So you just got them settled into the school year — congratulations. Next on the planning agenda? Camp. (Yes, already. Sorry). Of course it’s no longer just about having a nice lake; the options in camping today are near dizzying in variety.

Start some basic research now to find the perfect camp(s) for your kids

We happen to think there’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned day camp or sleep-away to give children a classic summer experience. But increasingly, demand has rendered an incredible number of specialty (and SUB-specialty) camps, including: “TV and film” camps, camps that teach kids about business and finance, marine science camps, foreign language camps, camps for kids who are physically disabled, camps for kids who are learning disabled… even a “Social Savvy” camp that teaches kids about protocol and etiquette (yikes)!

Fortunately, there are several resources, including easy to use on-line directories that can help you glean your choices, even between meetings. One of the best (though not all-inclusive), is kidscamps.com, which has been used by over 7 million families. Search by category, region, or specific camp name, and you’ll have a short list (per kid) more quickly than you might have thought.

Start exploring at kidscamps.com

Then, how to narrow it down…

The American Camping Association recommends looking for a camp with their accreditation, but beyond this, they believe one of the best routes to a decision is to interview the camp director much like you would a school principal or childcare giver and see if the vibe is right.

To that end, the ACA has created a helpful list of questions to ask, including: “What is the camp’s philosophy?” and “What percentage of counselors are returning from last year?” and “How does the camp handle disciplinary issues?” (You can learn a lot from that one). Happy Camping!

See a full list of “Points to Consider in Choosing a Camp”

Coming next week to executivemoms.com: the Fall Luncheon Photo Scrapbook, with more photos than ever, so be sure to take a peek… AND the official invitation to our Holiday Breakfast Rap and Wrap at Toys “R” Us Times Square!

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Sincerely,

Executive Moms