Residential or urban camp? This is undoubtedly one of the questions many parents ask themselves before enrolling their children in a camp.
From experience we know that choosing a summer camp correctly is the first step in ensuring that our children have a rewarding and learning experience. We know that a poor choice of camp can ruin what should be an unforgettable experience, and not something unpleasant.
Therefore, many parents have the doubt of whether to hire a residential or urban camp. The common question is: which of the two camps will be better for my child?
Also, regardless of the theme of the camp, many guardians and parents want to know the steps to follow for the right choice of an ideal summer camp for their children or students, whether the camp is located in the city or in a rural area. In this article we will examine these 2 issues in depth.
Recommendation of Natuaventura.
The dilemma between hiring a residential or an urban camp, will depend directly on the maturity of the child and the needs of the family. The truth is that urban camps -also known as day camps- are usually a transitional bridge to residential camps. In fact, most residential camp participants have previously participated in an urban summer camp.
About this choice, at Natuaventura.com we recommend that children under the age of 7 years old can start their experience in an urban camp and that children 8 years old and older can start their adventure in a residential camp.
Obviously, this is a recommendation and not a rule. However, children ages 8 and older may be mentally more prepared to spend more time away from their families and gain more experiences from camp, including those that provide personal values such as independence and autonomy.
Now, the 2nd question related to the steps to choose any summer camp regardless of its theme, at Natuaventura.com we want to give you 4 recommendations that by following them you will be able to correctly choose a camp based on the particular needs of the child and the family.
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Observe the maturity of the child.
When choosing a summer camp correctly, the most important point is to look at the child’s maturity and understand that maturity is not just a function of age. Some questions are helpful in determining maturity: Is our child ready to be away from home for a week or more? Is this the first time at camp or has the child been to camp before?
These questions are very useful because it is not advisable to force children to attend a camp for a very long time if they are not ready. There are options adapted to different schedules and types of camps in each particular case.
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Objetives.
Another way to choose a summer camp correctly is to ask ourselves what we are looking for: Do you want your child to practice a sport? To learn a new language? Or maybe the goal is to develop social skills or acquire maturity and responsibility.
These questions will help us to make the right choice. Depending on the objectives, we will choose one camp or another. An important point is to consider the opinion of the children in this process. Let’s not forget that a camp is also a reward, and listening to them will allow us to make a decision that will make parents and children happy.
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The schedule and duration of the camp.
The next thing to do is to select a suitable schedule. In this case you might ask yourself: will a day camp or a full-time camp be better for my child? Also, the duration of the camp is important as there are programs that can last a week and others that can last up to a whole month.
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The activities to be carried out at the camp.
To choose a summer camp correctly, we must consider the interests of our child. This section is related to point number 2. In this case it is advisable to ask: does the child like theater or sports? Does he/she need a lot of physical activity or is a quiet child? Depending on the child’s personality, we can easily select the right camp. In this section, we emphasize again to involve the child in this decision.
To make an even better decision, we invite you to contact us and we will give you the advice you need to select the perfect camp.
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