Choosing the right summer camp for your kid involves more than just finding exciting activities. If you are an environmentalist, you might want to consider camps that share your orientation. Green camps will enable kids to enjoy the outdoors while learning to preserve it.
But not all camps that are "green" actually are. You will need to look at what they do, not what they claim. From how they deal with garbage to what they will serve you, all these count in finding the perfect match.
Below are six practical tips to choose an eco-friendly summer camp that meets your child's needs and your expectations.
Use Camp Comparison Tools to Refine Your Options
You can save time and make more informed decisions by using websites that allow you to compare camps that are available near you. Many websites now have filters for environmental practices, location, size, and your areas of interest.
They enable the field to be restricted to camps meeting your criteria. You can, for instance, use these websites to find your perfect camp that addresses your child's interests as well as your environmental preferences. You can double-check any green claims listed, as some sites actually verify those claims, and some simply report what camps send to them. Use these sites as a guide and then call the sites directly to confirm.
Check the Environmental Policies of Camp
Start by finding out how the camp is being kind to the environment. A sustainable camp should have good policies in place for managing waste, conserving water, and using energy. Find out if they recycle, compost, or use solar power. Learn how they manage food scraps and if they still have single-use plastics.
Others might have gardening or nature programs, which suggest a deeper commitment to sustainability. Talk directly with camp staff and ask direct questions. Vague answers should be a warning sign that something is missing. Environmentally friendly camps should be able to describe in detail what they are actually doing, more than what they claim.
Look for Accredited or Certified Programs
Not all camps follow the same standards. Accreditation will guarantee that a camp conforms to at least some standards, like sustainability standards. Review programs that have been certified by organizations like the American Camp Association (ACA), which reviews policies and procedures for camps. Other camps might also have environmental education or green practice certification. These may involve energy consumption audits or personnel training in ecological safety.
Although accreditation does not guarantee that a camp is "green," it is a good sign that they have put vetted systems in place. Ask to see documents or search them out yourself. The right camp will not hide this important information.
Check How the Camp Teaches Environmental Responsibility
A green camp should follow environmentally friendly practices and also teach about them. Ask how the camp integrates environmental studies into its daily life. This could be through hands-on activities like trail cleanups, nature walks, or learning to compost. Also, look for signs that the camp integrates environmental education as a mainstay of its program, not just an add-on.
Staff should be able to explain concepts like habitat conservation or living sustainably in terms that your children can understand. Green values integrated into the culture of camps can teach your children lessons that can stick with them forever.
Observe where the Camp Sources its Food and How it Plans Meals
Food might not be the first thing on your mind when selecting a summer camp, but it's more important than you can realize. The way a camp goes about preparing and sourcing its food stuff reveals a great deal about how serious they are about sustainability. Ask them where they source their food local farms should be a bonus and what kind of meals they serve.
Camps that serve more plant-based foods with less packaging are usually attempting to go greener. It's also nice to know how they dispose of leftovers. Do they compost, donate, or discard them? Small questions like these can reveal a lot about the camp's values.
Ask About Travel and Transport Impact
Traveling to and from camp can contribute to your carbon footprint. If possible, opt for a camp nearer your home or one that offers group travel. Find out if the camp promotes carpooling or assists families in lowering their travel emissions. A few programs will even provide incentives or discounts for families who make a commitment to lower-impact travel.
Also, learn what kind of vehicles are allowed on their property and what they use do they depend on electric carts, or do kids have to walk? These are decisions that can make a difference. A camp that considers travel impact probably has a wider vision of its ecological responsibilities. You need to consider transportation over time to make your final choice.
Choosing an eco-friendly summer camp means looking beyond the brochures and asking some questions. Take note of what the camp does how it conducts its day-to-day operations, what it teaches, and how it handles such things as food and transportation. Those are the signs of whether sustainability is a genuine part of their program or just a buzzword. When a camp shares your values and puts them into practice, your child will receive more than a summer experience they will understand how to be caretakers of the world around them.
