Competition
Do you want your child to compete with other children in sports activities? Or do you prefer your child to be challenged at his or her own level and pace?
Are campers encouraged to try harder even if their results are not satisfactory? 
Focus on religion
If a camp has a religious emphasis or background, then those values, rituals and beliefs are quite likely to be represented in its daily life. This may or may not be all right with you. If the camp is non-denominational, ask them what values they subscribe to and how they go about living and fostering those values at camp. Ask what the religion of the majority of campers is. What is the next major religion? Are the campers allowed to participate in services?
Physical installations | 
| To start with, you may ask for a copy of the camp's video. - Distance to water (how far is the swimming area from the dormitory?)
- Living quarters (tents, cabins or dormitories? How many campers per room?)
- Bathrooms and toilets (indoors, outdoors; is there running water?)
- Kitchen facilities (is there a proper dining room? How long has the cook been working at this camp?)
- Do the children clean their quarters themselves or does the staff do it? Are the quarters checked for tidiness?
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Staff training schedule
Here you might learn about the real focus of the camp. During the staff orientation period, was the focus devoted to team building, camp preparation, how to be a good counselor, etc.? How long did the staff training period last? Did it concretely reflect the camp philosophy? It is likely that the director has never been asked this before. Remember that the director's reaction to your question is just as important as the answer.
Security
All activities should be supervised by qualified staff members who are trained in First Aid
to the highest standards. If there is water nearby, ask if there are qualified lifeguards on the staff.
You might check if there is an infirmary on the site, and how far it is to the nearest hospital.
A camp should also ask parents to fill out a medical form for the future camper. Is it complete? |  |
Costs | Regular activities | Ekocamp | Notes | Other camp | Lodging | 6 nights | (1) | | Meals | Included | (2) | | Health insurance | Optional | (3) | | All Canadian taxes | Included | | | Essential sports equipment | Included | | | Manuals and materials provided during the courses | Included | | | Water skiing (2 hours/week) | Included | (4) | | Overnight camping (once/week) | Included | (4) | | Horseback riding (2 hours/week) | Included | (4) | | Support for obtaining Canadian tourist visa (if needed) | Included | | | Registration fee | N/A | (5) | |
Notes:
(1) Some camps have "5-nights weeks".
(2) All meals except two suppers (arrival and departure day).
(3) Our medical insurance covers all medical expenses for international campers. Some insurance only covers part of the cost of medical services. In some camps, it is the parent's responsibility.
(4) Many camps charge extra fees for these activities.
(5) Some camps request a registration fee (non-deductible). This is different from a deposit which is deductible from the total amount. Ask about hidden costs or fees such as trips, travel, awards, spending money, the camp store, etc.
Size of camp
Size alone doesn't tell you much about a camp. However, it is likely that larger camps (over 150 campers) will have a greater range of activities for your child to choose between. The drawback with a large camp is often its impersonal nature. It becomes logistically impossible for the director to have an intimate knowledge of each camper.
Single gender or co-ed
You might prefer your child to stay with his or her own gender. On the other hand, co-education is important for many parents because it reflects the world in which our children live and grow up. It develops real life skills as campers develop friendships with members of both genders. Boys and girls live in separate quarters, but participate jointly in all activities.
Age range served
Usually from 7 to 16 (Ekocamp from 10 to 16) with a counselor-in-training program starting around 16 or 17.
Some camps offer programs for younger children and it is for the parents to decide if they want to separate from their children at an earlier age. If two or more children from one family are participating, the older kids may be able to keep an eye on their younger siblings.
Length of stay
Anything from a day camp to a 9-week experience. Two to four weeks are common time spans and a necessary length of time if one is to make friends and get used to a new environment. Longer stays are not unusual.
Activities offered
Be careful of allowing certain activities to become make-or-break criteria when choosing a camp. While it is likely that you will be able to find a good camp that has the activities your child desires, it is also possible that the right camp was cut out only because they didn't have, for examples, horses. |  |
When to register | 
| Some of the better known camps are already full by January although good camps will fill out in March-May. |
Director's background
Is the director full-time at the camp or does he or she do something else during the off-season? How long has the director been involved in the industry? Has he or she ever worked at other camps besides the current one? Is he or she a degree-holder? In what field?
Accreditation / References
There are thousands of camps in the USA and about 2,500 of them are accredited with the American Camp Association (ACA). It would be advisable to ask if the camps are accredited and if not, to find out why.
However, the camps are fully aware of when they are about to be inspected. As a result, inspection day may often not be representative of a typical day at camp at all.
A camp should be ready to provide you with a list of references on request.
Talking to other parents helps but remember that their criteria and goals might differ from yours.
Camper statistics | 
| 1 . What was the camp's enrollment last summer?
This is a measure of how well a camp is doing and perhaps how much fun it is. As with almost any single question, you should allow this to influence your decision - not make it.
2. Counselor-to-camper ratio
One counselor to 5 or 6 campers is the acceptable ratio for younger children. Older campers (14+) don't need such a high ratio and one counselor to 8 or 10 campers is perfectly acceptable. 3. Average age of all the staff and the counseling staff.
Very few counselors, if any, should be below the age of 18. Usually, counselors will have gone through a counselor-in-training program at the camp.
4 . What is the return rate for staff?
Some staff turnover is natural due to the age of the counselors and the stage of their student careers. Some will always be moving on to take year-round positions elsewhere. Others just feel that one summer is enough. At most camps, somewhere between 40 and 60 percent of their staff return each year. If the rate is lower than that, find out why. |
A note on talking with Directors
Directors normally have their "parent talk" down pretty tight as they usually get the same questions over and over again - some even have their answers virtually memorized.
Asking questions that directors don't usually get and verifying the answers with other sources will help you to obtain the information you need. What director isn't going to have a satisfactory answer for you when you ask about safety? They hear that question every time and know what to say to you! Keep in mind, however, that directors won't be used to getting many of the above questions and they may become defensive. The way they react to your questions is as important as the answers they give!
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