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Spring bulbs aren't even up, but parents are thinking ahead to summer camp for their kids. Do you have a question about summer camp? Log on to MinnMoms.com and get answers from guest Maria Schugel, executive director of the American Camp Association's Northland section, which represents 82 accredited camps in Minnesota and the Dakotas.
Schugel can tell you where to get scholarships, how to choose a camp, how to prepare a child for sleep-away camp and more. Ask your question anytime between now and 10 a.m. Wednesday and check back for answers later that day.
Q. Are registrations down this year because of the economy?
A. A lot of private camps start registration in the fall. In the past, they might have filled sessions immediately. This year, sessions are filling, but they're not filling as fast. Families are waiting longer.
We're assuming people are just being cautious. Directors anticipate registrations will be on track, but it is taking longer to get to that point, which is a little nerve wracking.
What we also see happening is a need for scholarships. That always has been there, but I think people are asking for them more than in the past.
Q. What are some trends in camps?
A. Enrollment in day camps has gone up compared with enrollment in sleep-away camp. According to our national organization, the number of day camps
Families who have a lot of stuff going on find it easier to incorporate a day camp into the daily family schedule. And for parents who work and are away from their kids during day, they enjoy spending time with their child at night.
Day camp also serves children of a younger age. A lot of parents see day camp as an alternative to day care. Kids get more structured programming, and they learn more skills.
Parents are also more interested in the outcomes. Before, parents just wanted to make sure kids stayed safe and had fun. Now, parents are asking specific questions: What is my child going to learn? How is my child going to change?
Q. What are most popular types of camps locally?
A. We're seeing a huge increase in adventure and challenge activities — things like ropes courses and wilderness trips. We're also seeing more camps incorporating technology, like using a GPS system to navigate through the woods or doing geocaching.
Q. What are we seeing less of?
A. Longer stays. A kid used to come all summer or for a six-week session, but now we're seeing an increased demand for one- or two-week sessions. And there are more long-weekend family camps.
Q. Are you seeing more specialized offerings?
A. Well, there is Concordia Language Village, which focuses on teaching kids a foreign language. Kids who attend one of those camps are immersed in the culture of that country. So when you walk into camp, it's like you're walking into Germany.
A camp at Itasca Community College is going through the process to become an accredited engineering camp. A lot of camps have specialty sessions. For instance, the Girl Scouts might do a special session on drama or music.
I also work for Courage Center, and we work with kids with disabilities. One of the trends with special-needs camps is an increase interest in camps that specialize in specific disability. For instance, Camp Odayin serves kids with heart defects.
For more information, search for camps at acacamps.org. Be aware that this database lists only camps represented by the American Camp Association, which includes YMCA, scouting and church camps and many traditional camps outside the metro area. It does not include most of the popular day camps offered by metro-area organizations. To find local summer camp guides, go to minnmoms.com. or mnparent.com.
