained, experienced and know how to react in case of an emergency.

Whatever summer camp you choose, make sure that your child brings his/her Safesport ID bracelet. In case of an emergency, the instructors will know really fast the information they need, and you will be more relaxed knowing that your child is protected 24/7.