Eric D. Naftulin asked:


Remember camp when you were a kid? You spent your days horseback riding, petting farm animals and shooting bows and arrows. Your nights were filled with skits, s’mores, and singing songs around the campfire.

You can still find summer programs like these. There will always be a market for the tradtional camp experience. But today’s youth often demands more stimulating camp activities. Extreme sports camps are where it’s at!

Extreme sports camps run the gamut from surfing camps to wakeboarding camps to dirt biking camps and more. Though extreme sports camps are often viewed as “riskier” than traditional camps, the risks or dangers are often more perceived than actual when the camp takes proper precautions.

What are the “proper precautions” needed to keep kids safe at extreme sports camps?

In general, the camp staff requires additional training and expertise in the activities being offered. New, modern, and well-maintained equipment must be utilized. And weather conditions (such as at a surf camp, for example) must be just right; you don’t want your child learning to surf on a 5 foot wave when a 1-foot wave is more than appropriate for a beginner.

Since extreme sports camp activities are typically more challenging than traditional camp activities, your child’s potential for personal growth and development is enormous. It is not unusual for parents to report a dramatic increase in their child’s self-confidence and esteem after participating in an extreme sports camp. Imagine your son or daughter’s sense of pride and achievement after conquering the biggest wave at surf camp!

The thrill and fun of attending an extreme sports camp can’t be beat. But remember, the necessity for proper safety provisions, supervision, equipment, and personnel cannot be overstated. Assuming these important variables are in place, your child could be in for the most amazing camp experience of their life.



Jean

Shelly Cartwright asked:


What’s the best way for your child to be safe, have fun and beat the summer heat? Sign them up for a water sports or aquatic camp!

Summertime and aquatic activities go hand-in-hand. According to Theresa Torrone, a volunteer for the American Camp Association (ACA), “Water sports camps are one of the fastest growing segments of the specialty camp field within the summer camp industry as a whole. There’s a water sports camp for kids and teens everywhere.”

Also known as aquatics sports camps, water sports camps generally offer surfing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, boogie boarding, body surfing, parasailing, swimming, inner-tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, boating and related activities.

What if your child doesn’t have previous experience with these activities? Torrone says not to worry. “Most water sports camps accept kids from every aquatic background, so your child can participate and enjoy the activities safely and have fun no matter what.”

To cover your bets, however, Torrone says to “always check with the camp director first just to be sure.”

Sometimes parents think a water sports camp is out of the question if they don’t live close to the ocean. But Torrone says your kids can still get the full benefit of attending a water sports camp no matter where you live.

“Some of the premier water sports camps in the country use lakes, reservoirs and pools as their primary activity base. The ocean is fun, but it’s definitely not essential to enjoying a premier aquatic camp experience.

“For example, jet skiing, wakeboarding and fishing camps often take place at lakes or rivers. They don’t require a beach or ocean for kids to have fun.”

When asked about surfing camps, Torrone said, “I suppose if you want to learn to surf, or attend a surf camp, you’ll need to find a water sports camp at the beach. But even if you don’t live by the beach, you can go to an overnight surf camp. There are a number of them across the country.”

To find a list of water sports camps, Torrone suggests contacting the American Camp ACA. “The ACA’s a great resource. Whether you’re looking for a surf camp, jet skiing camp, wakeboarding camp, or just a swimming camp, the ACA can provide you with a list of accredited programs all over the country.”

Torrone says you can also look on the Internet. “If you want a surf camp,  SurfCampSearch.com, a free online surf camp directory. If you want an all around aquatic sports camp experience, including surfing, try Aloha Beach Camp in Los Angeles. And last I checked, ussportscamps.com and localsportscamps.com also have comprehensive listings of water sports camps everywhere so you can find a great program.”

Whatever camp you choose, it’s always wise to involve your child in the decision-making process. “If your child is involved in picking the water sports camp they’ll eventually attend,” she said, “they’re going to end up loving it that much more.”



Ann

Shelly Cartwright asked:


Hopefully your child will be among the 12 million other kids going to camp this summer. The positive benefits kids gain from a camp experience – such as learning to take responsibility for themselves, making new friends, and building self-confidence and esteem – are well-documented and indisputable.

You don’t want to make a mistake when picking a camp, so here are the top 7 things to consider before you sign on the dotted line.

Make sure your child is ready for camp

Kids develop at certain rates. Some kids are ready for camp before others. If your child is mature, gets along well with others, and is comfortable being separated from you, he or she is probably ready for a camp experience. Otherwise, you might consider waiting a year or two.

Include your child in the decision-making process

It’s been proven time and again: The kids who enjoy camp the most are those who’ve been involved in choosing their own camp. When parents pick a camp without consulting their kids, their kids usually don’t like camp as much.

Check references

One of the biggest mistakes parents make when signing up for camp is not checking references. Always ask the camp director for at least three references, and be sure to follow through on making your calls. If you don’t hear glowing reports from the references, look into other camps.

Only pick a camp with activities your child likes

This one’s easy. If your son wants to learn to surf, send him to a surf camp. If your daughter wants to polish her gymnastics skills, look into a gymnastics camp. Don’t send your surfer kid to cooking camp. Don’t send your daughter who’s obsessed with gymnastics to an archery camp.

Meet the director ahead of time

It’s not a good idea to register for camp sight-unseen. There’s too much potential for something bad to happen. The camp might not be as safe as you thought, the counselors might not be as nice, the director might not be as qualified, and the facilities might not be as clean. So meet the director ahead of time, and/or take a tour of the camp, if possible, before the summer starts. You wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive, so don’t sign up for camp without a test-drive, either.

Choose an ACA Accredited camp

Most parents would not send their kids to a non-accredited school, so why would you send them to a non-accredited camp? Picking a summer camp that’s accredited by the American Camp Association is the ONLY way you can be sure the camp meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to child safety and program quality, among others. If you don’t choose an accredited camp, watch out.

Find out the camp’s refund policy

What if your child doesn’t like camp? What if they break their arm before camp starts, or even during camp? What if something unexpected happens and you need to drop out? While many camps have no-refund policies, others are more lenient. Make sure you understand the camp’s refund policy in advance and get it in writing. You don’t want to make a finical mistake, especially in this awful economy.

These are the top 7 things to remember when choosing a camp for your child. Summer camp can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a child’s life when you pick the right program.



Danielle

Eric D. Naftulin asked:


Seems like everyone carries a cell phone, iPod or other electronic device these days. Kids are no exception, but what happens when kids want to bring these items to summer camp?

Some camps allow kids to bring electronic gadgets with them to camp. One camp even includes an “optional cell phone” in its suggested packing list.

But that’s the exception, not the rule. Most camps restrict kids from bringing these items to camp completely.

Theresa Torrone, the director her own summer camp in Los Angeles, California, does not allow portable electronics at camp. “We believe iPods, Gameboys, cell phones, other portable electronic devices electronics are better left at home,” Torrone says. “Not only are these items easily lost, damaged or even stolen, they are counterproductive to the camp experience.”

Torrone says the goals at her camp include teaching kids about beach and ocean ecology, introducing them to new aquatic activities like surfing and jet skiing, and facilitating new friendships, among others. But if children are listing to iPods or talking on cell phones, “they typically do so in isolation, apart from the rest of the camp group,” argues Torrone. “We believe a large part of going to camp is sharing new experiences in a group setting. When kids are playing with their cell phones or electronics, their opportunities to learn and experience new things with their group are limited.”

According to Torrone, some parents insist on sending a cell phone to camp with their kids because they feel more comfortable knowing they can reach their child anytime just by calling.

“But a major component to the camp experience is learning to live independently. Kids can’t do that with their parents calling them all the time. So we feel that parents should resist the temptation to send their kids to camp with cell phones. If you need to reach your child in an emergency or for any other reason, just call or email the camp office. They’ll be able to contact your child right away.”

Torrone says many camps now use technology to give parents “an arms length way” to see and communicate with their kids while they’re at camp. Some camps will post pictures of the campers on the Internet while others give parents the opportunity to send one-way emails to their kids as an alternative to sending letters.

Torrone understands kids’ cravings for electronic toys and gadgets. “Many kids are even more tech-savvy than their folks,” she says. And there are some kids, Torrone says, who just “can’t get enough tech.”

In this case, Torrone suggests sending your son or daughter to a technology-based summer program. “Many camps specialize in technology-driven activities,” Torrone said. “Computer camps and video-making camps are really popular these days.”

To find camps like these, or any other type of camp, Torrone advises logging onto http://findacamp.com, the American Camp Association’s summer camp search engine which is filled with a database of approximately 2,500 accredited camps.

Torrone’s Aloha Beach Camp embraces technology and the power of the Internet to provide information to prospective camp families and customers. “But we’d rather not have their kids bringing electronic devices into the camp community.”

Does Torrone ever envision a day when electronic toys and gadgets will be accepted at camp? She pauses to think, then replies, “Well, maybe when campers can learn to ride a horse, bond with the rest of the group, roast marshmallows, do skits around the campfire and download songs to their iPods all at the same time,” she laughs.

Copyright Eric D. Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.



Melanie

Eric D. Naftulin asked:


Where “general” or “traditional” camp programs have historically been the norm, specialty summer camp programs for kids and teens — which focus on one just one activity or a few related ones — are growing in popularity year after year. Nowhere is this more evident than along the southern California coastline, where surf camps are one of the fastest growing segments in the specialty camp sector. The increased interest in the sport, especially among children, has led to the proliferation of surf camps up and down the coast. Just take a stroll along the beaches of San Diego or Los Angeles and you’ll see group after group of happy campers learning to surf from their caring camp counselors and surfing instructors.

If your child has expressed an interest in learning to surf, sign him or her up for a summer surf camp experience!

But how can you tell you’re picking the right one?

When you choose a surf camp, it’s always wise to narrow your search down to one that’s earned accreditation by the American Camp Association. If a surf camp has achieved this status, it means the camp meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards running the gamut from program and activity quality to camper safety to staffing and supervision and more.

If the surf camp you’re considering is not accredited by the American Camp Association, then you should ask the camp director why that’s the case. If you are not satisfied with the answer, it’s time to move on to the next surf camp.

Surf camp accreditation status is certainly not the only criteria to rely on when choosing a surf camp. You must also be sure the counselors and surfing instructors are experienced, qualified and have basic safety certifications in CPR, First Aid and lifeguarding. (While the ocean environment is tremendously fun, it demands respect, too. So you want to be certain your child is being instructed by capable and qualified staff who are equipped to handle any potential scenario that might come up, particularly with respect to your child’s safety at the beach.)

Concerning the individuals who will be supervising and teaching your child to surf, you want to choose a surf camp with experienced instructors who are caring, nurturing, and capable of teaching children of all ages, temperaments, and ability levels whether they are beginning, intermediate or advanced surfers.

You also want to make sure the surf camp incorporates a heavy dose of beach, water, and sun safety learning components into its program so your child gets them most well-rounded surf camp experience possible.

In addition, the surf camp should provide new equipment (including surfboards and wetsuits), and the camp program should take place only in ideal learning environments such as oceans with soft sandy bottoms and consistent wave activity.

In addition, there should be a public lifeguard supervising the surf camp program at all times.

Often overlooked in a parents’ search for a surf camp is to confirm whether the camp has a high profile sponsor connected to it. For example, if you choose a surf camp that is sponsored by Billabong or Quicksilver (which are huge companies and very well-respected in the surfing industry), you can be fairly certain you’re on the right track because these organizations will generally only attach their names to trusted surf camps with respectable camp programs.

We hope this article has helped you learn how to choose a surf camp.

Copyright Eric Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.



Rafael

Eric D. Naftulin asked:


If you’re a parent considering summer camp opportunities for your child, you might consider a day camp rather than (or in addition to) a sleepaway camp experience.

Parents often view sending their kids to day camps as a “stepping stone” to overnight camp. They might think day camps are for “younger kids” and sleepaway camps are for older ones. In some cases this is might be true, but not always.

In fact, some day camps actually specialize in meeting the unique needs of older kids who don’t want to go to sleepaway camp, but who still require worthwhile activities and adult supervision during the summer.

 Activities at such day camps are often designed for the teen or “tween” age group.

One of the advantages you have as a parent when comparing day camps to overnight camps (or even day camps to day camps) is that a day camp’s customer base is generally restricted to its local geographical area. This makes things easier for you to learn more about the camp.

For example, you can contact the camp’s current or former customers for references, and you can even visit the camp before making a decision.

So how do you know you’re picking the right day camp for your child? We’ve indirectly touched on a few points above. In particular, though, we recommend following 4-point checklist to help ensure the day camp you choose is the right one for your child.

1. Make sure the day camp is ACA accredited

If the day camp you’re considering is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), then you are assured it meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to camper health and safety, program quality, camper supervision, activity planning, transportation and more. If the day camp you’re considering is not ACA-accredited, ask the camp director why not.

2. Check references

Since day camps primarily serve local customers, it should not be difficult to find a few families who’ve attended the camp before. Talk to them about their impressions of the program. If you hear good things, you might have a winner. Mixed reviews, on the other hand, could be a “red flag” alerting you to research the camp further. But if everyone you speak with has only negative things to say, then rule that day camp out, pat yourself on the back for taking the time to conduct a thorough investigation, and keep looking for a different camp.

3. Involve your child in the decision making process

Research shows that kids enjoy camp more when they’re included in the decision-making process. Since there are so many different types of day camps to choose from, it’s important to match your child’s interests and personality with the activities the day camp offers. Accordingly, it’s advisable to take a tour of the camp and/or attend an open house together with your child. After you’ve toured the camp, ask for your child’s opinion. This can be a much better approach than unilaterally deciding which day camp your child will attend without consulting them ahead of time, as asking for their input means they’ll probably have a more positive camp experience in the end.

4. Tour the camp and meet the staff

Most day camps hold open houses or organized facility tours during the prime camp enrollment season (generally springtime). These events are great opportunities for you to meet the staff, ask questions and see how the camp operates on a day-to-day basis. You might even decide to attend several camps’ open houses for a point of comparison and to see where you get the best “vibe.” In this author’s opinion, attending a day camp open house or touring the facility is the single BEST way to see what you’re getting into ahead of time.

Camp is such a personal experience. You want your child to connect with his or her counselors on a personal level and admire them as leaders and role models. You owe it to yourself and your child to pick a day camp that your child will look back on later in life and say, “I remember that camp, and it was the best experience of my life!”

Your child deserves the best. It’s your responsibility as a parent to put him or her in an environment where they can thrive, and choosing the right day camp can make this happen for you.

Happy day camping!

Copyright Eric Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.



Derrick

Eric D. Naftulin asked:


Could this be the end of summer camp as we know it?

Have traditional summer camps — where kids enjoy horseback riding, archery, take nature hikes, sing songs and make s’mores around the campfire — seen their final days?

Probably not. But given the way specialty camps are gaining traction among today’s youth, traditional camps may be losing their foothold.

According to Theresa Torrone, a volunteer for the American Camp Association and the owner/operator of her own beach and surf specialty camp in Los Angeles, California, “Specialty camps appeal to kids with very specific interests. Rather than participate in a wide variety of general camp activities, they’d rather spend their summer focusing on just one specialty activity instead.”

Torrone cited cooking camps, dramatic arts camps, and surf (also known as surfing) camps among some of the fastest growing genres in the specialty summer camp field.

“As a volunteer for the American Camp Association, I visit various types of camps each summer, and I’m intimately familiar with many others. I can tell you that the specialty camp sector is growing like gangbusters,” Torrone said.

Given the fact surf camps – where kids learn not only how to surf, but also about surf etiquette, wave judgment and selection, ocean science and water safety – are becoming more prevalent, is Torrone concerned about the inevitable added competition for her own camp?

“Nah,” she said with a smile. “The more kids who experience camp at the beach, the better. If they come to my camp, great. But the most important thing is that they get to experience the ocean environment somewhere. I’m glad there are so many available opportunities for kids to learn to surf at camp.”

 Most likely, the traditional camp experience will last forever because many parents feel that sending their kids to a traditional summer camp is a virtual an American pastime.

But specialty camps are gaining ground fast…of that there is no doubt.

Copyright Eric D. Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.



Florence