This is the place to ask specific questions about any aspect of camp life, from choosing a camp to getting the most out of one you've selected. Current and former camp directors will respond and share their knowledge and experience with you.  Please send your questions to: askDrCamp@CampDepot.com.

Current list of questions
(For answers, click on the question.)

General Questions About Camps

• Should I send my child to a day or residential camp?

Questions About Day Camps

• What if my child does not get along with a counselor?
• What if my child is afraid to swim or go into the water?
• What if my child does not like one of the regular activities?
• What if my child gets homesick (probably rare for day camps, but still a valid question) during the day?
• What if my child does not get along with a fellow camper and friction results?

Questions About Residential Camps

• What if my child gets sick away from home?
• What if my child does not like the camp and wants out of it?
• What if my child is injured in an accident?
• How often should I keep in contact with my child?
• What if my child does not like one or more of the bunkmates?

Answers

General Questions & Answers

Should I send my child to a day or residential camp?
In North America, most children go to day camps.  Day camps are usually not too far from home; this is a reassuring consideration for most parents.  Residential camps, however, provide children the opportunity to become more independent and to develop greater self-discipline.

You should consider sending your child to a residential camp if s/he asks to go, or when you think s/he is ready.  Talk to your child, and explain to him or her the advantages and the disadvantages.  Some children jump at the opportunity to be away, while others are apprehensive.  Do not push your child into agreeing with your recommendation. After all, if your child ends up going to a residential camp without being ready emotionally, s/he may have a hard time adjusting to camp life. And if your child is not happy, there is no point in sending him/her to camp. top

Questions & Answers About Day Camps

What if my child does not get along with a counselor?
It is important to know who your "first" contact is at your child's summer camp. Your first contact should be the individual who is directly responsible for your child's happiness and growth and who oversees his/her activities throughout the day.  At most camps, the group leader fills this position. Besides monitoring your child's safety and happiness, the group leader is generally in charge of 2-7 counselors who work directly with your child. Many camps offer ample opportunities for you to meet these individuals before summer to encourage positive communication from the start. If there is a perceived problem with a counselor, a parent should call the camp, have the group leader return the call (camps usually do not like the group leader to be pulled from a given activity until there is proper coverage), and ask the group leader to look into the matter.

Most problems between counselors and campers are misunderstandings and are easily resolved. Because of the strong social element of summer camp, attention cannot always be spread around evenly. Unfortunately, a reserved camper may get lost in a big group of active campers.  Insight from a parent about his/her child can turn the summer around for a camper and his/her counselor. If the group leader's response is not satisfactory, you may leave a message with either the director or an identified administrator who should be able to intervene on your behalf. top

What if my child is afraid to swim or go into the water?
Being afraid of the water is a common problem among campers of all ages. Although a high percentage of campers with a swim phobia are under the age of eight, many older campers suffer from the same problem, but for different reasons. Strategies often used to overcome fear of the water depend on the age of the child.

One never wants to force a young child into the water. The first and perhaps most important thing to do is to rate the importance of the child's swimming at camp. If the summer camp experience is the child's only opportunity to learn how to swim, it may be more important than if the child swims every afternoon in a family or community pool. Many camps will allow parents to swim with their children either before or after camp. This may enable the camper to become increasingly familiar and comfortable with the environment.

In general, gradual steps are recommended. Younger campers need to understand that their level of comfort will determine progress.  With older campers, a summer camp's social nature may not be the best place to tackle this issue. Parents may also look at possible alternative explanations for the fear. It may be an issue of changing clothes, the size of the group, the depth or temperature of the pool, or the changing room itself. Attractive alternative activities sometimes foster a reluctant swim attitude among older campers. Good communication between the aquatics staff, the director, and parents can help generate a successful summer in the water. top

What if my child does not like one of the regular activities?
Summer camp programs differ throughout the United States and Canada. Most camps will allow children of about seven years or older some choice in their activities.  If a camp offers a structured schedule, the activities should change throughout the summer. There is merit in learning to participate in new activities; they broaden horizons and skills.  If there is no variety in the camp's activities, a call to the group leader should explain the camp's scheduling philosophy. Camps usually cannot cater to children on an individual basis; however, they do their best to ensure that the children enjoy the activities in which they participate. Your child's camp should work with you to solve this problem.

If activity scheduling cannot be rearranged to accommodate your child's needs, a call to the director about future programming may be in order. If your child is not happy and the communication appears to indicate that the activities are not going to change, you may want to consider other camps. top

What if my child gets homesick during the day?
Many campers go through a period of homesickness during the day. For most, it passes quickly, but for some it can become a heart-wrenching problem. Some of the symptoms of homesickness are quiet, withdrawn behavior and sudden tears. It is appropriate to allow a camper to call home if he/she is overly homesick and cannot be consoled by the counselor or the group leader. Generally, the group leader or the director should make the phone call to set up the situation for the parent. Depending on the child's age and the degree of homesickness, the parent and the camp administrator should devise a strategy to solve the problem.

In a case of extreme homesickness, a day camp may ask a parent to pick up the child early, perhaps after lunch, to shorten the day. Some camps   slowly wean homesick campers by having them stay a bit later each day until they are ready to stay for the full day. If the camper is an older child or if the homesickness is less severe, smaller goals are set. Two hours after an initial phone conversation with Mom or Dad or guardian, the homesick camper may call back to say whether or not he/she is feeling better. Sometimes, this arrangement is enough. The camper forgets about the time, and all of a sudden it is time for dismissal.  If not, it might be close enough to the end of the day to convince the camper to stay. If the problem persists, the camp may call the parent to pick up the child.  It is very important for parents to communicate with the group leader or the director to make sure that their children are active and connecting socially throughout the day. top

What if my child does not get along with a fellow camper and friction results?
Camp should be a haven for all children. If there is a problem between your child and another camper, the group leader should be called immediately. If a particular relationship continues to be undesirable, many camps have an alternative group that your child could join. Although this is not the best scenario, it can be effective in extreme circumstances. If the problem persists, the director of the camp should be notified. top

Questions & Answers About Residential Camps

What if my child gets sick away from home?
Rest assured that your child will be well cared for if he/she gets sick while at camp. Every residential camp has at least a nurse or another medical professional on site at all times. There will also be a physician connected with the camp.  Although the physician may not live on the campus, s/he will make daily visits to the camp to examine children in need of medical attention. Make sure that your child understands the camp's procedures for seeing the nurse or the doctor and encourage him/her to request help at the first sign of not feeling good.

The camp will also have an infirmary where ill campers stay while they recover. If the nature of the illness is such that the camper needs many days to get better, the camp may request that you take him or her home to recuperate. But you should be consulted before any action is taken. top

What if my child does not like the camp and wants out of it?
In spite of your efforts to find the best situation for your child, it can happen that, after just a few days at a residential camp, your child may decide that it is really not for him or her. Talk to your child, and listen carefully to what s/he has to say. Talk to the counselors and the director(s). If it appears that your child is genuinely unhappy with the camp, and that it is not a case of homesickness or temporary upset brought on by some conflict or setback that can be resolved, you may well want to remove him/her from the camp.

Camps have different policies regarding refunds for campers who leave because they are unhappy, so you will have to discuss the matter with the director. If you do take your child home, try to have an alternative plan to quickly involve him or her in another program. The last thing you'd want to do is leave your child with a feeling of having "failed." After all, summer camps are for fun and enjoyment, not disappointment. top

What if my child is injured in an accident?
Again, trust that the camp has procedures in place to assure speedy and appropriate care if your child is injured in an accident. All the camp's activities should have basic first-aid kits on site -- and the supervising counselor(s) should know how to use them -- as a first measure. The nurse will be contacted immediately if the injury is such that it requires more attention than can be provided with first aid. The camp physician will have attending privileges at a local hospital, should the injury require hospital care.

While accidents can and do happen, any reputable camp will make every effort to ensure that all its activities are conducted with the children's safety as the primary consideration. You should talk to your camp ahead of time if you have concerns about safety. top

How often should I keep in contact with my child?
The answer depends in part on your child's age and personality. Younger children will feel more secure when they hear from you frequently, even every day. Older children and adolescents may be content with two letters or postcards a week. If a camp's policy permits phone calls, one telephone conversation a week would probably be very welcome.

Be sensitive to your child's individual needs in regard to communicating with him or her. Ask how often s/he would like to receive mail, and then follow through faithfully. It can be very upsetting for some children if an eagerly anticipated letter does not arrive when expected. To teach children responsibility, parents must live up to their own. top

What if my child does not like one or more of the bunkmates?
One of the great opportunities (and challenges) of a residential camp is that of making new friends and learning to get along with other children with different personalities. When you are living in close quarters and spending lots of time together, it may not always work out.  Hopefully, at the beginning of camp, the counselors will have provided activities to help bunkmates get to know and appreciate one another.

If you become aware that there is a problem among bunkmates, talk to your child's counselors and make sure that they are aware of the conflict. Ask them what they are doing to help resolve the situation. Give them suggestions based on your own understanding of your child, and encourage your child to work for resolution and remain open-minded. Isn't this one of the reasons why you send your child to a residential camp? top