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American Morning

Where Should You Send Your Children to Summer Camp?

Aired May 22, 2001 - 11:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's the age-old question. At the end of the school year, when it approaches, where do I send my kid for summer camp? Peg Smith, the executive director of the American Camping Association, joins us from Chicago to help sort out what to look for. And I've got to say, Peg, camp is much more creative than it was when we were kids.

PEG SMITH, AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Well, there's a lot of questions to ask when we are picking that camp. We've got a graphic made up of all your 10 tips so let's try and get through them all, OK? Taking a look at the first one here, what is the camp's philosophy and program emphasis? Important question to ask, correct?

SMITH: It is important because learning and growing takes place year round and the camp experience should enhance that learning. And so you would like to know as a parent what that director expects your child is going to learn this summer while they're at camp.

PHILLIPS: And how do you find out the background of the camp director?

SMITH: Well, you want ask what's their educational background. ACA does recommend that they at least have a bachelor's degree. And you'll want them to have at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience.

PHILLIPS: What about counselors receiving training? I mean are we sure that they always to receive training?

SMITH: Well, you do need to ask that question. The camps that we work with absolutely train their staff every year. They do things around child development, behavioral problems, how to do particular activities, safety measures, medical emergencies. There's a whole series of safety and health and education programs that counselors are trained on.

PHILLIPS: Also, counselor to camper ratio, you want to make sure your kid is being closely watched.

SMITH: Well, one of the things that's really wonderful about the camp experience is that the camper to counselor ratio is better than almost any other setting that a parent could place their child. On an average, you're talking one counselor to every six to 10 campers. And you just can't do any better than that anyplace else in the country.

PHILLIPS: How about it's important to ask about the ages of the counselors? I mean I remember being a camp counselor at 14.

SMITH: You were probably a counselor in training. There are counselors in training that are from 14 to 16. Most of those are 16. You should really, as a parent, ask that the counselors should be at least 18 years old or older. We'd like to see 80 percent of those counselors 18 years or older.

PHILLIPS: And then you said here definitely ask about the desired qualities in a camp staff?

SMITH: Yes. You know, anybody who's hiring someone is looking for someone who's trustworthy, who's honest. But you want your counselors to also have a positive outlook, to be outgoing, have a good self-image, because they're going to be modeling and mentoring for your children all summer long.

PHILLIPS: Does it matter if the counselors are ones that are always coming back year after year?

SMITH: Well, you want to ask what's the ratio of return staff because you'd like a good ratio of counselors that have been there before. But camps are always going to have turnover. Counselors grow up and they go on to other jobs. Often they become the camp director or a camp administrator. But you do have some turnover. But you don't want it to be the greater percentage of counselors as new counselors.

PHILLIPS: What about questions about discipline?

SMITH: Well, that's important because the philosophy of the camp and how they deal with discipline and behavior problems is something that you want to explore. You want it to be compatible to your own values and your own principles in relationship to discipline.

PHILLIPS: All right, and you want to definitely have references. Also, you can contact your organization, the American Camping Association...

SMITH: Yes.

PHILLIPS: ... correct, and find out if they're accredited or not?

SMITH: Yes, as a parent it's some of the best evidence that you can receive that this camp is truly committed to the health and safety of your child over the summer. So we do suggest that you contact, you can talk to www.acacamps.org and search for accredited camps all across the country.

PHILLIPS: Find that perfect camp. It's a great way to get out of the parents' hair and it's a great experience for the kids, don't you agree?

SMITH: It's a great way to grow up. You learn a lot.

PHILLIPS: All right, Peg Smith, thanks a lot.

SMITH: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: You remember summer camp, don't you?

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, because I got so homesick I made my parents come pick me up. I cried the whole time.

PHILLIPS: Oh, Daryn.

KAGAN: It's true. I know, pathetic. But part of the sad story of my life.

PHILLIPS: Oh, come on, it's not that sad.

KAGAN: OK. That summer it was very sad.

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