For kids, summer can be the most wonderful time of the year, a time where memories — and lifelong friends —are often made.

But finding those great experiences often require a plan, which is why Columbia mom Jennifer Suber is getting things done now to help her daughter have an unforgettable summer.

“I want to make sure she really experiences summer,” Suber said.

For Suber’s daughter, that summer experience will include camp. Suber’s 6-year-old daughter Sarah attended day camp at Riverbanks Zoo last summer, and Suber plans to sign her up again this year.

“Camps are getting more and more expensive,” Suber said. “You have to look and see where you want to spend your money. We narrowed it down to where we knew she had a great experience.”

The number of options for summer camp can be a bit overwhelming, but typically fall into two categories — day camps and residential, or overnight, camps.

 “There are reading camps, drama camps, camps to become a rock star,” said Katie Johnson, Southeastern field office director for the American camp Association.

So how do parents decide which camp is right for their child?

The first step, Johnson said, is to figure out what type of camp experience — day camp or residential — you and your child are looking for.

“A lot of parents use day camp as a good introduction to the camp experience before sending kids to a residential camp,” Johnson said. “Day camp teaches them about camp with the comfort of going home each night.”

Kenny Mills, district senior program director for the Columbia YMCA, said children should expect to come away from a day camp having made at least one new friend and having tried something new.

“It could be something like archery or gliding down a zip line,” Mills said. “For some kids, it may be as simple as a walk in the woods — there are kids who’ve never walked in the woods.”

Day camps are available for children from preschool age through the teen years. Preschool camps are often a child’s first opportunity to experience a camp, and for some children, preschool camp is the first time a child is away from his parents, Mills said.

 “Preschool camps are an awesome opportunity for kids to experience things that only come once in a lifetime,” he said. “They are excited about coming each day because they often find a staff member or friend they look forward to seeing, or a new experience they look forward to repeating.”

According to Johnson, preschool camps can be a great learning experience.

“They offer the same kind of skill development as day camps and residential camps, just on a preschool level,” she said.

In a residential camp, children spend anywhere from three days to several weeks at a camp. Residential camps are typically geared for children ages 8 and up.

Cindy Skelton, program director for Camp LaVida, a residential camp in Fairfield County, said one way to tell if a child is ready for residential camp is to see if she has had success spending the night away from home.

Mills said making friends easily is another good sign that a child is ready to go away to an overnight camp.

“Residential camp gives kids the opportunity to grow up a little and learn to take care of themselves under the supervision of good role models,” Mills said. “Lifelong relationships are built when kids have the opportunity to spend a week in a cabin together.”

If you don’t think your child is ready to go to a residential camp alone, another option is family camp. Camp La Vida, which is a faith-based camp for girls, offers mother-daughter camps for first- through third-graders and their moms.

“The mother-daughter camps help the children adjust while their mothers are there,” Skelton said. “The next year, they can come on their own.”

Once a decision betwen a day camp or residential camp is made, parents should determine their goals for the camp experience, Johnson said.

“This is where parents really need to sit down with their children and talk about what they are looking for from the experience,” she said.

There are several different types of camps to choose from: traditional, faith-based and specialty. A traditional camp is what most people think of when they think of camp — lots of outdoor activities such as archery, zip lines and hiking.

“We believe camp is an outdoor activity,” Mills said. “Nature is good. Kids need time to take walks in the woods, build forts and just be kids. If kids like to do a little of everything, traditional camp may be the way to go.”

Faith-based camps often have elements of traditional camps, but add spiritual instruction and worship. Camp La Vida is one example of a faith-based camp.

“Counselors and missionaries talk with kids during canteen time and help them grow in their relationship with God and fellow campers,” Skelton said of the program at Camp La Vida.

Specialty camps, Mills said, develop or target specific skills or areas of interest, and allow children to have the opportunity to try something they would not normally get to do.

 “Camp is really an extension of the learning process,” said Johnson. “It is the opportunity for skill development, making new friends, building confidence and self esteem. People think of camp as all fun and recreation. Kids will have a lot of fun, but lots of youth development happens at camp.” 

Things to think about when choosing a camp

Planning to send your child to camp this summer? Here are four things to think about when choosing a camp.

• Location: For day camps, is the camp convenient? Kenny Mills, district senior program director for the Columbia YMCA, advises parents to choose camps that are close to work. Columbia mom Jennifer Suber suggests signing children up for camp with friends to allow some potential for carpooling. For little ones, she also advises choosing a camp location where children are familiar and comfortable.

• Budget: “Look at the price range,” Mills says. “It doesn’t make sense to blow out your budget on camp.”

• Accreditation: The American Camp Association offers accreditation. Accreditation teams evaluate camps for health and safety standards.

• Plan ahead and ask questions: “Nothing is more frustrating than when a parent doesn’t understand what is going to happen at camp,” Mills says. “The last minute is not the time to sign up for camp. Be proactive and find out what is around. Now is the time to start planning for summer camp”

CHECK BACK SOON! Palmetto Parent’s annual camp guide will be published in March 2012 in our print edition as well as online.