Camps. Have you ever noticed how many different meanings one word can have? For example, there is the military training camp, a boot camp and even a training camp. Or perhaps the word reminds you of times where you used to play cowboys in the neighborhood and pretended to sit around a campfire. It may even remind you of some of the great times you and your family had when you went camping at some remote lake.



The purpose for setting up a camp can be for different reasons also. Some may be done strictly for pleasure, like summer camp or camping with the family. There are also some that are for training purposes, much like a military boot camp, and sometimes it is necessary to camp in certain areas to carry on research.

Have your kids expressed an interest in going to camp in the summer? There are many, many different types of summer camps for kids and usually several of them will fit your needs. Studies have indicated that children in the 6 to 10 age group will adjust much quicker to camp, as opposed to an older child.

You may also be under the impression that your child and a friend going at the same time may make it easier for them. However, usually the opposite is true. If it is their first time at camp, then they are likely to stick together and resist the idea of making new friends. Or sometimes one child will be more outgoing, making new friends while the other becomes more shy or withdrawn.

If you have a child with a specific interest or hobby, then many summer camp programs include a specialty camp. If your child enjoys tennis, then a tennis camp may be perfect. There are computer camps for the techie in your family, or perhaps an art camp for your budding Picasso.

Of course, depending on the child's age there will other options available to you. There are also programs available for children with special needs. These types of programs can really be something special for your child and can give them a great sense of accomplishment.

Of course, as with anything that involves your child, you will want to be sure that the any of the camps that you are considering have great references, and you will want to spend some time with the director, either on the phone or in person. First, you will want to make sure that the director's methods and philosophy complement your own parenting style. You will want to ask about the counselor/camper ratio, as well as what type of training the staff and the director have been through.

For the director, The American Camp Association suggests the following minimum requirements: a bachelor's degree, complete in-service training within the past three years and at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience before assuming a director's role. In the end there is only one happy camper to worry about, and that is your own.