Pick the Perfect Summer Camp for Your Kids

(CBS)  Each summer over 10 million kids attend a camp of some sort, but for many parents the process can be a daunting experience.

So what's the best way to choose a summer camp to fit your child?

On "The Early Show" Monday, Peg Smith, the chief executive officer of the American Camp Association, shared her tips for choosing the right camp.

Smith says there is a lot more to be gained from the camp experience for children.

"It's essential to the education of the whole child because they are learning life skills. This oftentimes is their first real opportunity to learn life skills such as independence, social skills, sportsmanship, leadership and self confidence."

So where should parents begin searching for a camp?

She suggests these resources:

• CampParents.org - a great online tool to find out cost, type and locations of thousands of camps around the country)

• Ask friends and neighbors - They often have lots of experience and this is a great way for you to get word-of-mouth recommendations.

• Check with your municipal parks and recreation departments and with churches and synagogues. - Many parks and recreations departments offer their own camps during the summer, but if they don't they definitely have the resources to share what camps are around, as well as the churches and synagogues.

For children who want to go to camp, but don't have the extra funds to do so, Smith said there are scholarships available. She said about $39 million is given out annually for these scholarships. She also suggested these tips:

• Choose varying camp session length - You don't have to go to camps for the time indicated in a brochure- oftentimes you can tailor an experience for your children based upon your budget, even if that means they go for 4 days a week instead of 5. There is a lot of leeway.

• Sibling and early-bird discounts - If you have brothers and sisters going to the same camp, you MUST ask about a discount. Also, it's never too early to look into camps as there are deals to be had if you are prepared and know in advance what you want.

Smith says there are camps for every child. To narrow the search, she suggests considering these factors:

• Consider your child - Involve your child in the process, look online, visit camps together, if a child feels a part of the process they're more likely to have a more positive experience.

• What type of camp would work best for your child? - Maybe a 7-year-old might not be ready for sleep away, while a 12-year-old will help you find the furthest camp they can get away to.

• Be sure to ask questions - Talk to the camp director, be open and honest, make sure you address the camp's philosophies and see if they match your families values. Ask about staff training and experience.

• Consider safety - An ACA accredited camp is a parent's best evidence of dealing with a camp's commitment to health and safety.

For more information, visit the American Camp Association website here.

[AShlensky]

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