If you are looking for a true American experience for children ages 7-15, our 100-300 acre co-educational and single-sex campuses in Maine, Northeast Pennsylvania and New York state’s Adirondack Mountains are among the finest camps in the world. Our camps are on beautiful, spring-fed lakes which play host to swimming, water-skiing, wakeboarding, sailing, stand up paddleboarding, canoeing and so much more. Spectacular mountain and wooded views are the backdrops for these picturesque campuses located in some of the most beautiful, remote regions of the United States, yet within easy driving distance of major cities such as New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Campers participate in dozens of programs – many of which are exclusive to America’s finest summer camps – that are among the best in the U.S. Most importantly, children are encouraged to learn new skills, make new friends, become independent and have fun. Are you ready for your child to have the ultimate American experience?
At America’s Finest Summer Camps, children ages 7 ½ to 15 from all over the world have the opportunity to spend the summer on 100-300 acre campuses on magnificent lakes surrounded by the beauty of spectacular mountain regions.
The rural settings provide perfect co-educational environments for children to learn new skills, gain independence, make friends, and most importantly, have fun. The facilities at America’s Finest Summer Camps are among the very best in the United States.
All of the summer camps are easily accessible from major USA airports and cities, such as Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The Camp Directors are experts in international travel and will work with you to make all your travel arrangements.
Safety is the major priority at each camp. Each summer camp maintains a 3:1 camper to staff ratio. Prior to the summer, employees are provided with comprehensive training programs and complete any necessary certifications.
All of America’s Finest Summer Camps are accredited by the American Camp Association and pride themselves on their reputation in the American camping industry as being safe, welcoming, quality programs and facilities… homes away from home.
As part of a daily structured program, during the course of their stay, campers may participate in more than forty activities including a full spectrum of the following:
The action always goes well into the evening, when campers might decorate a sweet creation, go on a scavenger hunt, take part in a game show, perform an MTV music video with their cabin-mates, or enjoy a theater production.
A sleepaway summer camp is also the perfect setting for international children. They can immerse themselves in American culture while practicing their English.
Children come to the United States to attend camp from such countries as France, Spain, the UK, even as far away as Korea, and everyone is welcome.
You will find that each camp typically employs a very diverse, staff consisting of camp counselors from all over the world who are fluent in many languages. The lessons learned by living with others are priceless, and American children are eager to make new friends while learning about other nations.
The best summer camps place a great deal of value on friendship, family, and tradition in a warm, friendly atmosphere. At each of America’s Finest Summer Camps, campers live in modern cabins that feature plumbing and electricity. The 8-12 cabin-mates and 2-4 counselor staff members assigned to each cabin quickly become a summer family. They enjoy family-style meals in campus dining halls and come together daily as a camp for community meetings and/or evening activities.
Whether it’s for three, four, five or seven weeks, campers form bonds that last a lifetime and leave with a strong connection to the camp community.
America’s best summer camps are operated by the most qualified professionals in camping. Emphasis is placed on fun as well as safety. All of America’s best summer camps are ACA accredited, and maintain strict local, state and national guidelines. Many of our camp directors attended camp as children and have a passion for continuing the American camp tradition. American summer camps facilitate an inclusive family environment that seeks to bring people of multiple faiths, cultures, and interests together through common interests. Every year, we interview thousands of potential staff members to identify those precious few who truly have what it takes to create the perfect camp environment with their skills and personalities.
Most parents know there is no better way for children to spend their summer vacation than to play sports, enjoy the sunshine, and make lifelong friends in the great outdoors. But many of today’s children instead stay inside playing video games or watching television, often alone. Modern technology has made it difficult to get kids excited about what has traditionally been associated with an idyllic childhood.
Helping their kids pack a bag and head off to summer camp offers a perfect solution for parents who have trouble getting them off the couch and outside to play. Choosing the right program can be challenging, especially when parents never attended camp.
The best summer camps offer adventure, friendship, independence, and a diverse array of fun and exciting programs. There are a lot of options to sort through. Parents looking for summer camps for children are often overwhelmed, but choosing the right one doesn’t need to be difficult. Following are some of the options offered by top-rated summer camps and how parents can choose the right one.
The right summer camp will help children develop life-long skills that can enhance their sports performance, artistic talents, and sense of adventure. Top-tier programs offer a variety of activities, making it easy for children to try different things and determine for themselves what skills they would like to hone.
Activities such as swimming, sailing, hiking, and playing sports don’t just help build kids’ athletic abilities, they also help develop communication skills, build confidence, and understand the importance of cooperation.
Children will bring these underlying social skills home with them and use them in academic and social environments as they grow up. The confidence children gain when they are away at camp often helps to set the groundwork for later success.
The key to making sure a child gets as much as possible out of the camp experience is to find a program and facility that offers interesting activities and encourages personal growth. Even kids used to being indoors typically find that outdoor activities can be rewarding and fun, especially when they engage in them with other kids their age. They’ll make new friends, discover new interests, and begin to work on the practical and emotional skills required to tackle problems as they learn and grow.
There’s nothing wrong with getting children started on a path toward independence at a young age. That’s where day camps come in. They allow parents to get some much-needed time off from watching their kids while also offering campers fun and rewarding experiences outdoors in a new environment.
A young child’s decisions are often guided by parents at home and teachers at school, which gives them little opportunity to foster independence and figure out how to make choices for themselves. The engaging activities and nurturing environment provided at day camps allow children to learn and grow in a safe space that gives them the freedom to be themselves.
For older kids, sleepaway camps provide an extra level of independence. For many campers, attending sleepaway camp will be their first chance to get away from home for a substantial period. Although missing home is a very natural part of this experience, dedicated camp counselors and leadership staff are always around to offer support and guidance. Most children thrive in this kind of environment. Many go on to embrace the summer camp experience throughout their childhood, attending summer camps for teens as they get older. By developing a new sense of independence, children can find out more about themselves. It can also make it easier for them to think for themselves as they grow older.
Attending summer camp will challenge children in ways they wouldn’t be challenged at home. Even though it can be scary for kids and parents, it’s a necessary part of growing up to become a strong, resilient, and capable adult. Heading off to camp for the first time can be a bit scary for younger children, but once they arrive and find themselves immersed in an encouraging and nurturing environment filled with fun activities and new friends, they’ll easily be able to conquer their fears.
The right staff is essential for creating a supportive environment in which children feel comfortable facing their fears, whether they include missing home, social anxieties, or trying new experiences. All staff members should undergo strict background checks and should be required to provide references and pass a comprehensive interview. Staff members should also undergo extensive training developed to help them uphold the camp’s mission statement and values and should have plenty of experience working with children.
Children who attend the right overnight camps often return home feeling more confident and better able to tackle the challenges they’ll face at home. The healthy sense of autonomy fostered in a supportive camp environment can help them develop the skills and self-assurance needed to face life head-on.
One of the most tangible benefits of attending a traditional summer camp is that it gets kids outside and ensures they spend beautiful summer days enjoying the sunshine and getting exercise. Because most children don’t get as much exercise as they should throughout the school year, the time they spend at camp playing outdoors, engaging in team sports, and building new physical abilities as well as social skills, can make a huge difference in their overall health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests all children should engage in at least an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day with an emphasis on aerobic activities. But any additional physical activity can benefit most children. Adequate exercise is known to improve everything from cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness to metabolic health and mood, and summer is the perfect time to encourage more physical activity for children.
Parents should make sure to choose a summer camp that offers a variety of outdoor physical activities because not all children are interested in team sports. Make sure the camp also offers adequate safety protocols, especially if children will be engaging in activities such as water skiing, wakeboarding, and other water sports. A lifeguard should always be on duty, and the staff should have an emergency preparedness plan for dealing with injuries.
It often helps to send a reluctant child to the same summer camp as his or her best friend, but even kids who attend camp without a friend from home will make new social connections by the time they return home. Camp staff members are trained in preventing bullying and providing a nurturing environment in which children can get to know each other on their own terms. This helps shy children overcome social anxieties and begin building lasting connections.
Every parent wants what is best for their child, which should include an idyllic summer camp experience. Parents should also be aware of practical considerations. For example, parents of young children interested in day camps need to choose one that is conveniently located, especially if they intend to continue working throughout the summer.
Location can also be an issue with overnight camps, though most parents are willing to drive a little bit out of their way to drop kids off and pick them up, and some camps offer bus service from popular locations. Parents with budget concerns will, of course, need to consider cost.
Whether you’re looking for day camps for younger kids or overnight summer camps for kids a bit older, you’ve come to the right place. With this summer camp directory, parents can learn more about a variety of leading American camps, all of which have been carefully investigated to ensure their facilities and staff members meet the highest standards.
Use the site to search for “summer day camps near me,” or browse through articles to get a feel for what other parents consider when choosing a camp. Information is available about each individual camp, which can be accessed via the links provided to their websites. Finding the right summer camp isn’t an impossible task, so start your search by learning more about America’s finest summer camps.
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