Touring summer camps is one of the most exciting parts of the search process. You get to walk the grounds, feel the energy, and finally picture your child thriving there. But a successful tour goes beyond just checking out the facilities – it’s about knowing what to ask, what to listen for, and how to read between the lines. It’s also important to remember to tour camps evenly! That means touring camps the same way and making sure that you have the same experience at each to really grasp the day to day.
Here are a few essential things I always encourage families to keep in mind when they step onto a campus.
1. Observe as Much as You Ask
While it's great to hear about the specific activities your child loves (like the tennis courts or the theater program), remember to step back and observe the broader picture. Watch how the camp operates when no one is selling a specific feature. Notice the general energy and the unscripted interactions between counselors and campers.
Pro Tip: Take the time to ask personal questions to the staff! Ask the counselors why they chose to work there, how many years they’ve been at camp or what their favorite camp memory is. Their candid answers and their enthusiasm will tell you more about the camp's true culture than any brochure. Talk to the kids !
2. Look for Camper Progression
It’s normal for camps to have huge enrollments of younger kids, but the real test is whether those campers stay. Camps that retain their older kids usually boast stronger traditions and deeper communities. These older campers become the unofficial leaders, mentoring the younger kids and driving the camp spirit.
3. What to Expect on Tour Day
Every camp runs its tours a little differently. Here is a quick rundown of standard logistics so you know what to prepare for:
- The Format: Expect walking or golf cart tours lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours. (If you’re strategic, you can often fit two tours into a single day!)
- Your Child’s Role: Some camps keep families together for the whole tour. Others separate kids for their own mini-adventure (like swimming or crafts) so parents can ask questions freely.
- The Crowd: Tours can be private or held in small groups. You might tour with key staff and meet the director at the end, or spend the entire time with the directors themselves.
- The Schedule: Most tours happen on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in the morning or early afternoon. However, some camps do accommodate tours during the week, especially if a family is coming from a further location.
The Bottom Line:
Ultimately, the goal of a camp tour isn’t just to see the lake and the cabins, it’s to determine if the environment, leadership, and culture feel right for your child. The right questions will guide you, but so will your intuition.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, that’s where Camp Specialists comes in! From helping make introductions to prepping you on exactly what to look for, we’re here to make the process manageable and enjoyable. Because when you find the right fit, it’s not just your child’s summer plan, it’s the beginning of something truly special.
Camp Specialists has been connecting families to their perfect camps since 1992 – always free of charge.
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