12 questions to ask before choosing a summer camp
Accreditation, staff training, medical care, food, phones and price: the questions every parent should ask a camp, with our answers.
Choosing a summer camp is a big decision. You're trusting people with your child for a week or more, often in places you've never seen. Wilderness Adventure has run summer camps in Virginia's Blue Ridge since 1990, and these are the questions we think every parent should ask, of us or any camp, along with our answers.
1. Is the camp accredited?
Accreditation from the American Camp Association means a camp meets hundreds of standards for health, safety and program quality, checked by outside reviewers. Wilderness Adventure is ACA accredited.
2. Who are the counselors, and how are they trained?
Ask how staff are hired, checked and trained. Our counselors complete a 14-day orientation before campers arrive, covering camp policies, safety and group leadership. Every staff member has a current background check and Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification, and activity instructors work to industry standards for climbing, paddling and caving.
3. What happens if my child gets sick or hurt?
Get a clear answer about medical care. Our groups meet activity instructors almost daily, campers can be brought to the Base Camp infirmary or a nearby medical facility, counselors carry phones to call 911 or Base Camp, and Base Camp answers the phone 24 hours a day during summer.
4. What will my child actually do all day?
Some camps are mostly cabin time and organized games. At an adventure camp, days are spent climbing real rock, paddling rivers, exploring caves, hiking and cooking over a fire. Our seven camps range from Day Camp for ages 8 to 13 to the three-week Wilderness Leadership Course for ages 15 to 17.
5. Is it the right level for my child?
A good camp will help you match the program to your child's age and experience. If your child hasn't been away from home before, a gentler first step like Homestead Adventure, with a bed in the lodge every night, may suit better than a backpacking week. Our guide to choosing a first overnight camp walks through the options.
6. How do campers keep in touch?
Many adventure camps, ours included, are phone-free. On backpacking trips campers are away from phones and email for the whole trip, but we deliver letters and care packages to them on the trail. In an emergency, families call Base Camp.
7. What's included in the price?
Compare like for like. At Wilderness Adventure, overnight camp tuition includes meals, snacks, activity equipment and guided adventures. Backpacking programs also provide the backpack, sleeping bag and liner, sleeping pad and tent, so you don't need to buy expensive gear. Ask about discounts too: we offer early-bird, returner, sibling, multi-session and referral discounts, and a payment plan.
8. Can we visit first?
The best way to judge a camp is to see it. Come to an open house or book a tour to see the lodges, walk the property and meet the people who run camp.
9. What will my child eat?
Ask how the camp handles meals and allergies. On our backpacking trips, campers eat lightweight, carbohydrate-rich food: bagel or pita sandwiches for lunch, and pasta, vegetables and sauces or rehydrated backcountry meals for dinner, with dessert. We accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets, and for severe allergies we work with families to remove the allergen from the group entirely.
10. How do drop-off and pickup work?
A clear arrival plan makes the first day easier. For our overnight camps, Sunday arrivals are between 11am and 1pm: check in at the office, then swap the duffel bag for a backpack at gear issue. Saturday pickup is between 10am and noon. For Day Camp, there's an optional shuttle from the Salem Park and Ride.
11. What's the cancellation policy?
Read this before you pay. A $200 non-refundable deposit holds a place at Wilderness Adventure. Everything else is refunded if you cancel before April 1, and after that the policy depends on how close to camp you cancel. The full details are in our summer camp FAQs.
12. Will my child want to go?
This is the most important question. Camp works best for kids who are excited to meet new people and try new things. Look at the camp pages together and let your child help choose.
Red flags to watch for
- Vague answers about staff training or background checks
- No clear plan for medical emergencies
- Pressure to book before you've had your questions answered
- No chance to visit or talk to the people who run camp
- A program that doesn't match your child's age or experience
Our answers at a glance
- Accredited: yes, by the American Camp Association
- Staff training: 14 days of orientation; every staff member background checked and certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR
- Ages: 8 to 17, across seven programs
- Phones: phone-free on trips, with mail delivered on the trail
- Gear: backpacks, sleeping bags, tents and all activity equipment provided
- Visits: open houses and tours throughout the year
Still have questions? Read our summer camp FAQs or call the camp office at 540-864-6792.
