The camp experience contains adventure, new friendships, laughter, and fun.  Here are a few perspectives from area campers, on the best aspects of the camp experience:

“My favorite memory of camp is the friends I made; I still keep in touch with them.”
-Caroline Terry attended Camp Bratton-Green

“Summer camp is a place where I feel free to do anything without being judged.”
-Daniel Smith attended Camp of the Rising Son and Camp Bratton-Green

 “I loved meeting all of my counselors and counselors-in-training; I also loved the activities!”
-Kathleen Doran attended CampWindhover

“We all had a big pillow fight and I knocked my best friend off his feet.”
-Jake Witt attended Camp of the Rising Son

“On the last day of camp we had a dance.  I remember dancing with these two crazy kids.  It was hilarious!”
-Hart Pepper attended Camp Bratton-Green

“It was so peaceful out there, and it was fun.”
-Haley Kuhn attended French Camp

"Lake Forest Ranch is full of opportunities.  It lets you get away from it all into a friendly, godly environment.  It's also lots of fun."
-Sam Sprow, along with brothers Brian and Mark, attended Lake Forest Ranch

Summer camp is a time of relationship-building; quality camps choose great counselors to help kids enjoy themselves and be the best they can be. While activities, skits, and cabin craziness if fun, it is the relationships formed in the summer that can change a child’s life. 

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A local counselor reflects on his summer experience:

 “I have spent countless days outside in the blistering Mississippi sun teaching kids how to ride horses. I have dined with eight-year-olds, three meals a day. I have shared a cabin with a troupe of rowdy boys, and subsequently lost quite a bit of sleep. I have humiliated myself on stage, in skits and songs, night after night for the amusement of hundreds of children. Who knew that serving others would be so much more fulfilling and more rewarding than serving yourself?”
-Ry Lewis is a counselor at TwinLakes.

The American Camp Association tells that “campers' parents have reported that when their children return home from camp they are more caring, understand the importance of giving, are more equipped to stand up for what they know is right, and are willing to be more responsible.”  Isn’t that what we all want to see in our children?

Choosing a Camp for Your Child

You’ve decided that you want to send your child to camp this summer.  Now, where do you begin?  There are so many choices available in the camping world.  How do you select the best one for your child?

The following are some tips from the National Camp Association (www.summercamp.org) that will help you choose the best camp for your child:

Discuss Expectations

Sit down with your child and discuss what the two of you want and expect out of a camp. Allow your child to express his thoughts about what he wants in a camp.  These questions can be helpful in the discussion process:

What do you and your child want to gain from the camp experience? What are the special interests that your child wants to explore? Are there any physical, intellectual, or social limitations that should be considered? What kind of emphasis will your child profit from the most? For example: Is a lot of structure desirable, is social interaction with members of the opposite sex important, or does your  child need a place where he is encouraged to develop at his own pace?

Choose a Type of Camp

Once you’ve discussed expectations with your child, it is time to select a type of camp.  Is your child ready for an overnight camp?  Would a day camp be a better choice?  Should she attend a co-ed camp or a single-sex camp?  Would a one-week stay, the entire summer, or something in-between be best? What kind of activities and level of competition can your child handle?  Does your child desire a rustic camping experience or a more modern camp stay? Each of these questions are important and can greatly affect your child’s summer experience.

Cost, Size & Location

Be sure to evaluate the costs of a summer camp before making a decision.  Camp costs can vary widely (from around $400 to as much as $9000), based on length of stay and amenities offered.  Take into account extra costs not mentioned in the camp fee, such as travel costs, a camp uniform, and spending money.

While size is an important consideration, good large camps will ensure that your child gets the individual attention he or she needs.  Location is another important factor, but more important are considerations of safety, camp environment, and medical facilities.