Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • April 28, 2010 SCHOOLS & CAMPS For parents new to the process, finding the right camp can be a difficult process. After all, no parent wants to see his or her child spend the bulk of the summer at a camp he or she doesn’t like. When seeking a summer camp, parents should consider the following areas. Staff: The staff will play a crucial role in how much your child enjoys the summer. A qualified staff is adept at making all children feel welcome, and will be experienced in making everyone’s time at camp as enjoyable as possible. When speaking with camps, ask about staff and how the staff is assembled. What education and training is required of the staff? Does the camp run criminal background checks on its staff? A good staff will be trained in first aid and have some type of background in child counseling or education. Camps that simply hire kids looking for summer jobs should be avoided. The American Camp Association (ACA) recommends that 80 percent of a camp’s staff should be 18 or older. The camp’s goals: Camps can differ greatly with what they hope to offer a child. Camps can focus on religion, sports, music, recreation, or a host of other interests. If you’re looking for a sports camp, ask about affiliations with any local colleges or professional teams. If it’s a musical camp, ask about what your child can expect to learn from staff. It’s also important to determine the general temperament Tips to consider when selecting a summer camp #1 BASEBALL CAMP IN AMERICA Mahwah. Campers 7-17. Select one or more weeks July 4 thru Aug. 8. Overnight, Day Camp or Extended Day Camp. Major League Stars. College coaches. A/C dorm and campers lounge. Batting cages, indoor BASEBALL CAMPpool. All-you-can-eat meals. Free COACHES AND YOUTH video games. Daily instruction LEADERS and games. Ramapo College Call about our money HEAD BASEBALL COACH making program Rich Martin, Director. Located on the beautiful campus SINCE 1981 OVER 24,000 ALUMNI of Ramapo College of N.J. in ALL STAR of a camp. Does the camp foster a laid back or more competitive environment? This can be a big help in choosing the right camp. For example, a child who isn’t very competitive likely will not enjoy a camp where competition is heavily emphasized, whereas a child who is competitive might not get much out of a camp that is more recreational. The daily schedule: While some camps might be specialized, most parents send their children to recreational camps that they hope offer their kids a well-rounded experience. Ask to see the schedule from a typical day, and ask about how flexible that schedule is. Will kids be able to choose from different activities each day, or is every day regimented? Remember, kids will be spending their summer vacations at camp, and for many kids camp is an opportunity to relax and spend some time doing what they want. Camps that feature strict schedules might not be the best fit. Referrals: While summer camps are not necessarily as popular as they once were, chances are some of your child’s classmates attend camp in the summer. Ask around and seek some advice on choices in your area. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to send your child to a summer camp that some of his or her classmates also attend, which should make it easier for your child to adapt to camp, especially if it’s a first summer away from home. If you can’t find any personal referrals, ask a camp for a list of references. These references shouldn’t weight too heavily in your decision, as a camp director is obviously not going to give you names of parents whose children didn’t have a good time. But the parents should be able to provide an accurate portrayal of how the camp conducts itself and how your child might fare at that camp. To learn more about what to look for in a camp, visit the ACA website at www.acacamps.org. CALL TODAY FOR A FREE BROCHURE 1-800-828-7414 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALLSTARBASEBALLCAMP .COM 4-14-10 Joan/Janine AllStarBaseballCamp2x2.5 At the Ramapo Reformed Church 2 x 2.5” Educational Building 109 West Ramapo Ave., Mahwah Conveniently located just off Route 17 Pinnacle Learning Center ������� ������� ������������������������������� ����������� YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER Register for Summer 2010 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM M-F Flexible Hrs. Half and Full Day - 2½ - 6 Years Arts & Crafts, Games, Theme Projects, Music, Outdoor Water Fun Owner/Director/Teacher Maria Cancelosi NJ State Licensed Call 201-512-3313 Space available for Fall 2010 �����������������