The wind is howling, the temperature’s below freezing, and snow is falling from an icy grey sky. So, what should parents be doing during this frigid time of year? Thinking of the lazy days of summer and what will keep the kids busy during their break, of course. Yes, the holidays are over and ‘tis the season to research summer camps. It’s important to get a jump on choosing the perfect camp due to camps having limited available spots. Researching early and narrowing down your choices, will offer your child more options.

The task at hand now, is finding the best summer camp for your child. You know your child better than anyone. Consider what they can and cannot manage. Younger or first- time campers may not be able to handle an overnight situation, so a day camp would be a better option. Also consider the length of the programs. One child may do better with a combination of one week programs, while another may do fine away from home for weeks at a time.

Your child’s strengths and weaknesses are also something to consider. With the wide range of specialty camps out there, finding one that fits your child’s needs is not as hard as you may think. Sports camps are a great option for kids who take pleasure in a specific activity, and choices range from soccer to water sports, horseback riding to skateboarding. A child in need of academic support can have a fun and educational experience at a college or boarding school program. There is a world of possibilities.

While considering all of these options, do a little networking at school and with parents in your neighborhood. Schools and educators receive plenty of information about summer programs, and many may be in your local area. Ask other parents who have had kids at camp, they are a wealth of information because their child has experienced a specific camp. Asking around may also bring up options you otherwise may not have considered.

Budget, of course, is extremely important. Realizing how much you are willing to spend can be the difference between overnight camp or day camp. YMCA’s and local churches offer very cost effective programs. Also keep in mind, many programs offer financial aid.

After all these considerations have been mulled over, the emails and phone calls for brochures and tours have been made, sit down with a cup of cocoa, watch the snow fall, and know that summer is right around the bend.

Teens not only need something to ward off boredom and endless video games that can take hold during summer recess, statistics illustrate the value of keeping them busy in supervised activities, such as camps. A survey conducted on behalf of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids New York, an anti-crime organization, found that unsupervised teens were five times as likely to take drugs and four times as likely to engage in criminal activities. This makes finding supervised teen activities essential for todays working families.

       Some teens may think they are too old to participate in what they view as childhood activities, like the camps they attended in the past. This can soon become a battle in your household but you’ll find relief knowing that there are hundreds of camps aimed specifically at teens and there is nothing child-like about them.  Focus on activities your teen enjoys and then find a camp that offers those activities.  If your teen is a skate boarding enthusiast, there are camps where their skills can be honed with expert instructors.  If your teen is learning guitar, they could spend an entire week playing guitar with other musicians and even have an opportunity to build their musical skills in a group setting.

As adults, we also know that camp can teach some valuable lessons in teamwork, community, character building and skill development, but this may not be a persuasive argument with your teen.  You may need to get more creative, especially considering summer break is nearly three months long.  If you’re looking for something to engage your teen over a longer period of time, adventure and travel camps may be just what the doctor ordered.  In fact, your teen may be excited about the prospect of getting away for a while.

Going to an exotic location can be very appealing to teens who want to get out of the house but have nowhere to go.  And, such adventures don’t have to be one dimensional.  For example, your teen could go to Costa Rica – a beautiful tropical country – and at the same time, they could learn Spanish. In the adventure realm, there are hundreds of opportunities for teens to “live on the edge” with excursions into the wild.  There is everything from white-water rafting, to mountain climbing to European bicycle trips to Caribbean sailing adventures.  Just take a little time and you can easily find a summer camp that your teen will hardily embrace.

And, as for those video games, they have camps for those, too.