How to Choose a Summer Camp: A Parent's Safety and Fit Checklist

Most camps look great in photos. The differences that matter show up in the answers to a few direct questions: who is watching your child, how those people were screened, and who checks the camp's work.

This checklist pulls those questions from the American Camp Association (ACA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Use it on every camp you're considering, including the inexpensive ones.

How do I choose the right summer camp for my child?

Decide on the type of camp first, then compare specific camps on safety, staffing and cost.

The AAP's camp checklist starts with the child: consider their personality and interests, then decide between day camp and overnight camp based on how comfortable they are being away from home. The AAP suggests talking it over together to decide what seems like a good fit.

Then work through these questions for each camp on your list:

1. Is it accredited by the American Camp Association?
2. Is it licensed or permitted where it operates?
3. What is the staff-to-camper ratio for my child's age?
4. How are staff screened and trained?
5. How does the camp handle health care, medications and emergencies?
6. If there's swimming, who supervises it and is there a swim test?
7. What does the price include, and what costs extra?
8. Can I visit, meet the director and talk to other parents?

The sections below explain what a good answer to each one sounds like.

What does ACA accreditation mean for a summer camp?

ACA accreditation means a camp has voluntarily been reviewed against the ACA's national standards for health, safety and program quality.

The current edition of those standards is dated November 2025. Some are mandatory for every accredited camp they apply to, including staff screening, a signed health history for each camper, and an adult with first aid and CPR/AED certification on duty whenever campers are present, according to ACA's November 2025 update to its Accreditation Process Guide.

Accreditation is voluntary, so plenty of good camps don't have it. The AAP calls it some of the best evidence parents have of a camp's commitment to a safe and nurturing environment, while noting it doesn't guarantee a risk-free one. If a camp isn't accredited, ask about its practices on health, safety and staffing.

You can check a camp's status by searching the ACA's website, as the AAP suggests.

Does a summer camp need a state license?

It depends on your state and the type of camp. Some states license both day and overnight camps through a state agency, while others leave permits to counties or cities.

The AAP notes that many states regulate both day and overnight camps, and suggests checking your own state's rules. Two examples of how different those rules can be:

State	How camps are regulated	Who oversees it
California	Permits are issued locally; Los Angeles County requires a permit for day camps	Local and county health departments, under the California Department of Public Health
Connecticut	State law defines and regulates both day camps and resident camps	Connecticut Office of Early Childhood

Licensing and accreditation do different jobs. A license, where your state or county requires one, is mandatory and sets the local minimum. ACA accreditation is voluntary and measures the camp against one set of national standards. The AAP lists them as separate things to check. Look up your own state's rules through your state or county health department, and ask each camp which license or permit it holds.

What staff-to-camper ratio should a summer camp have?

ACA guidance calls for more staff per camper for younger children and at overnight camps. These are the ACA's updated ratios as reported by Metro Parent in 2024:

Camper age	Day camp	Overnight camp
5 and younger	1 counselor : 6 campers	1 counselor : 5 campers
6–8	1 : 8	1 : 6
9–14	1 : 10	1 : 8
15–18	1 : 12	1 : 10

When you ask about ratios, ask how they're counted. Metro Parent suggests asking for the counselor-to-camper ratio rather than the staff-to-camper ratio. A ratio that includes the director, kitchen staff or office staff isn't the same as a counselor with your child's group all day.

Ask about staff ages too. The same ACA guidance says 80% of staff should be at least 18.

The AAP also suggests asking whether the same counselors tend to return each year or turnover is high, and whether the staff are young adults, teens or older adults. If your child has special needs, ask whether staff have experience working with children like yours.

How do summer camps screen their staff?

At an ACA-accredited camp, returning seasonal staff 18 and older get a criminal background check every year, and all adult staff are checked against the National Sex Offender Public Website annually.

Under the November 2025 accreditation standards, new staff also get a criminal background check (if 18 or older), at least two reference checks with verification of past work, and a personal interview. Year-round staff are rechecked at least every three years. Those rules cover paid, volunteer and contracted staff based at camp.

State rules on background checks differ, and camps that aren't accredited set their own. Don't assume. Ask each camp:

• Who gets a background check, including volunteers and contractors?
• Which databases do you check, and how often?
• What training do counselors get on supervision, behavior management and child abuse prevention?

What health and safety questions should I ask a camp?

Ask who provides health care, how the camp handles medications and emergencies, and how swimming is supervised.

The AAP points out that many camps have nurses but no physicians, and some smaller camps have only first-aid-trained staff. Ask how the camp handles minor illness and injury, how staff are trained, and whether it has arrangements with a local hospital or EMS. If your child has asthma, food allergies or another condition, agree on an emergency action plan with the camp before the first day.

For any camp with water activities, the AAP suggests asking:

• Are lifeguards and swim instructors currently certified?
• Is the pool or waterfront fenced off outside swim time?
• Will my child take a swim test, and how does the result change what they can do?
• Do young children and weak swimmers wear life jackets near the water?

The AAP also recommends asking whether the camp requires campers and staff to be up to date on recommended vaccines. Many camps require a recent physical, so book it early.

How much does summer camp cost?

Day camp prices run from free to more than $200 a day, and overnight camp from free to more than $500 a day, according to American Camp Association figures quoted by ActivityHero. ActivityHero's own 2024 booking data found families paid an average of $100.60 a day for a week of day camp, though its data leans toward high-cost Western markets like San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Prices vary by location, facilities and how specialized the camp is. When you compare, ask what the price includes. Transportation, lunch, extended care and field trips are often billed separately. ActivityHero found extended care averaged $26.33 a day in 2024.

Ask about financial help. The ACA says almost all camps have some financial support for families in need, and that parents should apply directly to the camp as early as possible. Day camp may also qualify for pre-tax dollars; see Can you use an FSA for summer camp? For a full budget picture, see how much kids' activities cost.

What kind of camp is best for my child's age?

Day camp suits most young children; overnight camp usually works best once a child is about 7 or 8.

• Ages 4 to 6. Start with day camp. Look for short days, small groups and the tighter ratios in the table above.
• Ages 7 to 12. The AAP says there's no fixed rule, but most children are ready for overnight camp between 7 and 8. Many families try a short session first. Traditional camps let kids sample many activities; specialty camps go deep on one.
• Teens. Look for leadership, counselor-in-training, travel or specialty programs. Older campers usually want more say in their schedule, so ask how much choice the camp gives them.

Match the structure to your child, too. Ask how structured the day is and whether campers choose their own activities.

Should I visit a summer camp before signing up?

Yes, if you can. The AAP recommends visiting the camp and speaking with the staff before you enroll.

Ask the director to describe the camp's philosophy, how it handles discipline and homesickness, and how parents can reach their child. Ask for references from families who have attended. The AAP notes there's no better way to judge fit than seeing a camp in person with your child.

Good camps also fill early, so start comparing well before spring. See when to sign up for summer camp for typical timelines.

Where can I find and compare summer camps near me?

Families can search camps, classes and enrichment programs on Kaleto, where local providers list their programs, and AI assistants connected to Kaleto can search those listings too. Use this checklist to compare the camps you find. Find activities near you.