Feb 24 2010

Six Traits To Look For in A Summer Camp

Category: Home Schooling — Lonnie Lorenz @ 5:33 pm

Selecting a Summer Camp for your camper takes some work. First think if your going to go to a Coed Camps or a sigle gender like a all boys camp. Each have their own benefit. Maybe a Coed Camp is best for your child. Now work with you child to find a camp that will increase their interests or expose them to new activities. After all that, here are the top 10 questions to ask a summer camp director. This list was compiled by the American Camp Association.

What\’s the camp\’s Purpose? Is it Sports? Is it Traditional? Os it Science? Are you comfortable with this ? Is it a good fit for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? Do you want religious observances or practices? Try to understand all parts of the program

How does the Summer Camp get and train its staff? Do counselors have criminal background checks? First aid training? Drug Testing? What\’s the training all about?

What about Staff and Camper return rates? How many counselors are returning this year 50% is a good numbers. How many campers return? Fifty percent is good, and more is better. Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this

What\’s the ratio of counselors to campers? ACA guidelines for overnight camps call for a 1:6 ratio for ages 7 and 8, 1:8 for ages 9-14; and 1:10 for ages 15-18. Day camp guidelines call for 1:8 for children ages 6-8; 1:10 for children ages 9-14; and 1:12 for ages 15-18.

What\’s the Staff Ages ? Eighty percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise. Are the staff a paid position or volunteers?

What about Health Care? Overnight camp have a licensed physician or registered nurse on the site daily, Day camps should be have direct phone access. Be sure you are comfortable that the camp will be able to handle your child\’s special health care needs.

How does the camp Punish and Discipline? Know what your camp\’s rules are and what breaches would send a camper home. You should be comfortable with these.

What is a day at camp like? This will help you know if your child will find happiness with the level of activity. Is their choice in selecting activities.

Does the camp have vans for transportation? How often are camp vehicles inspected? Who will be driving them and what\’s the training.

Ask for references. Finally and most important, get the names of parents with children the same age who have attended the camp.

Still looking for ideas to help you make an informed decision? Check out Summer Camp Advice A FREE Summer Camp Directory

About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the Directors of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional Children\’s Summer Camp in Wisconsin. Boys and Girls ages 6-15 enjoy playing in nature, caring for animals, and learning science. Traditional camping activities include canoe trips and more. SNC is so personal it seems like a Homeschool Summer Camp.

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Nov 13 2009

Camp an Institution

Category: Parenting — Jeff Lorenz @ 1:36 pm

In the early’00’s a tradition in America was born it Overnight
Summer Camp. The originally thought that camp was all about getting young children out of the city and enjoying being out in nature the clean cool air of the country while learning what camping was all about.

Today, summer camp has progressed from campfires to computer screens and from nature trails to rollerblade rinks. In fact, many of today’s camp programs take place in the heart of the city.

Even with all those changes, the essence of the purpose of summer camp remains unchanged. Children still need to use their summer break in a healthy, productive way. A good summer camp not only teaches skills but is equally concerned with a child’s growth and maturity. Using a fun and relaxed environment, a camp helps families by developing a child’s capacities for self confidence, self esteem, independence, leadership, mutual understanding and making friends. These life skills are the part of camp experience that last a lifetime.

The American Camp Association (an organization that accredits summer camps gives us figures that suggest that families are rediscovering the benefits summer camp provides. Nationally, nearly 12,000 summer camp programs exist with nearly 8 million children participating in some sort of camp.

It is important that parents find the camp that is right for their child. One can find
Summer Kids Camp that specialize in computers, rollerblading, space, football, soccer, tennis, academics, traveling, weight loss, nature, art, and even world peace. Despite the growth of specialty camps, many families still find the traditional summer camp the best place for their children to have a well rounded program.

Camp costs have wide variations, with a price to suit almost every budget. Programs, run by churches and organizations like YMCA/YWCA tend to be cheaper than private or independent summer camp. City and county parks tend to be the most reasonable. Generally speaking, overnight summer camps range from $400 to $1200 per week.,while day camps can range from $200 to $1000 per week.

Choosing the right summer camp for your child is more than doing what your friends are doing, Because no single camp meets the needs of each child. Do your research, talk to the directors use his website will help you prepare and give you assistance in making this summer your child’s best summer yet.

Learn More about picking the right summer camp visit SummerCampAdvice.com

Swift Nature Camp is a non-competitive, traditional coed Overnight Summer Camp. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals and camp fun. Swift specializes in programs for the first time camper as well as adventures for teens. Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz have been the owners since’96.

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Nov 10 2009

Three Things to Look at When Selecting a Camp

Category: Kids — Lonnie Lorenz @ 3:42 pm

With 1000’s of summer camp opportunities, it;s easy to see that not every SUMMER CAMP is right for every child. So, it is important that you and your child sit down at the computer screen and start a little research project. Here are a few important factors.

Budget Concerns: When selecting a summer camp budget needs to be considered, but a high priced camp is no guarantee that your child will have a wonderful time. Generally speaking, higher priced camps will provide higher staff to camper ratios as well as have better equipment and facilities. Plus they tend to use little or no volunteer staff. There are good sleepaway programs that meet all budgets. According to the American Camp Association, resident camps range from $25 to $200 per day. Many camps, especially those sponsored by nonprofit organizations, offer some form of financial assistance to those in need. The American Camp Association also reports that 85 percent of camps reported offering some sort of financial assistance. Some families have also been able to ‘trade services’ in exchange for a reduced or eliminated camp fee for their children. Parents may be able to work as nurses or office staff in exchange for their children to attend camp free of charge.

American Camp Association: Regardless of who runs the day camp program you should make sure they are A.C.A. Accredited. The ACA is an independent association that is responsible for the accrediting of summer camp programs. Of the 1000’s of camps in existence less than 25% meet the rigid standards ACA accreditation verifies that a camp has complied with up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality, which are recognized by courts of law and government regulators. ACA-accreditation standards cover all aspects of camp operation from site/food service and health care to management and staffing. The American Camp Association collaborates with experts from The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth service agencies to assure that current practices at ACA-accredited camps reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. Accreditation is a parent’s best evidence of a camp’s commitment to health and safety. ACA accreditation assures parents that the camp has had a regular, independent safety audit that goes beyond regulations in most states. Parents can (and should) verify the accreditation status of any camp at any time. This may be accomplished through ACA’s Web site at www.ACAcamps.org (Click on Find A Camp!) or by calling 800-428-CAMP.

What About Friends? Should at-home friends go to the same camp? Going to camp with a close friend can lessen pre-camp jitters and to some extent, lessen homesickness, but when best friends are bunkmates, it can complicate adjustment to camp. Some things to consider are: * Friendships may not be able to survive the effects of living together 24 hours a day. * An old friendship can limit the development of new relationships.* If one child is having more trouble adjusting, the other may feel responsible for ‘taking care’ of her friend and ensuring her happiness.* Jealousy can develop if one camper begins to bond with others, leaving her friend out.* It’s important to ask the camp what they do to help new campers feel comfortable.

Need more help finding the best dSummer Camp. THis service is free and has loads of information. will walk you through the process of picking the right camp.

Lonnie Lorenz is the director of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional coed overnight Summer Camp. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals & science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in programs for the First Time Camper. as well as Teen Summer Adventure Camp.

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Oct 14 2009

Kids Need to Save the Earth

Category: Parenting — Lonnie Lorenz @ 8:32 pm
by Lonnie Lorenz

On April 22, 1970, nearly 40 years ago first Earth Day was celebrated. Because of the new focus of the planet great studies have been made in fixing the planet. Yet, little has been done to fix our kids. Earth Day

child expert, Mr. Louv, ,blames parents for not getting their kids out in nature. We are the screen generation, with kids spending nearly 6 hours on the screen every day. Nature-deficit order he links to some alarming trends for children. Rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.Environmental Awareness

Summer camps since the early 1900 have been getting kids outdoors and informing children about the environment. Yet, when folks talk today about camp it could be a skateboard camp or a math camp at a college campus. Summer camp is a wonderful way to get your child to have greater appreciation for the environment. Swift Nature Camp is a place that can help you develop you child’s joy in nature. .Environmental Camp

Swift Nature Camp is noncompetitive, Outdoors Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. The focus is to Appreciate nature while doing traditional camp activities. We make Nature Fun , here are a few camper comments

“We learn and have Fun. We are always doing stuff! The nature and sunsets are wonderful.”

“We see nature all around and learn from it all and we dont even have to go to school.”

“The zoo and the Nature Center are best cause the animals are fun to play with …I even got to adopt one.”

We have a lot of songbirds. If you listen, you can hear a lot of robins, cardinals, woodpeckers, but its the loons at night that make camp amazing”

” It a child’s natural curiosity that makes our Science Camp work.” says Lonnie Lorenz the Director ” Frog hunts are always a favorite. They stay in the Nature Center for a day then released back in nature. When campers canoe down a river and see all the beauty they now feel that their is a reason to protect it.”

For SNC camp is more than nature our small size allows us to promote each child’s personal development by providing fun, friendship and leadership in a supportive and noncompetitive environment away from home. While children are home all year long, that’s your time to plant the seeds and direct the thinking patterns which guide your child to how they should behave and socialize. But at summer camp children will have an opportunity to act on their own, be self-reliant and try things for themselves.

To put it in one word, summer camp provides independence, and that’s a major part of growing up. When campers find adult friends called counselors, who model perseverance, listening, teamwork and appreciation of differences, campers set new and high standards for their own behavior. This in turn brings their new found independence more in line with your at-home teachings.

We see Swift Nature Camp as an opportunity for each child to come to a new place and try new things and make new friends. Summer camp is a new world. Who you were before has no bearing on who you want to be, because camp is a new beginning. Many of our campers return year after year saying that “Swift allows me to be my real self with real people” and we feel that’s a good thing.

For campers and staff the Northwoods provides a perfect environment for as a summer home. See what all the excitement is about.

Need help finding a summer camp that fits your child’s needs. Visit Summer Camp Advice Find a Summer Camp

About the Author:
About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the directors of Swift Nature Camp, is an overnight Summer Camp with a a non-competitive, traditional focus . Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals & science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in Teen Camp programs for the Teenage Campers as well as a First time Camper Program.

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Sep 29 2009

Summer Camps Cheap

Category: Parenting — Lonnie Lorenz @ 5:44 pm
by Lonnie Lorenz

Camp children learning through experience. Play gives children a wide range of skills and helps them develop physically, emotionally & intellectually. Kids learn by doing, living, and experiencing things for themselves. It’s one thing to watch life on a computer screen yet, quite another to experience real life.

Residential camps can be downright expensive, even if the experiences are worth every penny. If you’re trying to figure out how you can afford to send your child to summer camp, consider the following cost saving ideas.Cheap Camp

Current private campers especially those on the east coast, are now looking at alternatives that might be far less expensive. One way to save is to look in the midwest. Savings can be a much as thirty percent after airfare.

For many you may need to change your private camps look to alternative programs that might be similar to what you have done in the past yet less expensive. This is just a matter of shopping on the internet for price. See Swift Nature Camp as a wonderful value camp.Adventure Camp

Parents can also choose a less expensive overnight camp program, such as a YMCA or a even a church program. These summer camps can save sometimes half compared to a private camp.

Don’t forget your local areas park districts. Many offer some form of day summer camp. These are usually the most cost effective, however, day camps generally do not offer the same opportunities as that of an overnight summer camp.

Discounts and campership programs are available from most Camps. However, it does not make Camp free. Individually, camps decide how to run their discounts. So, ask the camp director how their particular program runs to see if it will help your situation.

If these areas still leave summer camp out of the question the ACA (American Camp Association) recommends: * Parents should inquire into whether the camp participates in income-eligible subsidy programs, for instance through Title XX. * A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses for qualified dependents that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or to attend school full time. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information. * In certain circumstances, day care expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services and paid with pre-tax dollars. Visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for more information. * Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: The IRS allows an income tax credit of up to $6,000 of dependent care expenses if you have two or more dependents (up to $3,000 for one dependent). The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. This applies to qualifying day camp expenses as well. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information.

Not all camps are equal and cost is often reflected in quality of programs. Please do your research to ensure a quality experience for your child. Be sure to ask about staffing. Some camps use volunteers while others have paid staff. Look at counselor-to-camper ratios. Look in to, how many campers are sleeping in each cabin with what number of children. Are the counselors over 18? If not, be wary.

Total cost of the camp is not only tuition, but transportation, canteen and spending money, laundry, off-site trips, and uniforms (if required). So look at the toal package. Ask the director about how much of a deposit is required and if it is refundable. When must the camp fees be paid in full? Ask about refunds. What the policy is if the family’s plans change and they withdraw the child from the program before the start of camp? What if problems arise during camp and the child must come home?

Safety is the most important area of any Summer Camp. Regardless of cost, you want to ensure that your child will be safe and will return home at the end of the program. One way to make sure your selected camp is safe is to verify that the camp is an accredited member of the American Camp Association. The ACA ensures that over 300 standards are met in their accreditation process.

Lastly, It is important to try to remember the experience of being a kid. Summers are long, and the experiences at camp create a lifetime of memories. For many adults, these recollections are some of their fondest. Do what you need to to suit your needs, but don’t let this summer pass your child by without a Overnight Summer Camp experience

About the Author:
About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the directors of Swift Nature Camp, is a non-competitive, traditional coed Overnight Summer Camp. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals and science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in programs for the first time camper as well as adventures for teens. Mention this article and save $200 Science Camp

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Sep 29 2009

Kids learn English at Camp,

Category: Kids — Lonnie Lorenz @ 3:54 pm
by Lonnie Lorenz

Historically, summer camps have been an American institution since the early 1900’s. In the early days camp was all about getting youngsters out of city life and enjoying the clean cool air of the country while learning camping skills.

No longer is summer camp only about campfires. Now computer screens and Surfing camps have passed by the nature trails to. Many of today’s camps are not in the country but take place in the city.

At camp, children are given the choice to take risks and try new things. This voluntary nature makes children more open to new experiences, with personal satisfaction as their motivation. Not only are there opportunities to try new things, but camp offers many areas for children to excel in.

Many summer camps promote the non-athlete and let them shine in other areas like arts and crafts, woodworking, or dramatic programs. Most importantly, the two campers learn to live together and become friends despite their varied interests. Learn more about Swift Nature Camp a wonderful general interest camp. ClickEnvironmental Camp

Camp offers children many opportunities to become competent. Practicing both new and old skills on a regular basis, it makes sense that there will be improvement. Novices have chances to learn, while those who are more experienced can improve. Learning new skills and improving on old ones builds self-esteem. Children become more independent and self-reliant at camp with their new skills.

Years from now, your child may not remember the games or a camp song, but, the life lessons will remain. Summer camp provides the backdrop for a child learn responsibility. A kid who has never before made a bed, will learn how to smooth out sheets and blankets and fold clothes in a locker. Though it all counselors will encourage and campers quickly learn to take responsibility for themselves as well as the team. All of this personal responsibility further fosters a sense of independence and self-esteem.

Social skills increase by making new friends and learning how to reach out to strangers even if they are different or do not speak the language. Children learn 24 hours a day, learning about courtesy, compromise, teamwork, and respect while at camp.

Camps in USA provide even more opportunities for children from other countries. Foreign children learn about America from local children in a fun environment. Daily English language also increase.

To learn more how to select an American Summer Camp visit Summer Camp Advice. Camp Info

About the Author:
About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the directors of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional coed overnight Summer Camp in Wisconsin. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals & science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in the programs for the first time campers and Teen Adventures. To learn more, click USA Camps

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Sep 26 2009

Free Summer Camp

Category: Parenting — Lonnie Lorenz @ 12:31 am
by Lonnie Lorenz

Camp children learning through experience. Play gives children a wide range of skills and helps them develop physically, emotionally & intellectually. Kids learn by doing, living, and experiencing things for themselves. It’s one thing to watch life on a computer screen yet, quite another to experience real life.

Overnight camps can be expensive, even if the experiences are worth it. You can afford to send your child to summer camp just consider the following thoughts.Free Camp

Families that in the past have sent their children to private sleep away camps, especially on the east coast, are now looking for less expensive alternatives. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan all provide summer camp with similar activities and programs at a thirty percent savings.

For many you may need to change your private camps look to alternative programs that might be similar to what you have done in the past yet less expensive. This is just a matter of shopping on the internet for price. See Swift Nature Camp as a wonderful value camp.Adventure Camp

Parents can also choose a less expensive overnight camp program, such as a YMCA or a even a church program. These summer camps can save sometimes half compared to a private camp.

Park Districts also offer a day summer camp. These are usually the most cost effective, however, day camps generally do not offer the same array of activities and benefits that an overnight summer camp provides.

Summer camps do have discounts and campership programs, but seldom are these programs FREE. Each summer camp decides how to run their own discount program, so it is important to ask the camp director how to become a part of their particular program and see if it will help make camp affordable for you.

The ACA (American Camp Association) recommends: * Parents should ask whether the camp participates in income-eligible subsidy programs, for instance through Title XX. * A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses for qualified dependents that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or to attend school full time. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information. * In certain circumstances, day care expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services and paid with pre-tax dollars. Visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for more information. * Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: The IRS allows an income tax credit of up to $6,000 of dependent care expenses if you have two or more dependents (up to $3,000 for one dependent). The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. This applies to qualifying day camp expenses as well. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information.

Remember, all camps are not created equal and cost is often reflected in quality of programs. It is imperative that you do your homework to ensure a quality experience for your child. One areas where camps cut costs is staffing. Some camps use volunteers while others have paid staff. Look at counselor-to-camper ratios to determine how many campers are sleeping in each cabin with how many children. What age are the counselors? If they are not over 18, parents should be wary.

Be sure to ask the director about the actual, true total cost of the camp. This should include not only tuition, but transportation, canteen and spending money, laundry, off-site trips, and uniforms (if required). Ask the director about how much of a deposit is required and if it is refundable. When must the camp fees be paid in full? Ask about what the policy is if the family’s plans change and they withdraw the child from the program before the start of camp. What if problems arise during camp and the child must come home?

Camp is all about Safety. You want to be reassured that your child will be safe and will return home at the end of camp. Be sure your camp is an accredited member of the American Camp Association. The ACA ensures that over 300 standards are met in their accreditation process.

Lastly, It is important to try to remember what it is like being a kid. Summers are long! The experiences at summer camp create a lifetime of memories. Many adults fondly recall their camp days. Do what you must, but don’t let this summer pass your child by without a Overnight Summer Camp experience.

About the Author:
About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the directors of Swift Nature Camp, is a non-competitive, traditional coed Overnight Summer Camp. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals and science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in programs for the first time camper as well as adventures for teens. Mention this article and save $200 Science Camp

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