How to Choose a Summer Camp: 70 Questions to Ask

Step 1: Know what you want

Before you contact any camp, write down three things.

1. The goal. Is it a new language, a sport, adventure, friends or independence? A camp that does one thing very well is better than one that promises everything.
2. The format. Day camp, overnight camp, online course or a camp abroad. Day camps suit younger children. Residential camps suit ages 10 and over who want independence.
3. The limits. Your budget, the dates, how far you will travel and what your child cannot do without, such as a special diet or medicine.

If you are not sure about age, read the best age for summer camp abroad. If cost is your main concern, see what a summer camp in Spain costs.

Step 2: Compare camps in one table

Make a simple table for two or three camps. Fill it in with answers from the website and from your calls. A camp that does not answer a question is also an answer.

Question	Camp A	Camp B	Camp C
Ages and group size
Adults per child
Price and what is included
Safety and medical help
Daily programme
Contact with parents
References from parents

Step 3: Ask these 70 questions

A. The camp and its record (1 to 8)

1. How many years has the camp run, and how many children come each summer?
2. How many children return the next year?
3. Is it licensed or registered where it operates, and is it a member of a recognised camp organisation?
4. Who is the director, and what is their experience?
5. Can I read reviews or speak to parents from last summer?
6. Can I speak to a parent whose child did not enjoy the camp?
7. Does the website show the real place, real staff and clear prices?
8. What happens if my child wants to leave early?

B. Safety and health (9 to 22)

9. How many adults are there for each group of children?
10. Are staff background-checked, and by whom?
11. What training do staff have in first aid and child protection?
12. Is there a nurse or doctor on site, or how fast can one arrive?
13. Which hospital or medical centre does the camp use?
14. How does the camp handle medicine, allergies and long-term conditions?
15. Is there insurance, and what does it cover?
16. What is the plan for an emergency, and how quickly will I hear about it?
17. How does the camp keep children safe around water, heat and sun?
18. Is the site secure, with cameras or controlled entry?
19. How are children counted and supervised on trips?
20. What are the rules for leaving the site?
21. How does the camp deal with bullying, and what happens if it occurs?
22. What are the rules on alcohol, smoking and vaping?

For Spain, read our guide to safety at summer camp in Spain.

C. Staff (23 to 29)

23. How are counsellors and teachers chosen?
24. Do teachers hold qualifications for the subject, such as Spanish teaching?
25. How many staff return each year?
26. Who is the main contact for me during camp?
27. Do staff speak my child's language for emergencies?
28. Who stays with the children at night?
29. How are new staff supervised?

D. Daily life and activities (30 to 40)

30. What does a normal day look like, from wake-up to lights out?
31. How much is lessons, sport, trips and free time?
32. How are groups formed, by age, level or interest?
33. How big are classes?
34. Can my child choose activities?
35. What is there for children who dislike team sport?
36. How does the camp balance busy time and rest?
37. What happens on a rainy or very hot day?
38. How are trips supervised, and what transport is used?
39. What do children usually take home, such as a certificate or new skill?
40. What are the evenings like?

E. Sleeping and food (41 to 48)

41. Where do children sleep, and how many share a room?
42. Are rooms split by age and gender?
43. Who decides roommates, and can my child request a friend?
44. What time is lights-out?
45. What meals and snacks are served?
46. How does the kitchen handle allergies, vegetarian and halal or kosher needs?
47. Is drinking water always available?
48. How are bathrooms and laundry handled?

F. Contact with parents (49 to 54)

49. How and when can my child call home?
50. What is the phone and device policy?
51. Will I receive photos or updates, and how often?
52. How does the camp handle a homesick child? See our homesickness guide.
53. How will you tell me about illness or an injury?
54. What is the best way to reach the camp in an emergency?

G. Price, booking and rules (55 to 62)

55. What is the total price, and what does it include?
56. What costs extra, such as trips, laundry or airport transfers?
57. How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due?
58. What is the cancellation and refund policy?
59. Is there a sibling or early-booking discount?
60. What happens if the camp has to cancel?
61. Is pocket money needed, and how is it stored?
62. What documents and forms must I send before arrival?

H. If the camp is abroad (63 to 67)

63. Does the camp meet children at the airport, and who is the person?
64. What happens if a flight is late or a bag is lost?
65. What documents does my child need to enter the country?
66. How does health care work for a visitor, and does the insurance work there?
67. What is the weather like, and how does the camp handle heat?

I. Ask yourself (68 to 70)

68. Does my child want to go, and did they help choose?
69. Does the price feel fair for what is included?
70. Do I trust the people who answered my questions?

Red flags

• Vague answers about staff numbers, medical help or insurance.
• Pressure to pay quickly with no clear terms.
• No way to speak to past parents.
• A website with stock photos only and no address.
• No written emergency plan.
• A price much lower than all other camps, with no explanation.

Good signs

• Clear, written answers to every safety question.
• A named contact who replies quickly.
• Small groups and a high number of adults per child.
• A day plan you can read in full.
• A camp that welcomes questions and offers a call or video visit.

What a good answer looks like

Asking is only half of the work. You also need to know what a good answer sounds like. Use these guides when you listen.

Topic	A good answer	A weak answer
Adults per child	A clear number, such as one adult for every eight children, and the same ratio at night and on trips	"We have lots of staff"
Medical help	A named medical centre, a written plan and a person trained in first aid on site	"We call a doctor if needed"
Insurance	A policy you can read, with cover explained	"Don't worry, it is covered"
Homesickness	A step-by-step approach and a promise to tell you the truth	"It never happens here"
Price	One total, a list of what is included and a list of extras	A low price with many later fees
Parent contact	Set days and a named person to reach in an emergency	No clear way to contact the camp

Questions to ask your child

Camp is for your child, so give them a voice. Ask these questions in a relaxed moment, not in a rush before a deadline.

• What would you like to do at camp?
• What are you worried about?
• Would you rather share a room with several children or a few?
• Do you want to go with a friend or meet new people?
• What would make you want to come home early, and what could we do about it?

If your child answers "nothing" to every question, that is useful too. They may need more time, a visit to the camp page together or a shorter first stay.

Special needs, diets and medicine

If your child has an allergy, a health condition or a learning difference, ask the camp three things in writing: how staff were trained, who will give medicine and how they record it, and what the plan is if something goes wrong. A camp with experience will answer in detail. A camp without experience should say so honestly. Share the details early, so staff can prepare before your child arrives.

A simple timeline

When	What to do
January to February	Decide goals, budget and dates. Make a short list of three camps.
February to March	Send your questions. Compare answers in your table. Book a video call.
March to April	Choose with your child. Pay the deposit and read the terms.
May	Send forms, medical details and travel plans. Start to pack.
Summer	Go. Keep in touch as agreed.

Camp at home or abroad?

A local camp is easier to visit, cheaper to reach and a gentle first step. A camp abroad adds a new language, a new culture and a longer journey. Choose abroad when your child is curious, has slept away from home and wants a real challenge. Choose local when your child is nervous or you want to be near. Read more in our guide to summer camps in Europe.

After you book

• Save the camp's phone, email and emergency contact in your phone.
• Read the packing list together. Our packing checklist may help.
• Label clothes, and pack a small item from home.
• Agree how and when you will talk during the stay.

Step 4: Visit or call

If you cannot visit, ask for a video call. Watch how staff speak to children and how they speak to you. Ask your child to join the call and ask their own question. Their sense of the people matters as much as your checklist.

For a list of questions from another source, see this checklist from Understood, which also covers children with learning and thinking differences.

How our camp answers

At Naranja Camp in Valencia there is one adult for every eight children, classes have up to twelve children, there are 20 hours of Spanish a week, the site has CCTV, children are insured and we meet children at the airport. For more detail on the camp style, see our guide to a Spanish immersion camp. Ask us any question on this list and we will answer in writing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose the right summer camp for my child?

Start with your child's age, goals and budget. Then compare camps on safety, staff, daily activities, food, contact with parents and price, using a list of questions.

What should I ask a summer camp before booking?

Ask about adult-to-child ratios, staff checks, medical help, insurance, daily programme, sleeping arrangements, phone policy, total cost and the cancellation policy.

When should I book a summer camp?

Many families book between January and spring. Popular camps fill early, so start your search several months ahead.

How can I tell if a camp is safe?

Look for clear written answers about staff checks, ratios, first aid, emergency plans and insurance. Speak to other parents if you can.

Should my child help choose the camp?

Yes. Children who help choose usually cope better and enjoy the camp more.

Keep reading

• Summer camp in Valencia: dates, prices, a day at camp and how to book
• Summer camps in Europe: compare camps by country, age and price
• Summer camp in Spain cost: typical prices and what is included