The Ultimate Checklist: How to Choose The Right Camp For Your Child

Finding the right camp for your child can feel like a big decision. After all, camp is more than just your place for the summer-it is where you build community, make friends, and grow confidence. You ask anyone who went to summer camp as a child about their favorite memory, and I’m sure they’ll have more than one that immediately comes to mind. However, a big decision doesn’t have to be a difficult one. Here is a helpful guide to help you know which is the right fit for you and your family.

1. A Safe and Supportive Environment

Every parent’s first priority is making sure their child is somewhere that they feel safe physically, mentally, and emotionally. Finding a camp that prioritizes staff training, retention, and thorough hiring practices is an important step in deciding if a camp is a good place for your child to feel- and be- safe.

It is important to choose a camp where the staff make an effort to connect with your child, and ensure your child’s best interest each and every day. Having staff members that make children feel comfortable is key to ensuring a fun and successful summer. In a study by the American Camp Association, children were believed to be more socially comfortable at camp compared to school. The conducted study showed a significant increase in social comfort in the six months after camp ended and parents even showed a significant increase in reporting their children’s social comfortability (ACA 2005). The positive impacts from going to camp, allowing children to thrive in a safe and secure environment, will stay with them and help them to grow for their future.

2. A Wide Range of Activities

It is important for children to be out participating in physical activities each and everyday. Having children participate in physical activity is important to their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development (Pediatric Association of Austin 2025). Which is why the right camp should provide a variety of activities for campers to participate in, including different kinds of physical activities. There is nothing better than being able to go out and play tennis with friends, cool down and swim in the pool, or get to learn new skills in soccer. Having fun while taking part in physical activities is not only a great way for campers to have fun, but also beneficial to their development.

Additionally, it is important to note that every child is different and they deserve to be at a camp that celebrates these differences. When exploring all your camp options, it is important to keep in mind your child’s individual needs, interests, and personality. Which is why camps should offer activities that cater to each child’s unique interests, which may include drama, the arts, or STEM. There should be opportunities to explore areas of creativity, athletics, aquatics, adventure, and more at camp.

3. The Camp Facilities

It is important for camp to be more than just the picturesque backdrop to photos, but a place that feels like home to so many campers. Being at a camp with a large, beautiful, outdoor space that is in nature is not only beautiful but can be beneficial to children. While it’s unclear how nature improves cognitive and intrapersonal functioning, there are things that are known to help children develop. According to the Child Mind Institute, spending time outdoors has shown to help children build confidence, decrease stress and fatigue, and promote creativity (Cohen 2024). These are skills that not only help them during the summer months, but continue to benefit children into the school year.

It is also important, however, for a camp to offer spaces to escape the dog days of August or the dreaded four letter word- Rain. Consider finding a camp that has indoor facilities that cater to indoor activities for children- things like STEM, cooking, and even a big indoor gym could be great benefits to a camp (and a big bonus if those facilities have air conditioning!).

Only you know what it is that will make you feel “at home”, so as you’re camp shopping ask yourself- Can I see my child here? Can I see them running across the soccer field, laughing with friends? Can I see them sitting in the amphitheater, singing songs, and chanting for their color war team? Can I see them taking a plunge into the deep end of the pool to pass their deep water test? If the answer is yes, it looks like you found your summer home!

Finding The Perfect Fit

Picking the “perfect” camp can feel overwhelming, but what matters most is finding a place where your child is happy. Once you visit Crestwood, you will see first hand why so many families continue to choose it every year. From our incredible staff, to beautiful campgrounds, Crestwood is a place where your child can truly grow. If you want to see if Crestwood checks all of your boxes, give us a call at 631-692-6361.

American Camp Association. “Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience.” Philliber Research Associates, American Camp Association, 2005. https://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/report-directions-youth-development-outcomes.pdf.

Pediatric Association of Austin. “The Importance of Physical Activity in Child Development.” Pediatric Association of Austin, 2025. https://www.pediatricassociates.net/blog/physical-activity-in-child-development

Cohen, Danielle. “Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature.” Child Mind Institute, 13 November 2024. https://childmind.org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/