Thursday, October 16, 2014

How to give your child healthy and happy summer camp experience?

How to give your child healthy and happy summer camp experience? Summer camps help young people build self-confidence, learn to interact with their peers and learn new skills and independence. Parents should be guided by their child’s interests and personality when choosing a program, and look for a camp that provides activities that are of interest to their child and appropriate for their child’s age and skill level.

How to give your child healthy and happy

summer camp experience? Summer camps help young people build self-confidence, learn to interact with their peers and learn new skills and independence.

Parents should be guided by their child’s interests and personality when choosing a program, and look for a camp that provides activities that are of interest to

their child and appropriate for their child’s age and skill level.

Campers have many more choices than the traditional hiking, canoeing and water sports. There is a wide range of choices, including specialty sports camps,

camps specializing in computer skills, leadership activities, community work, language skills, travel camps, preschool camps for younger children and special-

needs camps for children with disabilities.

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), parents rate fun and safety as their most important priorities. When considering a camp for their child,

parents should ask how long it has been in business, check with parents of past and returning campers, and check the camp’s reputation at bbb.org.

Camp Navigator team recommends parents look beyond glossy brochures and websites before selecting an appropriate camp, to make sure their children will be

well-supervised and safe:

Visit the camp before making a decision Check its location and view the living, eating and recreational facilities. Be sure to ask about safety procedures,

particularly for water activities, archery and out-of-camp trips.

Assess the quality and commitment of the staff Find out the camp director’s background, as well as the criteria used for hiring staff. It is also important to know

the ratio of staff to campers. Parents sending children to specialty camps should inquire about the staff’s level of expertise in the specific area.

Know the fees What is the total cost for the summer? Is your deposit refundable? Are there extra charges for any activities? Are meals and transportation

included? Is financial aid available?

Understand the safety rules Find out what the rules are and how they are enforced. Ask about the camp’s insurance coverage. Check the condition and safety of

the facilities and equipment. Note any dangerous areas, like cliffs, swamps or water zones.

Ask about the medical care Check out the medical facilities to be sure they are adequate. Find out if a nurse or doctor is on site. Inquire about the procedures

for transporting injured or sick children to nearby medical facilities.

Be familiar with the camp philosophy Know what the camps’ goals are and how each program offered meets those goals. Are family visits or other

communication with campers allowed? How is homesickness handled?

See a typical daily schedule Note the camp hours, the variety of activities that are planned, the age range of the campers, what type of food is served, the pace of

the day and any transportation that is involved.

Get references Ask parents of repeat campers about their child’s experience and why they recommend the camp. Find out the camper return rate as well as the

counselor return rate. Look for camps that are certified by the ACA their accredited camps have met up to 300 nationally recognized standards.

For More Latest Summer Camps for Kids and Teens Logon to Campnavigator.com

How good summer camps are?

How good summer camps are? Which parents wouldn’t want their kids to flower into awesome, confident, mature, and independent adults? But only if growing up was as easy as a walk in the park, no parent would have had to sweat over making their kids confident, reliant and pro-social. Thankfully, there are institutions like camps where a child can learn all these and more, in his own, away from the secured, restrained environment of home and school.

How good summer camps are? Which parents wouldn’t want their kids to flower

into awesome, confident, mature, and independent adults? But only if growing up was as easy as a walk in the park, no parent would have had to sweat over

making their kids confident, reliant and pro-social. Thankfully, there are institutions like camps where a child can learn all these and more, in his own, away from

the secured, restrained environment of home and school.

Camp is one of those few places where children can experience and satisfy their needs for physical activity, creative expression and participation in a community

things that often school and home fail to furnish.

Today’s camps put greater emphasis on making healthy, successful and fun camp communities wherein children can learn, develop and grow, without feeling

bogged down. It is in this structured environment where children can touch base with positive role models, listen to them, talk, relax and reflect. Camp teaches

kids to work together, make individual choices and decisions, take responsibility, develop creative skills, build independence and gain confidence things

indispensable for a child to fruit into a healthy, happy, productive life.

A camp experience is invaluable for every child since it helps them to mature socially, emotionally, intellectually, morally and physically

"The building blocks of self-esteem are belonging, learning and contributing. Camps offer unique opportunities for children to succeed in these three vital areas

and even beyond home and schools," says Michael Popkin, Ph.D., a family therapist and founder of Active Parenting.

One of the biggest perks of camp is that it helps kids to discover and explore their talents, interests, and values. Most schools don’t satisfy all these needs. Kids

who have had these kinds of (camp) experiences end up being healthier and have less problems which concern parents.

Summer camps enables and empowers children to experience a sense of belonging and blossom into cooperating, contributing and caring citizens.

Summer camps allows young campers to get in touch with a sense of life that is larger than one’s self. The camp community satisfies children’s basic need to

connect, fell accepted and get appreciated for all they are.

What makes camp a special community is that it celebrates effort than results. In this less pressured atmosphere, children grasp new things readily and positively,

which helps to build their confidence and strength of mind.

For More Latest Summer Camps for Kids and Teens Logon to Campnavigator.com

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Summer Camp FAQs

Summer Camp FAQs Sending kids to a summer camp is never easy for any parents. The joy of sending your child into the woods and the wild for summer fun is often bogged down by anxiety and worries over things like safety, health, counselors, etc.

Summer Camp FAQs Sending kids to a summer camp is never easy for any parents.

The joy of sending your child into the woods and the wild for summer fun is often bogged down by anxiety and worries over things like safety, health,

counselors, etc. Some of the pertinent questions that nag all parents are "Whether I should send my child to camp? "Is my child ready for camp?" Can I

afford it?" "What kind of summer camp should I send my child to? "Is overnight better than day camps?"

The trail of unending questions is often long enough to perplex any parent. That said, it’s impertinent for parents to learn about and be comfortable with

their choice of camp. And the best way to do so is to gain all the knowledge there is to be gained about the whole camping experience and the camp you

are about to send your kid to.

Camp Navigator presents a list of some of the pertinent questions that all parents must ask before you zero down on a camp. Read on to know some

common summer camp FAQs.

What is your telephone number?

What is your fax number?

What is your mailing address?

What is your general email address?

What forms are required for registration?

What should my RESIDENTIAL CAMPER bring?

What should my RESIDENTIAL CAMPER NOT bring?

What should my DAY CAMPER bring?

What should my DAY CAMPER NOT bring?

What are the prices for summer camp?

What is the registration fee?

What time is Check-in and Check-out?

For More Latest Summer Camps for Kids and Teens Logon to Campnavigator.com

Tips for selecting Best Summer Camps

Tips for selecting Best Summer Camps When snow is still on the ground, summer camps seems to be a distant thing. Yet, before you know it, the school year ends, and kids trade snowsuits for swimsuits.

Tips for selecting Best Summer Camps When snow is still on the

ground, summer camps seems to be a distant thing. Yet, before you know it, the school year ends, and kids trade snowsuits for swimsuits.

If you are considering enrolling your child in summer camp, it’s never too early to begin learning about the different types of programs, costs, schedules,

and admission procedures.

When choosing a camp, reputations and word of mouth are meaningful resources; however, a terrific match for one child and family might not be the

best match for your child or family. The best advice is to think about your child’s interests and temperament, and make a list of camp features that are

most important to your family and child.

Below are some helpful questions parents often ask when gathering information about camps. Asking these questions before zeroing down on a camp of

your choice might prove to be beneficial. We at Camp Navigator, assists you with some of the most obvious questions.

Application Process:

What is the camp schedule?

Does the camp offer flexible schedules?

What are the hours of operation?

What are the camp’s opening and closing dates?

What is the deadline for submitting applications?

Tuition and Fees:

What is the tuition and registration fee?

What is included in the tuition e.g., transportation, meals, insurance, special trips, entrance fees, health services, use of equipment, etc.? Ask the camp

director to itemize services for which additional fees are required.

Is there a membership fee? Must the parent join the sponsoring organization in order for his or her child to attend the camp?

How and when is tuition paid? By week, month, session?

Are scholarships available?

What is the refund policy if for any reason you commit and your child cannot attend the camp?

Health and Safety:

Who licenses the camp? Is the license current?

What is the policy around water activities? Who supervises the children during water activities?

How does the camp accommodate children who have special needs, such as asthma, diabetes, or allergies?

Are counselors or other camp staff required to be certified in CPR and First Aid?

How does the summer camp handle minor injuries, such as bruises, scrapes, and cuts?

How does the camp handle emergencies? What happens if there is an emergency and parents cannot be reached?

If transportation is involved, what vehicles are used and how often are they inspected? Who drives the vehicles and what training do drivers have?

Meals:

Are lunches provided by the day camp? (If yes, ask for a sample menu in advance. If no, ask what guidelines they have for bag lunches.)

Are snacks provided during the day? What kind and when?

Are special meals available for children with allergies or special needs?

Where do the children eat?

For More Latest Summer Camps for Kids and Teens Logon to Campnavigator.com

Monday, October 13, 2014

How to host your own backyard summer camp ?

How to host your own backyard summer camp ? When you want all the benefits of a camp like keeping your kids out of your hair and entertained during their summer break without breaking the bank think of hosting a backyard summer camp? That way, you can ensure that your kids lap up maximum summer fun along with neighborhood friends, all in the comfort of home and under the watchful eyes of yours. Home summer camps are especially good for kindergarten kids who can get a taste of camp before experiencing the real thing.

How to host your own backyard summer camp ?

When you want all the benefits of a camp like keeping your kids out of your hair and entertained during their summer break without breaking

the bank think of hosting a backyard summer camp? That way, you can ensure that your kids lap up maximum summer fun along with

neighborhood friends, all in the comfort of home and under the watchful eyes of yours. Home summer camps are especially good for kindergarten

kids who can get a taste of camp before experiencing the real thing. Camp Navigator lists a few thing you will need to consider before you get a

camp in place, Read on to know.

Choose your structure

The more campers you have, the freer you will be! But before that, make an estimate of kids you can handle. The American Academy of Pediatrics

suggests a ratio of one adult to ten 6 to 8 year old. You can run the camp for a week, with parents of each of the child taking one each day. That

way, you will save heaploads on childcare.

Choose your campers and parents

An ideal home camp is where kids of more or less similar age and friends come together. So make sure that the kids you pick for the camp is of

similar age to your child. You can scour neighborhood or kindergarten class for interested campers. Also, ensure to involve parents who are willing

to host one of the camp days.

Set ground rules

Parents should jot down all important information, such as how to be reached in an emergency and their kids’ allergies. You can ask kids to bring

their own lunches, but can provide snacks. You can also set a theme for the camp to add a dash of fun to the whole do.

Create a schedule

Once you have zeroed down on a theme and listed the activities, pen a time line for the day. Kids do things at different speeds. So always have some

other activity set up in another room. Put away as many toys as possible, to help keep the kids focused and save your house from getting littered.

For More Latest Summer Camps for Kids and Teens Logon to Campnavigator.com

Monday, June 16, 2014

Northampton Tennis Academy



Wondering how to keep your child productively busy during this summer break? Camp Navigator advises you to enroll him into his favorite sports camp and see him ace in his choicest game. After all what can be a better way to teach your child a sport and see him having fun doing it.

For those interested in the game of tennis, Northampton Tennis Academy has announced beginner and intermediate level camps for interested kids. Armed with top-rated coaches and avant-garde approach and keeping in line with industry standards, this is the place where you children can learn to play and even fall in love with the game of tennis. But the attractions simply don’t end there. Campers will also get chance to take a dip in the pool everyday as well as enjoy a gamut of other fun activities.

To be hosted from 8:30 a.m. to  4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday, interested can campers can choose between a full day (8:30am-4:30am) or half days (8.30am-12:00pm and 1:00-4:30pm). A full day session has been priced a $225 a week and $150 for half day session per week. It has 1:8 coach to student ratio.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

How To Be A Better Camper







For those who realize that ‘camping time’ is equally important as ‘family time’, there is no stopping them from tenting up outdoors, no sooner summer break hits. While camping can be a great learning and fun experience, it’s important to pay heed to a few pointers before you leave home. Whether you are an experienced camper or planning your first camping trip, be sure to mind your manners at the campground. Here are a few suggestions from fellow outdoor enthusiasts on important camping etiquette.
  • When camping out, try not to cause damage to the natural environment.
  • If a site or area states ‘no pets’, pay heed
  • If your pet is allowed to camp with you, keep it under control and clean and look after it
  • Respect quiet hours in the campsite, if you are a large group try and find a more isolated spot away from others. If you will be playing music, keep it at a reasonable level at night or turn it off if people close by are sleeping
  • Use rubbish bins provided or take it with you if there are not any
  • Never take wood from standing trees
  • If there are signs stating not to collect wood at all, take note and supply your own wood
  • Respect fire bans
  • Build campfires where possible in designated areas
  • Only burn materials that will leave no trace, no bottle tops and plastic
  • Respect other campers when choosing campsite and don’t short cut through other campers sites whilst camping
  • If camping in an area without facilities, bury toilet waste away from water source and dispose of toilet paper properly
  • If using campsite facilities be thoughtful to other users, leave bathrooms clean and don’t take longer than necessary in showers
  • If possible consider showering at ‘off peak’ times, lessening the queues in the morning and evening
  • Respect local wildlife, do not feed or intimidate the animals, remember it is their home, not yours

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