When you think back to your childhood, what is one of the things you remember most? Besides being bored, having hot days where you didn’t want to go outside and waiting for your friends to go, were you a youth summer camp attendee? There have been movies, songs and cartoons written about the phenomenon known as summer camp. The days of old summer camps could have been nothing more than fishing, canoeing and campfires. But now, camps have come a long way.
The summer camps for today’s youth often have specialties. For instance, if you love to dance, then you can attend a dance camp. If you are a NASCAR lover, then you can attend a camp made exclusive for fans of the sport. You can learn auto mechanics, managing a car team, how to watch the races and even which drivers you want to see. There are camps for horse lovers, music lovers, artists, vegetarians and those with handicaps.
No matter what type of camp you go to, make sure it is legitimate. The American Camp Association keeps track of all camps that are registered and approved for youth to attend. That means, the camps have certified instructors, trained staff and have done background checks on employees who are in contact with all of the youth. Keeping youth protected is the top concern of the group and they take it very seriously.
Training includes first aid and basic medical support for emergencies. The training could also include CPR and advanced life support emergencies that could happen in the water, the woods or even while doing a camp activity. The staff should also be trained to handle youth who are homesick. Specialty camps will have more specialized and trained staff. For example, camps who cater to people with a handicap might require trained therapists, doctors, nurses or behavior specialists to be on hand.
