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Summer Camp Guide 2023: How to book a just-right camp

March 26, 2023

I was baffled when my eldest daughter became camp-age and fellow mothers were talking about summer camp in February. I was still recovering from the holiday season, and here we were looking five months ahead to when our children would once again be on break. Though most of us missed a summer or two of camp due to the pandemic, we’re back in action now, and back to planning ahead. Here are a few parent-to-parent pro-tips on booking summer camps this year.

1. Reflect on your child’s needs.

My daughter, entering fifth grade this fall, has a very scheduled and busy school year, full of a cappella rehearsals, piano and fencing lessons, and playdates. I learned my lesson last summer when she did four weeks of highly structured summer camp. She came home after week one and said, “This feels a lot like school.” So this year, I’ll help her pivot to a couple weeks of camp that are more fluid and fun. She has her eyes on a week of crafting camp, and maybe a week of “fun and games” camp. The point is, reflect on your child and what kind of camp best addresses their needs will make for a smoother, happier summer.

Summer is the ultimate balancing act for families
Academic and STEM camps
Arts camps
City-run camps
Faith-based camps
Foreign-language camps
Sleep-away camps
Sports camps
Swim, surf and sailing camps

2. Try things old and new, and think about academics and emotional needs, too.

For some kids, summer is a great time for academic review and support; a neighbor of mine recently shared that her daughter had had a tough year in math class, so she was on the hunt for a summer experience that included that academic component.

On the flip side, if your child needs to unwind from academics, try a themed camp focused on a passion they have, or something totally different. Mack of Costa Mesa put both of her daughters in Vanguard University’s basketball camp, despite neither of them being basketball players. The girls had a great time, she said, and she was impressed by how well-organized and coached it was. This year, she’s considering the new-to-her Emerald Cove Day Camp, which offers archery, tide pool time, hiking and more.

3. Ask about approach, or camp philosophy.

You know yourself and your child’s needs best, so do some research before registering for a camp. Most speak directly to their mission on their website, so make sure what you read jives with what you desire from a camp. For example, Camp Izza in Irvine is all about relationships, and creating a safe and engaging space in which to build them.

“We believe that being able to relate to others while understanding and appreciating themselves is what matters most,” said Camp Izza founder Omar Ezzeldine. “The games and activities we play are less about what we are doing and more about who we are becoming and how we are accepting ourselves and others. Programs like ours tend to attract shy campers, or those that just need a space to be proud of who they are.”

4. Consider sleep-away camps for the older kids.

For kids ready to practice their independence from the family unit, consider a sleep-away camp, either close by or further from home. After many screenings of the movie “Parent Trap,” my oldest child was determined to try a one-week sleep-away experience this year; we opted for one in Fresno County, but there are plenty in or closer to Orange County itself, like Catalina Sea Camp, great for ocean adventurers. The camp offers one-week programs for campers 8 to 13, and three-week programs for those 12-17.

Orange County Register

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Summer Camp Guide 2023: How to book a just-right camp

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