Touring potential DC summer camps for next year - what to look for?

[Anonymous]

Hi DCUM parents! I managed to get my 4 year old into her old daycare for the summer this year, but next year we'll be doing the all-day summer camp route.

I'm visiting some camps in DC this summer to get an idea of which ones might work best for DD. Do you recommend your summer camp?

Are there any questions you wished you had asked before you sent your DC to camp? Things that came up that were more of a hassle than you first expected?
Safety concerns? Tips? Lapses in supervision? Nicer/worse facilities than you were expecting? Is there somewhere with mature staff that won't make her bake to death outside when it's 95 degrees out? Swim lessons would be a nice plus. Hey how about a fridge and a microwave for the lunches (I can dream can't I?)

Right now I am looking at Sidwell Summer, Lowell, YMCA on Rhode Island, DCJCC (yes I saw the story about the kid left behind), and WIS. DC Rec on Macomb if we can get in?
We live in easterly NW and work in NW and need 9-6 coverage. Thanks all!

[Anonymous]

what is the ratio for children to counselors?

how do you hire counselors?

how do you handle swimming? (the process for kids getting ready and dressed afterwards as well as in the pool)

what are the facilities in case it rains? is very hot?

[Anonymous]

I worked at a camp that was terrible - and well known in the area. Tips of things to do or ask:

1. Drop in on the kids during swim time, particularly if they go somewhere else during swim time offsite. Legally there are supposed to be a certain number of adults physically in the water with swimming campers. Often the camp that I worked at had none.

2. Ask who drives the children and how they are trained/certified, if your children will be driven at camp. The camp I worked at had terrible quality busses and drivers. It was a very unsafe situation.

3. How are the counselors selected? Trained? Ask to see verification of their first aid/cpr certification.

4. Ask to see their materials that demonstrate compliance with camping regulations. They should have a binder or a folder of some sort with all kinds of information that demonstrate their compliance. A lack of a folder should be a huge red flag...

[Anonymous]

Who do you hire for counselors? - college students? teachers? etc

Do you have high school students as counselors? When will the children be left in their care and for how long?

If they do field trips, does your child have to participate in every field trip and if not, is there an option to stay behind at the camp?

If it's an outdoor camp - what will they do on days it rains?

If it's a sports camp - how much of the camp is drills and how intense is the sports instruction?

How many kids are there who are x years old? (fill in with your child's age. I found many camps where there were few 5 yr olds and that was for a reason - too intense or too high of ratios for that age for parents to be comfortable on the other hand some camps had no kids over age 10 even if they went up to age 12 or 13 because the activities were lacking for that age group)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi DCUM parents! I managed to get my 4 year old into her old daycare for the summer this year, but next year we'll be doing the all-day summer camp route.

I'm visiting some camps in DC this summer to get an idea of which ones might work best for DD. Do you recommend your summer camp?

Are there any questions you wished you had asked before you sent your DC to camp? Things that came up that were more of a hassle than you first expected?
Safety concerns? Tips? Lapses in supervision? Nicer/worse facilities than you were expecting? Is there somewhere with mature staff that won't make her bake to death outside when it's 95 degrees out? Swim lessons would be a nice plus. Hey how about a fridge and a microwave for the lunches (I can dream can't I?)

Right now I am looking at Sidwell Summer, Lowell, YMCA on Rhode Island, DCJCC (yes I saw the story about the kid left behind), and WIS. DC Rec on Macomb if we can get in?
We live in easterly NW and work in NW and need 9-6 coverage. Thanks all!

WIS language camps are worth the money IMHO. There aren't a lot of language programs in the city. Swimming is offsite for 6 yrs old and up. Water play was entertaining enough for my 5 yo.