How to Choose a Summer Camp for Your Kids

First, the bad news: The best time to choose a summer camp for your kids this year was, well, last year. Of course, that's good news if you're reading this because you want your kids to go to summer camp next summer. For those who got a late start, all is not lost. The most absolutely perfect time to choose a summer camp for your kids is when you have the opportunity and time to actually visit several candidates. In addition, an early start will afford you the golden opportunity of signing up for the camp of your choice before all the spots are taken.

What's the best way to choose a summer camp? Ask around. Talk with every adult you come into contact with who have kids of summer camp age. Word of mouth is an almost flawless method of tracking down the best summer camps around you. Better than camp brochures, better than internet sites. Nothing beats a personal recommendation from a parent who has sent his kid to camp. Nothing, that is, except for a personal recommendation from the kid. Provided he's not a weasel who's just trying to trick you into sending your kid to Kamp Krusty. Always ask your kids for advice on which other kids to trust; you don't want to take advice from the school jerk or bully.

Of course, just because you get a glowing summer camp review from a parent or a kid doesn't necessarily mean it's going to get the same glowing review from your kid. Summer camps today are very differentiated from each other. It's not just about rowing and swimming and hiking and campfire songs anymore. If all you know from summer camp is the Bill Murray movie Meatballs, you maybe should be doing even more research after you read this article.