5 Questions Every Prospective Camp Parent Should Ask

I really enjoy talking with our prospective Camp families about sleep-away camp. This time of year, this is what I spend a lot of my time doing. Inevitably I get asked some great questions — questions that I would recommend any prospective parent to ask their Camp Director.

1. What is your Camper to Counselor ratio?

Just like I would if my child was considering a school, I would want to know the actual camper to Counselor ratio. Typical sleep-away camps will keep an 8:1 camper to counselor ratio. 5:1 is really good. The more Counselors that are around, the more time and attention our kids receive.

2. What guidelines do you follow that keep my camper safe?

This is a great open-ended question to ask. You want to be looking for answers like— we keep a low camper to counselor ratio, are ACA Accredited (meaning they adhere to 300+ voluntary guidelines above and beyond state regulations), and have a strict process to prevent any type of abuse (i.e. complete background checks, appropriate training). Similar to when I drop my kids off at child care at church, I’d want to know that all staff go through thorough training. For example, we parter with a group called MinistrySafe. At Huawni, safety is the #1 priority above all else, and this should be the case for any sleep-away camp you’re considering.

3. What is your camper return ratio?

Camper return ratio is a great indicator of how much campers enjoy a camp. A family’s vote of confidence in their sleep-away camp is directly tied to whether or not they re-enroll. Huawni’s Main Camp return ratio is about to hit 90%. Sleep-away camp is not necessarily for every child, but quality of experience will reflect in the camper return ratio. You could compare this ratio with a Google or Trip Advisor rating.

4. What’s your refund policy?

Camp no doubt is a huge investment, both for your child’s development and your pocket book. If something happens (i.e. injury, illness, etc.) right before camp, what can I do to protect my child’s tuition? At Huawni, we have a 100% tuition-back guarantee until April 1st. Families also may get tuition insurance when they enroll online, which allows them to cancel for any reason up to two days before camp.

5. Who can I meet with nearby that attends your camp?

One of the best ways to know more about a sleep-away camp is to set up a coffee or ice cream hang out with another family who attends camp. I regularly connect families with one another that live nearby so that their children can meet and moms and dads can really get an inside, unbiased perspective of Camp Huawni. Be sure and ask to connect with another family nearby.