Family Travel & Kids Camp Tips
Be sure to think about all the aspects that go into a family vacation. One important one(especially depending on how far you need to travel) is the traveling part. Many people forget the importance of this...but depending on how well the trip to get to your destination goes will determine the rest of the trip. If the travel is horrible and boring it will put everyone in a bad mood, and they will want to return home before you even get there!
Here are some tips to help avoid a disaster car ride. Always bring something to entertain the members of your family. No matter what age you are it can be difficult to sit in one place for a long period of time, especially when you have nothing to distract you.We recommend toys for the children that are car-friendly. For example car friendly board games, books, toys, dolls, and music. Also try and make the trip comfortable with a couple pillows and blankets in case they want to rest. Sometimes it is worth it to bring snacks and drinks along, to avoid making alot of stops to eat therefore wasting money and time spent eating at a restaurant. One good idea is to try and find alternative roots, avoiding traffic filled highways and maybe search a route that goes through some nice scenery to look at through your travels. This sometimes is faster than the highway depending on when you are traveling.

Another great idea is to make planned "pit-stops" by searching through travel guides for points of interest, such as: shops, parks, beaches, historical sites. This can break up a long trip, allowing kids to stretch their legs and giving you a break from driving! Not to mention a great way to incorporate bathroom breaks!

As for destination, possibilities are endless. Try to keep in mind something that will have something for everyone to enjoy...leaving nobody bored! Some key destinations are the beach, camping, theme parks, visiting family or friends, and many more. There are many places like this in New England, of course if you broaden the destination to farther away there are many more places to go!
Trying to agree on a destination can be the hardest part of a family trip. One recomendation is to have everyone write on a piece of paper where they'd like to go, and then first read them out loud to see if everyone can calmly agree on a place to go. If they cannot try and eliminate the most controversial destinations, putting only the ones that everyone would be okay with going to into a hat. Then have the youngest or oldest person pick a piece of paper out of the hat, WITHOUT LOOKING, and there you have your destination!

The camp experience will have a lasting impact on your child, so there are a number of issues that should be seriously considered when choosing a summer. Some questions you should ask yourself are:

What do you and your child hope that they will get out of going to camp?
Is there a specific topic (religion, sports, and arts) that you hope they will gain ability and experience in?
Would it benefit your child if they interacted more with the opposite gender?
If you have more than one child would they benefit from attending the same camp?
How far from you and for how long would your child be comfortable. If you think that your child may not be ready for sleepaway camp, choose a local one in case you end up making a late night pickup.
How much are you willing to pay? Four weeks at a good private sleep away camp will cost anywhere from $3500 to $6500, and eight weeks will range from $4000 to $7000. Non-profit camps often range from $1200 to $3000 for four weeks and $2500 to $5000 for eight weeks. Specialty camps can range from $500 to $1000 per week depending on the program. Take time to consider what you can reasonably afford.
Does your child have any special needs that need to be accommodated? While most camps are equipped for campers with disabilities, not all have staff trained to work with children with attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, or special medical problems.
Once you have narrowed the field to a few choices, another set of questions should help you choose which camp is the best one for your child.

What is the director's age and background?
How long has the director run this camp?
What facilities does the camp have and how convenient are they for campers to get to?
What is the camper-counselor ratio, age, and training required of the staff?
What is the schedule like? Is it a structured program or one that emphasizes a lot of free choice?
What percentage of campers return each year?
Are there any extra costs that may arise, like equipment fees?
How does the camp insure the safety and security of its campers?
What medical facilities are available and what medical staff is on campus?
Is there a refund policy if the camper leaves early?
These questions are a good starting point in your quest to find the right camp for your child. If you spend the time needed to research your options and include your child in the decision, he or she will most likely have a memorable experience that provides them opportunities to grow as a person, while having fun and making new friends.

source: Federal Citizen Information Center

Answering these questions will help you determine when your child is ready for camp.

What is your child's age? Children under age 7 may not adjust easily to being away from home. Consider the day camp experience to prepare them for future overnight camp.

How did your child become interested in camp? Does your child talk about camp and camp activities on a sustained basis? How much persuasion is necessary from you?

Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home? Visiting relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?

What does your child expect to do at camp? Learning about the camp experience ahead of time allows you to create positive expectations.

Are you able to share consistent and positive messages about camp? Your confidence in a positive experience will be contagious.

source: American Camp Association

Choosing a Summer Camp: It is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and the kids are getting happier, that must mean school is almost out! And that means it is time to start thinking about what your kids are going to be doing all summer long. We at the Federal Citizen Information Center have already been thinking about how kids spend those long summer days, and have come up with this handy dandy guide to choosing a summer camp.

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfcamps04/fochttp://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfcamps04/focus.htmus.htm



,