Find a Summer Child Care Program or Camp Your Child Loves and Keeps Them Safe and Happy

We may have just celebrated the first day of spring, but summer is coming fast. And you know what that means: SUMMER CAMPS!

Since we are not out of the woods yet when it comes to COVID-19, summer camps and child care programs won’t look or feel like they did in the summers prior to 2020. That doesn’t mean your child won’t have fun, embark on new adventures, or meet new friends; it just means that these programs will be different in that camps and child care programs, just like schools, have adopted new safety protocols to ensure that your child is as safe as possible from COVID and other harms.

If you haven’t reserved your child care and summer camps yet, now is definitely the time to get started. Our first tip when looking for child care is always to start early. Our second tip? When you are ready to begin your search, call our referral specialist team at Quality Care for Children at 877-ALL-GA-KIDS (877-255-4254) for help with your search.

Before you start your camp or child care search, make a list of the important factors to include in your search.

• For instance, what kind of activities does your child enjoy? There are all kinds of camps that cater to a child’s interest: sports, music, art, nature, academic, or just a general day camp that offers a bit of everything.

• What is your weekly budget?

• How far from your home or business are you willing to drive for drop-off and pick-up each day?

• What hours do you need your child in camp every day?

• Do you prefer that meals and snacks are provided or will you send your own?

• What else is important to you when it comes to child care?

Below are some general and COVID-19 specific questions to ask camp and child care directors when doing your research.

General child care questions:

• Is the program licensed or does it have a DECAL exemption to operate?

• How long has the program been in operation? What is the average length of teacher tenure?

• What are the health and safety policies and measures in place? How many of the staff have CPR and first-aid training and will they be on site every day?

• What does a “day in the life” of a camper look like and is there a sample of the curriculum?

• Will my child be with the same group of children and teachers daily?

• Have all staff gone through thorough health screenings and background checks? Using what method?

• What kind of and level of education do teachers and staff have?

• What is the staff to camper ratio?

• How does the program handle disciplinary actions?

• What is the policy for late arrival to camp and pick-up?

• Have there been any serious accidents or incidents at the program in the last three years?

• Does the camp’s philosophies fit in with your family’s values?

 Find additional questions on the “Choosing Child Care Checklist” from Quality Rated.

COVID-19 safety questions:

• Will campers and staff be required to have a negative RT-PCR test prior to camp?

• Are staff required or encouraged to be vaccinated for COVID?

• What will be the safety protocols each morning? For instance, temperature checks, safety forms filled out, etc.?

• Will children and staff wear masks indoors, outdoors, on bus rides, etc.?

• Will physical distancing be required?

• Will meals and snacks be eaten inside or out?

• What is the plan if someone develops COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive for the virus?

• What are the hand washing and other hygiene policies throughout the day?

• Is camp equipment, toys and other materials sanitized after each group use?

Find additional questions related to COVID-19 protocols here.

If possible, plan a visit to the programs you are considering so that you can see first hand if the children and staff seem happy, if the facility is clean and child-proofed, and gain an overall feel for the environment and staff.