Is it Daycare or Day Camp?

There are many facilities that run day camps in the summer. It is important to do your research to find a program that fits best with your family's needs.  You may find that some camps are simply day care programs offering a modified version of their regular curriculum, including circle time, reading, snack, and free-play in a small yard. Backyard camps can merely be programs offering little more than babysitting with a kiddy pool and a swing set. A small camp is not necessarily the right camp for your little tyke.

The right camp can provide your child with growth and confidence while being in a fun, warm and safe environment.

When looking for a day camp, you want to ensure that it offers a variety of age-appropriate activities and programs for both boys and girls. Outdoor camps, as opposed to daycares or backyard camps, are able to offer a wider variety of activities to keep your child both engaged and excited to attend everyday. For example, Green Acres Day Camp in Markham has a supervised waterslide park for its young children, pony rides, gymnastics, cooking, drama, mini-golf, pottery, martial arts, yoga, a petting zoo and so much more!  

To really know what you are signing up for, make sure to visit the camp facilities with your child. 

Speak to the camp director and ask lots of questions.  

Green Acres Day Camp has been providing summer camp experiences for over 45 years and has spoken to countless number of parents. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions to assist in your search:

  Camp Staff

What type of training does the staff receive? Knowing how the camp staff handles meal times and sun safety is so important. With young children, the staff needs to help open lunches and containers and make sure that meals are eaten. Staff members need to encourage and ensure that campers are staying well hydrated, especially during hot days. The staff should be applying sunscreen several times a day and shouldn’t expect the children to remember or apply it themselves. 

What are the camper-to-staff ratios? Low staff-to-camper ratios ensure that your children receive personal attention and are treated with patience, sensitivity, and TLC.

  Camp Grounds

Safety is every parent's concern and you want to ensure that the camp's infrastructure is professionally maintained and is not a makeshift facility.

Are the camp activities close to each other or at opposite ends of the camp? Having the activities in a central location ensures that campers are spending most of their day participating in activities rather than traveling to them.   

  Other points to consider:

How long has the camp been in business? 

What first-aid facilities does the camp have?

Is this a camp your child will grow with or outgrow quickly?  

Your little ones typically spend ten months of the year cooped up in a classroom, day care, or at home in the same environment. Being outdoors at a day camp gives them a chance to spread their wings and start building a summer home with new memories, lifelong friendships, and new adventures.