Tips on How to Choose a Great Summer Program in Colorado Springs

Summer vacation is one of the most exciting times school kids look forward to every year. This is their chance to break away from all the studying and homework, projects and assignments. It also means more time for playing and having fun. As a parent, you want your child to make the most of their vacation. So if you’re looking for excellent summer childcare, you may want to send your child to a summer camp. Summer camps are more than just having fun, sing alongs, playing, and building a campfire. They provide plenty of opportunities for kids to develop skills. Summer camps also teach children how to build meaningful relationships, how to be independent and other valuable traits. If you would like your child to have an awesome and productive summer, here are some tips to help you choose the best summer camp program for them.

Set your child’s expectations

Before you start looking, talk to your child and discuss the idea of summer camp. Ask them about the things they want to do this summer. Do they have specific activities they want to try? Whom do they want to spend their summer with? Are there new things they would like to accomplish or learn? The answers you get from your child could be your basis for choosing the right summer program for them. If they want to focus on sports or swimming, or they want to develop their skills in arts and crafts, you can find the summer camp program that features these activities.

Do your research

Look into a variety of summer programs before making a final decision. Be sure that the program encourages new learning and development. Find out how the summer program will contribute to your child’s future studies and career. You can use the internet as one of your resources. Check individual child care/summer camp websites and go through the list of programs they provide. See what is included in the tuition. Also, seek recommendations from your friends and family. Speak to other parents about their experiences with various summer camps. They can share an insight into how a camp usually works, the activities and their focus program. They can also share if the experience was helpful for their child or not.

Visit the camp

Before registering your child for a camp, it would be best to visit the camp and ensure the quality of instruction and the surroundings. Talk to the people who facilitate the summer camp program. Ask specific questions about the philosophies of their program, their unique features, rewards system as well as the rules. When you visit the camp, observe the interaction between the kids and their counselors. Notice how the activities take place in the camps day to day. Also, make sure that the general environment of the camp is engaging and safe for your child.

Evaluate the staff running the summer program

One of the top things parents look into is the ratio of counselors to campers. While this is an important thing to consider, there are other things about the staff you should find out. The skills and experience of the counselors are something that should be taken into consideration. Take time to find out if the staff has gone through the necessary training and if they have the experience in handling such summer programs. Ask how long they have been with the camp. Dig into how skillful and effective they are when it comes to achieving the goals the program has in place. How is their relationship with the campers? Are they capable of facilitating the activities in such a way that the children learn what they’re supposed to learn and develop the skills they are supposed to develop? Counselors play a significant role in making a summer camp program successful. So make sure you also look into this area during your search.

Summer camps are an excellent way for your child to have fun and be productive at the same time over their vacation. Follow these tips and you’re on your way to sending your child to a summer camp program that will make their summer really worthwhile.