Check the Qualifications of the Camp Guides
Adventurous and enthusiastic camp guides and counselors can make a difference in your child’s summer day camp experience. These guides are an essential component of the summer day camp experience because they are with your child every step of the way.
Our R.A.D. Camps Guides are thoroughly screened to ensure they will give your child a fun and safe outdoor summer camp experience. All R.A.D. Camps guides complete a background check and attend “Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting” training. Every trip includes a trained Wilderness First Responder (or higher) and a male and female guide. Our Camp Guides are naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts who love nature and teach children through free play and exploration. You can be sure that your child will be well cared for while having a blast in the wilderness!
Many summer camps display information about their counselors and guides on their websites. Browse through this section in detail and read their qualifications and experience etc. You may even find some reviews by parents and campers about individual counselors on the camp’s website.
Before you choose a summer day camp, research the camp guides and look for the following qualities:
- Their passion for guiding the kids and their level of involvement in all camp-related activities. You don’t want disinterested guides supervising your children. The guides should have hands-on experience and be well-versed in the skills they teach the kids.
- Camp guides should have basic first-aid training to respond appropriately in the case of a medical emergency. It is better if guides have higher accreditations, such as Wilderness First Responder Certification.
Another thing to consider is the campers-to-guides ratio. Ideally, there should not be more than ten campers per guide. This number will ensure that each camper will get the individual attention of the guide.
Conduct Extensive Research
We recommend you conduct online research and contact other parents whose children have attended the camp. Browse the camp’s website and social media pages and check their online reviews to get a feel for the vibe and tone of the summer programs. You can also involve your child and get their opinions.
How courteous, welcoming, and interactive is the staff? Ask questions about the daily camp schedule. Evaluate whether the activities provided by the camp match your child’s personality and interests.
Adventurous outdoor activities should be fun and challenging but not overwhelm or exhaust your child. Look for a balance between structure and free play.
Determine Your Budget
Most parents have monetary constraints. So, it’s essential to determine your camp budget before searching for different summer camp options. Prices can vary drastically from one camp to the other, depending on the activities offered by the summer camp programs.
Keep in mind the following when comparing summer day camp programs.
- Qualifications of Camp Guides
- Variety of trips and outdoor locations
- The balance between structured and free play activities
- Your child’s interests and hobbies
- Online and word-of-mouth reputation
- Price
A good summer camp will give your child memories they will cherish for a lifetime!If you’re searching for an entertaining and affordable outdoor summer adventure, then enroll your child in our R.A.D. Camps summer programs. Our summer day camp programs are located in Bend, Oregon. We have multiple fun-filled trips for children to the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests. Our motto is “no child left inside.” We connect children with nature through fun-filled activities.
For more information, visit our website, contact us or call us at (541) 410-7258.