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For Immediate Release
February 2, 2009
Contact: Nancy Wood, 202-274-3304

TIME TO SELECT SUMMER CAMP
The Girl Scouts offers tips to help you select the right camp for your child.
 

WASHINGTON- Hard to think that now is the time to select a summer camp. The fact is camp information and brochures are arriving in homes and parents are beginning to wonder what their school age children will do during school summer recess.  

Camp attendance is increasing, especially during these tough economic times when both parents must work.  According to Lidia Soto-Harmon, spokesperson for the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital, "You need to do your homework and be prepared to make a decision because space fills-up quickly for many camps."

Girl Scouting and camping is a long-standing tradition that builds character and confidence in girls.  The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital offers the following tips to help parents select the best camp for their child. 

  1. Consider if your child is ready for an "extended" stay away from home, or if a day camp would be more appropriate.
  2. Would you prefer a coed facility or a camp that caters to just girls or boys?  Also, you will need to decide if your child will attend camp with a friend or relative and make those arrangements with the camp in advance. 
  3. Camps provide a wide variety of programs and specialties from high adventure, arts and crafts to academic studies.  Selecting a camp with the right facilities and activities will require some research.  Compare your options and look for camps that will appeal to your child's interests.
  4. Ask about the type of training the staff receives, if it is mandatory and what specialty certifications the staff holds-- from high rope to archery instructors.
  5. Many camps allow you to visit prior to registering your child.  This is a good opportunity to check out the facilities to make sure it matches the glossy pictures in the brochures. Also check to see if the facility is well maintained to insure that your child will be safe and secure. 
  6. Think about the location-is distance important? Camps in your area make it easier for you to get there and it is more likely that local families and friends will also attend.  Camps that are further from your home will expose your child to new friends and encourage more independence in your camper.
  7. Costs can vary from camp to camp, so do your homework, and if needed find out if financial assistance is available to help defray some of the expenses.  According to the American Camp Association, the national average for day camp runs from $100 - $275 a week and for a sleep-away camp from $325 to $780 a week. 
  8. Investigate the history of the camp and reputation of the company or organization running the program. Make sure the organization is financially sound and the facility well maintained.

For more information on summer sleep-away or day camp visit the Girl Scout website at www.gscnc.org.  Get your application in for Girl Scout sleep-away camp by March 1.

About Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital:
Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital (GSCNC) is a non-profit organization with over 82,000 members, including 58,000 girls in 4,500 troops throughout the District of Columbia, six counties in Maryland and five counties in Northern Virginia. With the help of dedicated volunteers, the generosity of corporations and foundations, and our popular Girl Scout cookie program, GSCNC helps girls from kindergarten to 12th grade become leaders through a wide range of fun and educational activities. GSCNC is headquartered in Washington DC, with satellite offices in Frederick and Waldorf, Maryland; and in Lorton, Leesburg and Manassas, Virginia.  To get involved, visit our website at www.gscnc.org.

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