[New York Family’s big Camp Fairs are coming up this weekend and next weekend! On the weekends of January 23 & 24 and January 30 & 31 families can meet dozens of top day camps and sleepaway camps represented at New York Family’s Camp Fairs. The Camp Fairs are free, fun, and allow families to get all their camp-related questions answered. Details and registration here: bit.ly/1RpX2RP]
[Editor’s note: Click HERE to read our story on dos & don’ts for choosing a camp.]
There’s no denying that the camp search can be overwhelming. However, for families in the Tri-State Area, the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey (ACA), is there to lend a helping hand. Not only do they offer a searchable directory and customized lists of day and sleepaway camps, but they also offer a free, one-on-one consultation with Renee Flax, the director of camper placement, to help families jumpstart and refine their search. We recently caught up with Flax to learn more about the consultation process.
Renee, you have been assisting area families in finding the right camp experience for their children since 1998. How does this work? What’s the best way for families to get in touch with you? Is it better for parents to use your website’s Camp Search widget before or after speaking with you?
Whatever is more comfortable for the parent is what I suggest. Some people like to start their own research and then talk to me, while others prefer a conversation at the onset. Both work well.
How do you come by your knowledge? Do your regularly visit the camps, and/or speak with camp directors? Or are you mostly going by a camp’s reputation?
All three! Every summer and fall, I visit numerous day and resident camps to see the facilities and discuss their program. I also spend a lot of time meeting and talking to camp directors throughout the year so I know their camp’s philosophy, program, and what’s new… I speak with hundreds of parents a year and get great feedback from the families I work with.
What should a parent expect? Do most families make their final decision by going on a camp’s reputation and the advice of others, or do they actually try to visit they camp they’re most interested in?
A parent should expect a phone conversation that will last anywhere from 30 minutes to more than an hour—and often these are multiple conversations. Some families are novices to this whole process, and I feel that my job is to help educate them on what their choices are, what they should be considering, and explaining the various options they have based on their needs. I usually recommend 5-6 camps per family so they can see several camps that fit their needs. If possible, I do recommend families visit camps they are interested in. If that is not possible, I suggest they get a home visit from the camp director or go to a spring open house at a camp. The advice of family and friends is certainly significant, but should never be the defining factor. Parents should do their own research to find the best possible camp for their child and their family’s needs. One great way for parents to get going on their research is to visit a camp fair, where they could speak with over 40 camp directors in one easy setting. For years we have partnered with New York Family for our NYC fairs, and many families I speak with say that the fairs have helped them discover camp programs they didn’t know about.
Since most of your families are from New York and New Jersey, are you mostly focused camps in those states, or all over the Northeast?
I work with resident camps from Pennsylvania to Maine, and find that many of the families I work with are interested in all of these areas. For day camps, I work with camps throughout New Jersey, Westchester, Long Island, Rockland County, and New York City.
Do you work with parents to identify both day camps and sleepaway camps, or just day camps?
I work with parents for both—day camps in New York and New Jersey, as well as sleepaway camps in the Northeast.
This is a free service! Do the camps pay you to steer people their way? Or is the point that, as an employee of the ACA, NY NJ, you are an objective source of information for parents?
This is a free service to parents, and camps pay fees and dues to the American Camp Association. I am an employee of the Association and have always prided myself on the fact that I can remain objective because all camps within the Association are treated equally. My camp recommendations are based on what is best for the family and the child.
What age range do you recommend for families to start thinking about sending away their kids to camp? Why?
Depending on the child or the family, there is no definitive answer to this question. A lot depends on the maturity of the child. I do suggest parents start looking prior to the summer they want to send their child away. It is not too early to start thinking about 2017, and maybe setting up a rookie day at a camp you are particularly interested in. In general, the biggest influx of new campers is children entering grade 4.
You have a new website! Are the big differences between the new website and the old website?
We are very excited about our new website! It will be much easier for parents to navigate and do their own research. Families will be able to gather a great deal of information about accredited camps based on their specific needs and requirements. And at any time during their search, they can call me.
For more information on the ACA, NY NJ, visit aca-nynj.org!
