camps

[houseelf]

We just got a brochure from the YMCA on a day camp for my 5 y.o. son. I looooooved camp as a kid and going to them spurred on a life long love of the outdoors. They have a wee backpackers' day camp within 5 miles of our house and I'm contemplating signing up DS for a week. This is my first time being on this side of the camp equation. Any BTDT advice about camps for a rookie parent?

Kelly

We did a one week half-day camp at the zoo. It was very well-received and talked about for months afterward. When we go to the zoo, I still get fun zoo trivia tidbits.
The half-day wiped her out. Half-day is for 4-kindergarten and they start full day at 6 yo. So, I guess my BTDT would be -- how long is the day, what is the activity level, and is it too much?

[PrincessFiona]

We have waited to get into the camp thing....I didn't go to camp during the summer until the 4th grade and so I guess that kind of carried over for me to my own parenting....there is no real rational reason. Andrew and Amanda will be going to a 2 week overnight german camp this summer for the first time ever. I'm nervous and THRILLED at the same time :>

I agree with checking out who runs the program and the kinds of activities that they have. You may even ask around and see if any of the other parents you know have sent their children and what their reaction/feeling was.

Oh yeah....I did the zoo camp because I talked to a few people about how much their kids loved it and got some info on the staffing. My neighbor's son (nice kid!) worked there for a few summers.