Another winter blast is coming our way this week, so now is a good time to hunker down and figure out your child’s summer camp plan.

Whether it’s a series of one-week day camps or a month-long overnight adventure, you don’t want to be caught scrambling. The most popular camps fill up fast so if haven’t started looking and booking … GET TO IT!

Luckily our longtime friends at New York Family magazine and Mommy Poppins NYC make putting together a summer camp plan easier, whether you have a toddler, a tween or a teen.

Camp questions and answers here

Start with the New York Family annual Ultimate Guide to Summer Camp. You’ll find tips on how to choose the right camp for your kid, how to recognize when it’s time to try a new camp, budgeting suggestions and even help for parents with special needs children.

Next, try to attend one of its free annual camp fairs. This is where you can meet and speak directly to representatives from day and sleepaway camps from in and around the New York City area. To attend one of the following fairs, you must register first:

• Saturday, Feb. 2 — Asphalt Green, 212 North End Ave, Tribeca/Battery Park
• Saturday, Feb. 9 — Brooklyn Heights Montessori School, 9 Bergen St., Cobble Hill
• Sunday, Feb 10 — Berkeley Carroll School, 181 Lincoln Place, Park Slope

Summer camp plan for flexibility, tight budget

Mommy Poppins NYC also offers many great suggestions for your child’s summer camp experience that are especially helpful if you are on a tight budget, want more flexibility or diversity of experiences for your children.

The Summer Camp Guide for NYC Kids lists many great day and sports camp options, some of which offer single day or single week options that are the perfect way to break up the summer months without breaking your budget. And don’t forget math and science camp options or even internships for your older children.

Photo: Leon Contreras on Unsplash

It’s almost summertime and schools are almost out across Southern California. Some parents have big plans and some have none; regardless, all parents have questions about summer camps. So we asked Cassie Young, a local Camp Director, to answer some questions from the dad community about summer camp to help you choose the best place for your kid(s). And if you are still looking for somewhere fun for them to go this summer, Cassie’s Camp Wildfolk in West Hollywood is offering a special discount for City Dads if you register by June 15th (details below). Enjoy!

What kind of things do kids do during the day? What are typical types of camp philosophies?

The activities at a Day Camp differ so greatly from camp to camp. There are specialty camps, which only allow a camper to really focus on one thing, or more “traditional” day camps- where campers get a broader variety of activities.

There has been an increase in hybrid-style camps, where campers get some variety, but also have an opportunity to dig deeper into specialty areas of their interest. This is really beneficial for kids, because it exposes them to new things, helps them get out of their comfort zone, and still gives them an opportunity to have fun and engage in things they love.

Philosophies at day camps are all across the spectrum. This is something Parents should really pay attention to and check for on the website or with the Director directly. Are they intentional about how they work with children? Is it aligned with your philosophy? For a long time camps were viewed as just daycare for working parents. But now, there are camps run by incredibly experienced experts in the field, who know that camp is truly an opportunity to delve deeper into learning in a fun, engaging way.

If it is a specialty camp, does my child need to have prior knowledge?

Most camps aren’t expecting any camper to come in an expert and will work with all levels.
How do you typically train your staff? Who is your staff and where do they come from?

In my experience, strong staff training is the foundation of a great camp. I definitely recommend asking the Camp Director what their Staff Training looks like- how many days, what types of topics they cover, and get more information on their hiring process.

At Camp Wildfolk, we have a 5 Day Training and a 5-Step Hiring Process, but many camps you’ll find only train with their staff for one or two days.

Each camp also differs in who they hire. Some camps hire locally- others internationally. Talk to the Director for more information!

What are best practices for safety/sick protocols? Should a trained nurse be on staff or just trained staff?

It’s a good sign if a Camp has their entire staff First Aid & CPR certified. Prevention and Over-Communication are our motto when it comes to safety. In the event of any injury, best practices are to touch base with parents as soon as possible and keep logs of all incidents.
What is a good camper/counselor ratio? Should a child ever be alone with an adult for any reason?

A sign of a quality camp is a small ratio of campers to staff. They truly range from camp to camp. There are some (super-pricey) camps that have one-to-one ratios and very inexpensive camps where the ratio is 15+ campers for each staff person. Generally, the younger the campers, the smaller the ratio should be. Older campers can usually handle a wider range.

Most camps do not allow staff to be alone with children- for everyone’s safety and protection. The majority of camps go by the “Buddy rule”- with campers taking a buddy on any trips.

In the event of a behavior incident, or a time when a camper & staff need to have a pow-wow, they’ll generally go off to the side of the group- but still within eye sight of other staff and campers.

How do you integrate kids on your first day?

Most camps are very well prepared for first day jitters and teambuilding. This is where camps excel – making kids feel comfy, connected, and a part of the community. Staff will usually spend a good portion of the morning doing icebreakers and helping facilitate relationship building with their campers.

What should be included in the price? Should material fees, travel fees be separate (or what should I look out for in the bill)?

Camp prices vary so widely in Los Angeles. Most camps have a registration fee on top of the base tuition, as well as a late fee, if registering after a certain date. Most camps also will have discounts for early registration- so it helps to figure out your summer at the start of the year! Extended Day programs are usually available for an extra fee, too.

There are the Parks & Recs, YMCA’s, other local offerings- which will often have a low base price, and then charge extra for field trips, or full week attendance.

Then there are mid-range priced camps which will often have the same quality (sometimes better) of the higher-priced camps, but without the luxury conveniences of included meals and transportation. These camps will usually include all material and travel frees (for field trips).

Then there are the pricier camps- which usually include meals and transportation.

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Cassie Young is the Owner & Director of Camp Wildfolk, an intentional Day Camp located in West Hollywood, offering a progressive twist on traditional day camp, with a project-based and growth-centered approach. Campers experience choice and freedom within an intentionally balanced, structured program that includes activities such as Cooking, Art, Sports, Tinkering, Science, Dance, Theater, Nature Exploration, & so much more! It’s camper-centered, experiential, and WILDLY fun! Read more at www.campwildfolk.com

Exclusive Deal for City Dads: $100 OFF/Session! Use Discount Code: WeHeartCityDads

Not valid with any other discount code. Must register online by June 15th.

The summer camp brochures are spread out on the coffee table. It’s decision day – no more delays or procrastinating.

It shouldn’t be a big deal – should it? Just pick a camp and off the child goes with the arrival of summer.

So, why have we been talking about this for the past few months?

The questions swirl. What is this friend doing? When is that friend going? How much money is this one? What are the hours of that one? What trips is this one doing? What kind of activities does that one have?

When did camp get so complicated? There are so many options to satisfy every possible desire. If there was just one camp – take it or leave it – it would be so much easier. Of course in this generation, where every whim must be satisfied, the endless choice of camps is par for the course.

What if we turned the table over? What if we dumped all the brochures?

What if we didn’t send our kids to summer camp?

Uhh – what did he say? Did he say “no camp”? He did not say “no camp.”

Yeah, I did say “no camp.”

Now, it’s not that camp doesn’t have its positives – a number of which are noted in a recent Washington Post article I read – but …

You see, back in my day …

I hate making those kind of statements that make me seem old.

But damn it, some things really were better. Or at least simpler.

The majority of my summer days consisted of knocking on my friends’ doors. No, there wasn’t a play date arranged. I simply knocked and hoped. Or they did the same for me. Crazy, ain’t it.

Anyway, one of my best friends lived across the street, and another was down the block. It would be the three of us and some other combo of kids in our neighborhood.

We played stick ball, Wiffle ball, wire ball, basketball, football and more. Yup, we played just about any sport that was out there that included a ball.

There were occasional trips to the area pool, fast food restaurant, and the pharmacy (for baseball cards, sodas, and candy bars). Throw in a week or so of vacation and, periodically, some sort of neighborhood summer camp.

And that was pretty much it.

Yes, we watched a lot of television and occasionally got bored. But that’s OK.

How about a list of things you can gain from a July and August sans summer camp?

1. Flexibility

   There were not scheduled events. We played the game the majority wanted or pouted on the side.

2. Creativity

   If we wanted to do something different, it was up to us to come up with something.

3. Independence

   There were no counselors or parents around (some parents might have been home but did not come outside while we were playing). We made the rules, and we made the decisions.

I could go on and give more details, but I’ll spare you. The point is there was a lot gained from being “free range kids.”

So, what If I left my kids on the streets this summer?

No, of course I won’t.

The world has changed. I get it.

So, I don’t turn the table over. Instead, my wife and I pick camps with the boys and hope that they will find them fun, engaging and interesting.

“Summer camp?” you say. “I’m still thawing out from last night’s freeze!”

Despite the bleak chill outside, you need to start thinking about summer camp now if you want to find the best summer camp for your kids to be participating in come July and August this year.

Lucky for you, our friends at New York Family magazine produce the largest “camp fair” series around. New York Family has been doing these showcases for year to help families with children ages 3 to teen discover the many kinds of day and sleepaway camps available in New York City and throughout the Northeast. These summer camp fairs allow you and your children to meet with counselors and other camp representatives to find the one that will be just right.

Four fairs are coming up, one on each day of the next two weekends, and you would be wise to register now for these New York Family summer camp fairs so you can check them out. Here are the dates:

• Saturday, Jan 23, noon to 3 p.m.: Upper East Side – St Jean Baptiste High School – 167 E. 75th St.
• Sunday, Jan. 24, noon to 3 p.m.: Upper West Side – Congregation Rodeph Sholom – 7 W. 83rd St.
• Saturday, Jan. 30, noon to 3 p.m.: Williamsburg – Williamsburg Northside School – 299 N. 7th St., Brooklyn
• Sunday, Jan. 31, noon to 3 p.m.: Cobble Hill – Brooklyn Heights Montessori School – 9 Bergen St., Brooklyn

Don’t delay with registration. These camp fairs fill up almost as quickly as the camps themselves. And make sure you mark on your calendar to start looking around for the best summer camp for kids once the mercury starts dipping into the 40s or else it sneak up you again.