Summer Camp Tips
Summer is upon us… and with it, summer camp. Think you missed the boat already? Think again! We talked with national summer planning expert, Jill Tipograph, Founder of Everything Summer, to get the scoop on the best ways to get your child into summer camp, no matter how late in the game.
Be flexible and adaptable.
- Contact camp directors to check on vacancies. July sessions fill first; most camps directors look to fill their August weeks.
- Play the numbers in your favor. Your child’s birth date may qualify him to be placed in two different age groups.
- Wait until enrollment to express interest in an earlier session. A paying family gets priority on a wait list.
- Ask about drop-outs. In the spring, when second or final payments are due, some camps that were “full” may have new openings.
- Maintain contact with the camp. Interested parents demonstrate real commitment and directors react positively to parents who are proactive.
Be creative.
- Look around. Investigate specialty or local programs that run frequent, short sessions, including after-school programs. Parents typically enroll their child in these for one or two weeks, leaving spotted openings in other weeks, depending on your child’s age.
- Investigate brand new programs. Sometimes owners of established camps see a gap in the marketplace and develop new camps or programs to meet those needs. They need new enrollments to build a base of returning campers, so keep your eyes and ears open to these opportunities.
- Consider a rookie week as a trial for overnight camp. This includes family camps too! These typically occur in the second half of summer; some camps also run a short-term option of 10 days to two weeks for young campers. You can test the waters for next summer.
If you still want more help researching what is right — and available — for your child, you can contact Jill at Everything Summer (866-995-1122) or check out her book, Your Everything Summer Guide & Planner.
