Posts Tagged ‘summer camp’
Help In Picking The Right Camp
January 20, 2010
So you are thinking about a Minnesota Summer Camp for your child. GREAT!
Here are the top 10 questions to ask a summer camp director. This list was compiled by the American Camp Association.
1. What’s the camp’s ideology?
Are you comfortable with this ? Is it a good fit for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? What religious observances or practices are part of the program? I
2. How does the Summer Camp get and train its staff?
Do counselors have criminal background checks? First aid training? Drug Testing? What’s the training all about?
3. What about return rates?
How many counselors are returning this year? The ACA says at most camps, 50 percent of the staff returns. If the number you’re given is lower, ask why. How many campers return? Fifty percent is good, and more is better. Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Summer Camps Minnesota
4. What’s the ratio of staff to camper?
Guidelines for overnight camps are for a 1:6 ratio for ages for younger children, and 1:10 for older teens.
5. How old are the counselors?
The ACA recommends that 80 percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise.
6. What about Health Care?
Overnight camp have a licensed physician or registered nurse on the site daily, Day camps should be have direct phone access. Be sure you are comfortable that the camp will be able to handle your child’s special health care needs.
7. How does the camp handle conflicts and Discipline?
Find out what the camp’s rules are and what breaches would result in a camper being sent home. You should be comfortable that the camp’s practices are in line with your parenting practices.
8. What does a typical daily schedule look like?
This will help you decide if your child will be happy with the level of physical activity or the amount of time devoted to arts and crafts. Ask how much freedom a child has to choose activities.
9. Does the camp have vans for transportation?
How often are camp vehicles inspected? Who will be driving them and what’s the training.
10. References,References, References
Most important, get the names of parents with children the same age who have attended the camp. They will tell you what makes camp so special
If you are still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Overnight Summer Camps
Swift Nature Camp is aSummer Youth Camps for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional summer camp activities with Animal Summer Camp that increases a child’s appreciation for nature, science and the environment.
Ten Questions in Selecting a Wisconsin Summer Camp
January 8, 2010
Sending your child to a Wisconsin Summer Camp is a great idea if you have done your homework. The American Camp Association suggest you try these top questions.
What’s the camp’s philosophy? Is it one you’re comfortable with? Is it a good match for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? If it’s a camp run by a religious organization, what religious observances or practices are part of the program? If you’re looking at a sports camp that touts an affiliation with a celebrity athlete, how much time–if any–will the sports star actually spend there?
How does the camp recruit, screen and train its staff? Do counselors have criminal background checks? First aid training? Drug Testing?
What about Staff and Camper return rates? How many counselors are returning this year 50% is a good numbers. How many campers return? Fifty percent is good, and more is better. Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this wonderful Wisconsin Summer Camp.
What’s the ratio of counselors to campers? ACA guidelines for overnight camps call for a 1:6 ratio for ages 7 and 8, 1:8 for ages 9-14; and 1:10 for ages 15-18. Day camp guidelines call for 1:8 for children ages 6-8; 1:10 for children ages 9-14; and 1:12 for ages 15-18.
What’s the age of Staff ? Eighty percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise.
Is a Nurse at hand? The ACA recommends that an sleepaway camps have a physician or nurse on the site daily. If your camper has medications, food allergies or a medical condition, be sure you ask all your questions and are comfortable.
How does the camp Punish campers? Know what your summer camp’s rules and regulations. Be sure they match yur parental thoughts. Know what breaches would send a camper home.
What does a typical daily schedule look like? This will help you decide if your child will be happy with the level of physical activity or the amount of time devoted to arts and crafts. Ask how much freedom a child has to choose activities.
How does the camp provide transportation? How often are the van inspected? Who is driving, what’s the training.
References,References, References Most important, get the names of parents with children the same age who have attended the camp. They will tell you what makes camp so special
Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Summer Camps
Still looking for a resource to help you sort out all the summer camp confusion? Try Summer Camp
About the authors: Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional coed Wisconsin Summer Camp. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals and science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in programs for the first time camper as well as adventures for teens. Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz have been the owners since 1996. Overnight Summer Camps in Wisconsin
Are Kids Safe At Camp
January 8, 2010
This summer over 10 million kids will be off toSummer Youth Camps. But before they go, health experts are issuing strong new advice to both parents and camp directors, and recommending new precautions to protect campers’ health.
For instance, the experts say, parents should make sure to ask camp officials now what kinds of health services, including emergency response, their child’s camp has in place. Campers should provide, and camps should require, a full health exam and list of any medications that campers use — and let children have immediate access to emergency drugs for asthma and allergies. And parents shouldn’t see camp as a time to give kids a “holiday” from drugs for behavior issues or mental health issues.
Even homesickness, a common psychological malady for campers, can be prevented with a little effort by parents and doctors in the weeks before camp.
Ina recent journal of Pediatrics, new standards were proposed for Summer Camps. Edward Walton, M.D. helped author a paper, outlining an official policy statement for the American Academy of Pediatrics and was produced in conjunction with the A.C.A. (American Camp Association).
Walton, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine in the U-M Medical School who has studied camp health for 18 years, says “Summer camp, whether it’s day camp or sleep-away, can be a great experience for children — but it’s crucial that parents, camp officials and medical professionals work together to make it as safe.”
Walton writes in the journal of Wilderness & Environmental Medicine showing that nearly 45% of camp have health care workers without significant training to meet the medical needs, including diabetes, asthma, attention deficit disorder and epilepsy. For most camps ambulance services are more than 10 minutes from camp and nearly 75%t said the hospital was smaller and less equipped than a city hospital.
In light of these statistics, Walton advises parents and camp officials to communicate openly, early and often about any health problems a child has or might face at camp, how the camp would respond, and how parents can be reached in an emergency.
The bottom line here is to look into the camps safety record and be sure to ask the camp owners and directors how safe their camp is. Are they prepared for your child? To learn more on how to pick a summer camp go to Summer Camp Advice. A FREE directory about Summer Camps
Swift Nature Camp is a Summer Youth Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional summer camp activities with that of a Science Summer Camp.
Nature Summer Camps Get Kids Outside
January 2, 2010
Summer Camp is the place for kids and animals to meet, whether the camp includes animals as a part of traditional camp programs or makes a more formal approach as a science camp.
For many children making a connection with animals is a great way to reconnect with nature. Campers can find and develop a desire to know more about the nature they find all around them. When they follow that desire, they begin to acquire a deep respect for nature that will serve them all their lives.
At Swift Nature Camp, also known as a Science Camp, there is a unique pond aquarium gives kids a chance to see pond life from a frog’s point of view, while our Nature’s Neighbors live animal collection provides opportunities for up-close study and care of several common Northwoods residents as well as a few exotic immigrants. Campers with their own small animals are encouraged to bring them to camp to share with others. The animals live in the Nature Center, where all campers can enjoy and learn about them.
Working in conjunction with the Wisconsin DNR and the U.S. Park Service, Swift Nature Camp has also developed a hands-on environmental learning program which includes field trips, such as visits to a fish hatchery and state parks; hands-on field projects, like goose banding and butterfly counts; and exciting camp presentations, including visits with live owls.
Animals are a part of Swift Nature Camps voluntary merit program, in which campers can earn special patches by learning skills in categories such as insects, bird watching, pet care, and horseback riding. Acquiring skills is never separate from the fun and play that is a part of being a camper.
The summer camp you choose should facilitate a blend of play and challenge that is free of the stress of the school environment. The presence of animals in a natural environment can open the door to discovery, adding depth to the fun of going to a traditional summer camp.
Every camper is an individual and benefits from his or her own particular mix of play and skill development. Swift Nature Camp has found a way to accommodate that range with a voluntary merit program that includes experience with animals. A camper’s interaction with animals can be refined into skills involving horseback riding, insects, pet care and bird watching. These opportunities never come at the expense of fun!
Discovering nature and the world we live in. Living in a natural environment Like camp is a perfect way for kids to play and grow. When children play with animals rather than just receiving information, they learn. Camp is more about fun and has far less stressful than school.
Learn more about finding summer camp by visiting Summer Camp Advice How to Select a Summer Camp
About the author: Jeff Lorenz is the owner of Swift Nature Camp. Swift is a , a non-competitive, traditional Overnight Summer Campfor Boys and Girls 6-15 years. At this Science Summer Camps kids enjoy animals and nature as well as traditional camping adventures. Swift specializes in programs for the First Time Camper as well as teen campers.
categories: Summer camp,Environmental camp,science camp,nature camp,animal camp,teens,kids,children,vacation,parenting,recreation
Animal Summer Camp
December 28, 2009
Swift Nature Camp, is a Overnight Summer Camp in Wisconsin where children play outside while learning about Nature and Science. Here are some helpful hints parents can do at home
Experts tell us the first step in becoming an environmentalist is noticing what nature offers. Such observation often leads to a desire and commitment to conserve and protect the natural world.
Walking or hiking through the woods is a regular part of camp. However, many times staff and campers merely walk along the trail without really noticing what is around them. They overlook the sounds, sights, textures and diversity of the ecosystem.
Please read these simple programs that can be done while walking through the woods. You may need supplies but it will take only a few minutes to get them.
Groups can stop along the way and do the activities together, or small groups can be assigned particular activities during the entire hike. Campers can choose one or more of the following activities:
Look Down Supplies: Yarn and scissors Ahead of time: Cut the yarn into 15-inch pieces, have one for every two campers. Assignment: Move off the trail, and make a square on the ground with the yarn. Study what you find within the square. What lives there? What is the soil like? What grows there? Use a stick and dig into the ground a little. What do you see? Conversation: What did you find in the square or circle that surprised you?
See a Shape Supplies: Index cards and pencils Ahead of time draw a circle, square, triangle, heart, straight line and rectangle on separate cards. Pass out the cards to campers before hike begins. Assignment: With your card find the shape in nature.. I Write down your findings on the card with the corresponding shape. Conversation: Have you see that before?
Look a Tree Supplies: Blindfolds Ahead of time: look for a place on the trail where there is a variety of trees. Assignment: Find a partner and decide who will be blindfolded first. The sighted partner will lead his/her partner to a tree. The blindfolded child will explore the tree by touch and smell. Then the sighted partner leads his/her partner away from the tree. Once the blindfold is removed, that camper tries to locate the tree. Switch places and repeat. Conversation: What have you learned about trees that you didn’t know before?
We at Swift Nature Camp hope this gave a sample of some of the projects we do out in Nature. If you child is interested in these sorts of activities have them join us next summer.
Should this be your first summer looking in to Summer Camp here is a great website Summer Camp Advice and it’s free Summer Camp
About the authors: Lonnie Lorenz is the directors of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional overnight Science Summer Camp. Both Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy Nature & Animals along with traditional camping activities. As a Summer Youth Camp Swift specializes in programs for the First Time Camper as well as Adventure Teen Camp programs
categories: science summer camp,summer camp,animal summer camp,overnight camp,kids,animals,nature,science,child development,travel,parenting,sports
Summer Camps with Animals,
December 15, 2009
Animals at Summer Camp? Say Yes to Letting your kids play with animals this summer as a part of the fun they can have at camp. Find a science camp, or a more broadly defined summer camp that includes animals as a part of their program offerings.
Connecting with animals in a natural setting can put a child at the beginning of a lifelong sense of relationship with nature. A deep respect for nature as an adult often starts with experience as a camper.
Swift Nature Camp, is often seen as a Animal Camp that offers a variety of ways for campers to meet and enjoy daily contact with animals. Natures Neighbors is a live animal collection, campers are encouraged to bring their own small animals to live in the camps Nature Center, and a unique pond aquarium shows life as a frog sees it.
Children at Swift Nature Camp have the opportunity to understand our environment from hands-on learning experiences. These include field trips to a fish hatchery, to watch goose banding projects and butterfly counts, and even a close encounter with a live wild owl.
Swift Nature Camp has a voluntary four-level program that rewards campers with a special patch of merit, and the categories include recognition of special skills with animals in categories like insects, pet care, bird watching, and horseback riding. Campers can choose just the right mix of play and learning to suit individual preference and need.
The summer camp you choose should facilitate a blend of play and challenge that is free of the stress of the school environment. The presence of animals in a natural environment can open the door to discovery, adding depth to the fun of going to a traditional summer camp.
Every camper is an individual and benefits from his or her own particular mix of play and skill development. Swift Nature Camp has found a way to accomodate that range with a voluntary merit program that includes experience with animals. A camper’s interaction with animals can be refined into skills involving horseback riding, insects, pet care and bird watching. These opportunities never come at the expense of fun!
The joy of discovering nature is the joy of discovering the world we live in. Living in a natural environment with access to animals is a perfect invitation for expansive play. Camp is a place where children can learn about animals as a participant rather than just receiving information. Camp is more fun and less stressful than school, and the world becomes the classroom.
You can learn more about selecting a wonderful summer camp by visiting Summer Camp Advice Summer Camp
About the author: Lonnie Lorenz has been the director of Swift Nature Camp since 1996. Swift is a , a non-competitive, traditional Overnight Summer Camp for Boys and Girls (6-15 years. At this Science Summer Camps all enjoy nature, animals along with traditional camping activities.
Summer Camp Advice
December 13, 2009
Be sure to take your time picking a Overnight Summer Camp. But start early! Prepare for camp involves more than just packing their trunk. You want to make sure that your child has all their emotional ducks in a row for this (maybe) first time away from home.
Preparing your child is a delicate balance. While you want to talk about this exciting new experience, you also don’t want to overdo it. With too much discussion, your child may seem to loose a sense of reality, and her expectations and fantasies may never be met, leading to disappointment. It’s also possible that she could focus on her fears so much that they become overwhelming, leading her to focus only on how homesick she may be. Therefore, if there are several months before the beginning of camp, you may want to drop the subject until at least March or April. You will probably begin to receive pre-season information from the camp, and you can share these with your child in your discussions.
How to Talk About Camp: Be careful how often and which words you choose when you are talking about camp. Children have incredible radar, and they will pick up on your concerns and fears, even if you never say anything negative. You may want to visit your local library or movie rental store to pick up books or movies about camp. While many of the storylines are exaggerated, they can prompt discussion on how to handle issues that may arise at camp. Watch or read them together.
Be sure to pick up on the subtle signals that your child sends. Drop the book or movie if you child seem put off. Make sure that you never use camp as a threat or in a angry tone. Joke about how long till they leave can make a lasting impression Words can linger longer than you think! Help your child believe that overnight summer camp is a fun experience and that is why you have chosen it.
Some Dos * Talk in a positive way, to let your child know that you believe camp is a safe, exciting place.
* Do talk about the camp in a positive way, to let your child know that you believe camp is a safe, exciting place.
* Do try and arrange a play date with a fellow camper before camp. If this is not possible, try and establish a link through mail, e-mail, or phone.
* Do continue to have short separations, such as sleepovers with family and friends for good practice.
* Encourage verbalizing concerns, regardless of how silly. Many can be easily resolved.
* Talk to a former camper about summer camp. They can tell you what camp is really like from a kids point of view.
Some Don’ts: * Minimize change as camp comes close. Keep things as normal as possible, especially in the time close to the first day.
*Family vacation just prior to camp are not a great idea. Be home for a few days prior to camp. This provide the comfort of a normal routine.
*Don’t let your child suspect you have concerns about their adjustment to being away from home.
For more information on helping your child at Children’s Summer Camps visit Summer Camp Advisor.
About the author: Jeff Lorenz is the director of Swift Nature Camp a non-competitive, Wisconsin Summer Camp that offers a traditional summer camp for Boy and Girls ages 6-15. Campers enjoy camp activities as they learn at this Science Summer Camp.