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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 25 campers arriving in the morning and departing in the afternoon or evening. Some camps also offer half- day options. Nordstrom said that for parents who need extended camp hours to accommodate work sched- ules, they should check on whether the camps offer wraparound care and its cost. Philosophy. Parents, said Morris, should learn the mission statement of the organization being considered for summer camp and decide if they support it. This line of thinking also extends to a camp's discipline policy. "Behavioral expectations should vary by age group, as 5-year-olds By JILL VALENTINO T hese days, there's a summer camp for every imaginable interest young person has, and nowhere is that truer than the Hudson Valley. Whether a budding athlete, artist, scientist, or other specialty, there are sure to be one or more local summer camps that could be a perfect fit for your child. But with so many options, how is a parent to choose? Below are tips on what parents (and kids) should consider this winter and spring when choosing a summer camp or activity. Cost. Kingston resident, Laura Nordstrom, a former youth devel- opment director and mother of two with experience in running local summer camps, said first-and-fore- most, consider whether the tuition of camps of interest are affordable. Additionally, she said, that while many camps offer financial aid, req- uisite paperwork typically needs to be submitted early in the year. "Be sure to sure to pay attention to what types (of financial aid) are available along with their applica- tion deadlines," said Nordstrom. "Planning is key." Duration. Former Hudson Valley camp supervisor, facilitator, and father of two, Archie Morris of Walden, advised parents to consider how long their children will be away at camp, and choose a program that best fits not only their fami- ly's budget, but also their lifestyle. 'Stay-away' camps keep children on premises for several days or weeks at a time, while 'day' camps have should not have the same expecta- tions put upon them than 10-year- olds," said Nordstrom. She also suggested that parents inquire about how a camp handles incidents and accidents, along with its overall dis- cipline policy. Staff training and qualifica- tions. Seek information regarding the quantity and scope of a camp's staff training practices to paint a more complete portrait of the folks you will be entrusting to your child's care. Also, many parents may find it important to know if camp staff is subject to background checks before being hired. Additionally, if a program has been running for many Choose the best camp for your kid Find your child's best fit with these tips (Continued on Page 26) A past Hudson Valley camp supervisor and father of two, Archie Morris of Walden recently shared a moment with his daughter and said, when looking at camps, choose a program that best fits your family's budget and lifestyle.