04/18/2012

Tina Krinsky

Choosing the right camp depends on a number of factors. Tina Krinsky, a 35-year veteran of camps, discusses what you should consider.

Choosing a summer program can be difficult with all of the options out there these days.  After 35 years and 100,000 plus students, Tina Krinsky of Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs knows a thing or two about finding the right camp to meet the needs of parents and kids alike.  

 

According to Tina, what’s most important is getting on the same page with your kids and finding a camp that meets both of your needs.  What may seem like a minor detail to you can mean the world to your child.   And as a parent, you’re thinking about things that do not even occur to them like safety and supervision. Here are some of Tina’s tips for finding the right summer program for your family:

• Know your goals. First and foremost, sit down with your children and discuss their goals and expectations, and let them know what yours are.  Setting clear expectations from the onset will help avoid disappointment or confusion as you move forward in making a decision on which camp to attend.

 

• Make the most of their summer experience.  Think bigger than summer activities to keep your kids out of trouble.  Do they have knack for science?  Enlist them in a camp that offers different courses than what is available to them at school, like engineering and robotics.  Does your high school student have dreams of practicing law or medicine?  Find a program that offers internships so they can really get a feel for what a career in that field might be like.

• Education is the key.  While kids grey matter is at the max, find a way to keep them learning while exploring their passions.  Find a camp that offers programs for students to learn a musical instrument, to cook, or a new language.

 

• If your child is not sure about their passion, look into summer opportunities that offer variety.  There are camps, like JKCP, that offer courses in fashion design, architecture, science, cooking, business programs and more. This is a great way for kids to broaden their interests and discover talents.

 

• If your high school student is really interested in going to a particular college, see if that school offers any pre-college programs. They will get the chance to navigate the campus, get to know the surrounding area, eat in the dining halls, live in the dorms and experience what it’s like to be a student there.

 

• Encourage your kids to do what THEY want to do, not just what their friends are doing.  We live in a world that celebrates diversity and individuality.  In turn, summer is a great time to focus on your kids’ unique personalities and allow them to explore their individual potential.