Seven tips for researching summer
camps amid the COVID-19 pandemic
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 16-APRIL 22, 2021 25
BY JESS MICHAELS
Researching summer
camps is an important step
to finding the right camp for
your child. And this summer,
after a year of remote learning
and limited socializing
and activities, your child is
going to need a summer at
camp more than ever before.
Even in the midst of a pandemic,
there are ways to go
about narrowing down your
choices and choosing the best
camp for your child and family.
Here are some ways to get
your camp search started.
Video calls with the
director
One of the best ways to
learn about a camp is by
speaking with the camp director.
While many overnight
camp directors have done
home visits in the past so you
can get to know them (and so
they can get to know you and
your child), they have moved
these meetings to Zoom! Face-
Time, Google Meet and Zoom
have made it even easier to get
to know a camp director and
to inquire about the camp’s
philosophy, mission, activities
and more.
Courtyard and backyard
home visits
If you rather do a home visit,
camp directors are happy
to do outside home visits when
the weather warms up. Backyard
and courtyard visits
worked very well this fall and
they will start up again as the
weather improves.
Day camp tours
Since day camps are local,
they offer camp tours all
year long, even in the winter.
If there is a day camp you are
interested in, give the director
a call to schedule a tour.
Touring allows you to see the
camp and facilities, even if it
will all look different in the
summer! Tours also allow
you to ask questions while in
the camp environment which
often sparks additional questions.
Spring open houses and
tours
When the weather warms
up, many day and overnight
camps will host some kind of
socially distanced open house
dates and camp tours where
you can see the camp before
deciding on a camp.
Virtual camp fairs
Camp fairs typically allow
families to meet with dozens
of camps all in one day! Since
in-person events are challenging
during COVID-19, camp
fairs have been re-imagined
this year. New York Family
will be offering virtual camp
fairs thatwill be using an online
platform with an algorithm
that will create one-onone
video calls between camp
directors and qualified families,
based on the criteria both
camps and families submit.
Camp websites and
social media
Already have a few camps
in mind to check out? Camp
websites and social media pages
are filled with information
from activities offered to videos.
Looking at a camp’s website
is a good starting point
for your search but it’s always
important to speak with the
camp director before registering
to ensure the camp is the
right fit for your child.
Call the American Camp
Association, NY & NJ
Did you know that theAmerican
Camp Association, NY
and NJ offers free, one-on-one
advice for parents looking
for a day or overnight camp?
Families can call Renee Flax
at 212-391-5208 to speak about
their child and what they are
looking for in a camp.
CAMP GUIDE
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