What's Up Magazines

What’s New in Summer Camps?
A group of campers receive instruction on the techniques and skills of outdoor rock-climbing and rappelling. Photo courtesy of Genesee Valley	Sports, nature, drama, art—what’s right for your child? By Stephanie Adams

The word camp evokes a variety of mental images—from a group of tents pitched in a wooded clearing beside a lake to a temporary settlement of soldiers defending their country’s border during a military invasion. Put the word summer in front of the word and immediately we picture children around a campfire toasting marshmallows and sleeping in rows of bunk beds in rustic cabins.

As adults’ lives have grown busier, and with both parents usually working outside the home, summer camps have become a growing business. In the past 20 years, the number of day camps in the United States has grown by nearly 90 percent, and general camp enrollment is higher than ever before. Today, more than eleven million campers are enrolled in more than 12,000 day and resident camps in the United States. Unlike schools, which focus on academic achievement, camps can teach and develop a variety of skills that children may not have time to explore during the year. Camps may specialize to attract campers.

So Many Summer Camps, So Little Summer
(Left) Kids love the ideals of freedom and camaraderie that are nurtured at summer camp. Photo courtesy of Camp St. Charles (Right) A zipline ride makes a splash with the senior camp group. Photo courtesy of Genesee Valley

Today’s Specials Are

Research by the American Camp Association (ACA) reveals a trend toward growth in both general camp enrollment and in the number of specialized camps. With today's competitive college application process, it seems that not a minute need be wasted that could be spent fine-tuning a specific skill. Lillian Kilroy, an Anne Arundel County resident and mother of 9-year-old camper Allison, points out that "most kids in our area attend several different day camps each summer." With the plethora of choices available, how do you choose?

The Kilroys found their daughter’s personality and preferences ultimately proved most helpful in choosing which camp she would attend—or at least the first camp. Allison’s love of horses and her interest in riding narrowed the Kilroys’ search down to a nearby day camp that offered horseback riding. While nearly half of ACA-accredited camps include this popular activity in their programs, the number of camps in the greater Annapolis area that specialize in it is a bit more limited. Lillian says that she looked at several programs before hearing about a new equestrian center through a friend. She enrolled Allison in riding lessons at the center and also signed her up for the summer camp program that would begin in July. The camp experience proved to be a huge success, resulting in one very happy (and adept) cowgirl with lots of new friends.

The popularity of specialized sports camps is skyrocketing. If you have a budding athlete or sports fanatic in the family, the opportunities for him or her to unleash some pent-up energy this summer are limitless. Many nearby schools and universities—including the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis—host camp programs that offer sports programs ranging from baseball to wrestling. Other favorites include crew, football, hockey, golf, water polo, and, of course, lots of lacrosse. If you can think of it, there is a good chance there is a camp program that specializes in it. Sports celebrities often participate in coaching or training at sports camps. Cal Ripken, members of the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins, and players from the Harlem Globetrotters, among others, are all slotted to appear at local programs this summer.

If traditional sports aren’t enough to satisfy the adventurous streak in your camper, there is always “extreme” summer camp to get the adrenaline pumping. With activities such as parasailing, zipline-riding, skateboarding, paintball, and bungee jumping on the list of available activities, these types of camps guarantee you get some bang for your buck (or at least your camper does). Wilderness and adventure camps are great options too, keeping restless kids busy with outdoor activities that range from canoeing and kayaking to mountain biking and fly-fishing.

At an equestrian program, camper Alyssa Dondero nuzzles a pony dubbed “The Wilf”. Photo courtesy of TLC Equestrian Center

Maybe your child is a contemplative nature lover. Our region is known for the Bay and all the beautiful and lush areas that surround it. These natural treasures allow the state to support an impressive number of environmental, nature, and science camps. These kinds of programs, often run by local conservation and restoration groups, focus on raising environmental awareness in children (and possibly nurturing a new generation of stewards). In their role as researchers of nature, campers typically learn about topics such as habitat, wildlife, plants, aquatic creatures, and other natural wonders native to the Chesapeake Bay area—all through hands-on experience!

If none of these camps suit your child’s personality, there are plenty of others in the area that are based on other specialized activities, such as technology, music, filmmaking, dance, or art. The trend in specialized camps has made its way from camps for the little ones (extreme bounce camps) to camps for your teenager (teen beauty boot camp) and each year new categories emerge. With many parents choosing to enroll their children in two or more camps each summer, and with a growing number of older campers seeking programs that cater to their level of maturity, it seems there is no end in sight for the summer camp industry.

While specialized camps suit many families, there still are those who are dedicated to the nostalgic camp of days gone by. Fortunately, if you are a stickler for tradition, there are a good number of camps in the area—especially those with residential programs—that have been in operation for many years and still pride themselves on doing things the old-fashioned way. These camps choose not to focus extensively on developing one particular area or skill, and they typically appeal to families who feel it is beneficial to try a variety of activities or to children who find it hard to concentrate on one skill for an extended period. Some kids simply love the ideals of freedom and camaraderie that are nurtured at a traditional camp—the same qualities that have appealed to so many generations before them.

Regardless of whether your child’s goal this summer is to master the butterfly stroke, the pirouette, the art of sack-racing, or some happy combination of these, a few things are guaranteed: he or she will emerge from the experience with a greater sense of self-confidence and independence, develop new skills or improve existing ones, and establish new relationships.