Posted by: Birch Rock Camp

Summer camp can be a fantastic experience where your child learns the value of friendship, independence, and community. All the while, they are having fun, learning new skills, and making memories that will last a lifetime.

However, with so many great options available, knowing which camp to choose can be challenging. Weighing factors like camp culture, activities, and environment can help you narrow down your choices and find the best summer camp for your son.

Keep reading to learn more about how to choose the best summer camp.

1. Decide Between a Day Camp and an Overnight Camp

The first question you need to answer when searching for the best summer camp for your child is whether they should attend a day camp or an overnight camp. While day camps offer a chance to return home at the end of the day, overnight camps offer a unique opportunity for growth, bonding, and independence.

An overnight camp like Birch Rock Camp can empower your son to learn new activities, forge lasting connections, and make their own decisions. If your child is experiencing anxiety about attending camp away from home, you can view and download our homesickness guide to help them prepare and feel more comfortable in the overnight camp environment.

2. Learn About the Camp’s Natural Environment

Especially in the modern age of phones and tablets, summer camp is an exciting opportunity for your child to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature and get a break from screens. You’ll want to choose a place that has plenty of natural greenery with diverse flora and fauna so that your child can explore and learn about the world around them.

Birch Rock Camp is nestled within a wide array of trees that campers learn to identify, and top campers even have the opportunity to plant their own tree on campus. It also features a nature building where the campers can stock and maintain fish and frog tanks to learn more about the local animals.

Birch Rock Camp offers activities like bushcraft and campcraft so your son can learn skills like fire-building, using natural resources, and axe use and safety. The camp is also right on the coast of the peaceful Lake McWain, where your child can enjoy the natural beauty of Maine while canoeing, kayaking, sailing, rowing, windsurfing, or swimming.

3. Choose a Summer Camp with Diverse Activities

If you want to give your child the opportunity to learn new skills and expand their interests, it’s best to find a summer camp that offers a diverse range of activities to choose from. While summer camps centered around a sport or activity can help your child hone that skill, they may not offer the same freedom to discover new hobbies and interests that camps like Birch Rock do.

Birch Rock Camp features sports like archery, basketball, baseball, tennis, pickleball, soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse, which promote teamwork, communication, and the development of skills like coordination, endurance, and speed. Indoor activities like woodshop, art, music, and reading allow your child to express themselves, release stress, and learn complex skills in a relaxing environment.

3. Read About Their Camp Culture

An essential aspect of selecting the best summer camp for your son is ensuring the camp has a great culture and mission. Aside from learning new skills and participating in fun activities, the right summer camp can instill important values like self-confidence, resilience, creativity, and integrity.

Birch Rock Camp prides itself on giving campers an amazing summer experience full of fun, collaboration, and learning while prioritizing values like acceptance, community, courage, and non-competitive achievement. The camp is also the smallest boy’s camp in Maine, with just 90 boys at a time, ensuring each camper is appreciated and can develop close relationships with staff and other campers.

4. Prioritize Your Child’s Health

While your child is away at summer camp, you’ll want to make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need to support their growing bodies and enough fuel to enjoy all the activities. At Birch Rock Camp, meals are structured to prioritize nutrition, variety, and, of course, taste!

Breakfast often features fresh fruit juice, scrambled eggs, or blueberry pancakes, served family-style by senior campers. At lunch, campers make their own sandwiches or enjoy tacos, pizza, or salads with fresh vegetables buffet-style.

Dinner typically consists of hearty meals like beef stroganoff, lasagna, or pot roast with sides of steamed vegetables and freshly baked bread. At dinner, campers are assigned new tables every week to allow them to meet new friends and staff members to foster a strong sense of community.

5. Read Reviews from Other Parents

Hearing honest feedback from parents whose children went to the camp you’re considering for your son can help you feel confident and excited about your choice. Birch Rock Camp has excellent reviews from happy parents like Jennifer R., who rated the camp five stars on Google:

“My two sons have been attending Birch Rock for the last 8 years, now as a counselor and a senior camper. I can’t say enough about what this amazing place has given them – shaping them into men who live by the camp motto “Help the Other Fellow.” It is rare to find a place where they have the chance to disconnect from electronics and competitive sports and reconnect with friends and the outdoors – Birch Rock Camp is that place.”

If you’re looking for the perfect camp that provides structure, community, and loads of fun for your son, choose Birch Rock Camp this summer and discover why moms like Jennifer love it!

Are you interested in learning more about how to choose the best summer camp for your kids? Get in touch with Birch Rock Camp today!