In what feels like a lifetime ago, I was a camp counselor. It's where most camp professionals start, and if you don't fall in love with camp as a child, the best way to get sucked in is through working at camp. During my last year as a camp counselor I had the opportunity to work at a resident camp in Massachusetts that also ran a Day Camp on the same property. Typically, the two worlds never meet, but that summer, I was one of the chosen ones to cross over and spend some time with the day campers.

There are pros and cons to both styles of camp. Oftentimes a child might not be ready for sleep-away camp, but is ready for day camp. With very young children, the hustle and bustle of sleep-away camp can be very exhausting. One of the benefits of day camp is that the parents can still manage their child's sleep schedule. Children can spend the day at camp, and then return home to sleep in the evenings. Another unique aspect of Day Camp is the different variety of programs you can choose from. There is a day camp for almost every interest imaginable, and you can choose a program based on what your child's interests are.

I'll admit that I am definitely an advocate for resident camp. But after my experience as a unit leader for a day camp, it affirmed my belief in resident camp even more. While some younger children may not be ready for a full 2-3 week session of resident camp, Camp Champions has a solution for that. While we believe the full benefits of a camp program are achieved in longer terms, we realize that some 5- and 6-year olds are more likely to have a successful start in our one week introductory term, Batter Up! Batter Up is tailored to the needs of Kindergarden - 2nd graders and allows kids to participate in all the camp activities, while being mindful that they also need more rest than a 10 year old. We are also very mindful of the counselors who work with these youngsters, and choose staff that are understanding of your child's needs and have endless amounts of energy and patience for our Batter Up campers.

If you have older campers, overnight camp will give your children the opportunity to unplug from their electronics, leave their cell phones behind, and develop incredibly meaingful realatioinships with other kids their age. Parents tell us all the time how much camp has changed their child for the better in just three weeks, and campers always leave at the end of the summer counting down the days until the next year.

Another unique aspect of resident camp for all ages is the ability to try activties that might not be located in your backyard or neighborhood. Many summer camps boast 30+ activities for children to choose from and participate in. In a single day, a camper can take swim lessons, learn how to water ski, climb a rock wall, play tennis, and channel their creativity in ceramics all before dinner!

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