Choosing a Camp
Choosing a Camp Made Easy
Lois Deckelbaum
Main Line Times
Feb 3rd, 2005
Parents can often feel overwhelmed at the choices of summer programs for their children, and the choices can change year to year as children grow and mature. Do I look for a day camp or sleep-away camp? Small or large, religious or interfaith, sports or crafts, boot camp or nurturing, water skills or hiking, cabins or tents?
One service - Tips on Trips and Camps - can compress all these considerations into simple step-by-step choices and offer a centralized source of information for families. Lois Deckelbaum is the local representative for Tips on Trips and Camps, a nationwide and international service that is free to families searching for the right summer program for children ages 8-18. Deckelbaum not only knows of the camps, but has visited most of them. "Last summer, I visited programs in Virginia, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut" she said. "If I haven't visited the camp, someone in my organization has. We represent over 400 camps and travel programs in the U.S. and abroad."
Many parents often choose a camp simply because their child may know someone at the camp. Jane Ebby was looking for a camp for her son. "I was considering sending Jack to a camp in Connecticut because his cousins go there. I knew Lois from my spinning class (group exercise on stationary bikes) and her daughter had been our baby sitter. I happened to mention my choice and the reason for the choice to Lois. She knew my son and the camp and said it was a good choice, but she thought there were others I should consider. Her service is free, so she gave me some videos of other camps and we started a dialogue.
Lois knew the questions I needed to ask myself, such as: "What were the most important things I wanted for my son? Did the camp focus only on sports? Did it have nature programs? Was it nurturing for kids? How big was the camp? Was it co-ed? Where was it located? She helped me narrow my goals, and she takes into consideration the needs of the children, such as: Is the child outgoing, shy or athletic? She provided the information I needed to make an informed choice. We narrowed the choice down to two camps. Then she got me in touch with the camp owners in northern New York , and after speaking with them, I chose that camp and Jack had a great time. He's going back this year and so is his sister." Most parents think there are a lot of camps that are basically the same. Deckelbaum, however, knows the full range of choices. "I have firsthand information on overnight camps and programs for teens. Not all camps are sports oriented. There are also science, art and performing arts camps, specialty camps that concentrate on a single sport, or craft camps, cultural and language immersion programs, adventure trips to foreign countries, community service, even college prep programs." Tips on Trips and Camps is not just for the wealthy looking for elite camps. "We can match by finances and geography, as well as religion, personality or camp specialties. Most people here in the East only look within a small geographic range, but there are many wonderful options if families are willing to travel."
Deckelbaum, after helping families identify their desires and needs for their children, will provide information and videos on as many as six camp choices, or more if parents desire. She then puts the family in touch with the camp directors by e-mail or phone, to achieve a comfort level and fit between families and the summer camps. Additionally, she gives feedback offered by past participants, as well as advice on what questions parents should ask camp directors. She also provides support for parents who are sending their children off to sleep-away camp for the first time. "Lois also gave me important tips," Ebby said. "I thought of driving my son to summer camp, but she said, 'If he takes the bus, he'll make friends on the bus.' She was right. By the time they arrived at camp, he knew everyone on the bus. She also told me not to let him see me cry when the bus pulled away. A week after he left, Lois asked me how it was going and I said I was worried because I hadn't received a letter. She told me that was good because it meant he was too busy having fun, and she was right, again. "I recommend her to all my friends," Ebby added. "She helps you find a camp that fits the child and the family."
For further information call:
Lois Deckelbaum at 610-649-0911
or e-mail her at: lois@tipsontripsandcamp.com
