10 October, 2025
Author: Irina Zaretcaia Cotruta
How to choose “the right” camp?
How do you choose a camp your child comes home from happy, tanned, with new friends, a favourite mentor and — most importantly — without a single “Mum, never again”?
Also available in:УкраїнськаRomână
Introduction
How do you choose a camp your child comes home from happy, tanned, with new friends, a favourite mentor and — most importantly — without a single “Mum, never again”? It isn't always easy. There are a lot of camps. The pictures look beautiful. Everyone promises unforgettable experiences and talent development… But you want more than just an “okay” holiday. You want your child's camp.
This article is your cheat sheet. A quiet helper for an important decision. We've collected the key questions that help you look under the wrapping paper: to learn not only about the price and the tents, but about the values, the approaches, and the people who will stand next to your child in moments of joy, homesickness or inspiration.
This will be useful for:
- those choosing a camp for the first time and not knowing where to start;
- those who have already had a less-than-great experience and want to avoid mistakes;
- and even those who were once a legendary camp counsellor themselves and know that the magic of camp is not about attractions — it's about people, atmosphere and meaning.
With love and care, the Big Fish team
Philosophy and history of the camp
The philosophy and values of a camp should resonate with your family's values and your parenting principles. Any camp — seaside or language-focused — is ultimately a partner to parents in the child's development during the school holidays, so it's important that it is “on the same wavelength” as you.
Selecting, qualifying and training the pedagogical team
The pedagogical team is the most important core of every camp. The team's task is to pass on the camp's mission and values through play and discovery, leaving important “seeds” in every camper's heart.
Questions you can ask when choosing a camp:
- How do you select your staff?
- Which qualities are key for you?
- What values guide you?
- Which countries do your staff come from to work with you?
- What qualifications do your staff have?
- What is the average age of your staff?
- What percentage of your staff return year after year?
- Is there a staff training programme, and how long is it?
- Can I get a list of the topics you train your staff on?
- Who trains and prepares the team?
Professional profile of the camp's founders and directors
Being the chief ideologist or director of a children's camp is one of the hardest and most responsible jobs in the world. Organising the health, daily life and development of a large group of children who stay on site 24/7, far from their parents, requires deep attention to detail, strategic thinking and real faith in the very idea of “camp”. That is why for many camp directors this profession becomes a true mission.
Questions you can ask when choosing a camp:
- What education does the camp's leadership have?
- What professional qualifications?
- What experience do they have working with children?
- What achievements or awards do they have in child development and education?
- Have they been featured in the media? Do they speak as experts?
- Do they run a blog/vlog or publish on child development and recreation?
How is the safety of children's lives and health ensured?
Children's safety and health must be priority number one at every children's camp. Unfortunately, Ukrainian law only regulates state-run health camps, and under outdated standards. Private camps set their own safety standards, so this question deserves special attention.
Questions you can ask when choosing a camp:
- What is your adult-to-child ratio at the camp?
- And during activities?
- Which sanitary standards do you apply?
- What is your medical care protocol?
- How do you transport a child to a medical facility for additional diagnostics?
- How many staff sleep next to the children?
- How many of them hold a first-aid certificate?
- What are your standards for assessing and preventing possible risks?
- Do you run training fire drills?
- What does the insurance cover (medical/accident) and up to what amount?
Build your child's future more effectively — explore all Big Fish career guidance formats, from a self-paced test to deep one-on-one guidance.
See all formats ↗What principles guide you on discipline, behaviour and conflict situations?
A camp's philosophy should be clearly defined: positive reinforcement, role modelling, encouragement or criticism? It's important to understand which rules apply at the camp and how discipline is maintained. If there are consequences for breaking rules, they should be applied quickly, fairly, calmly and without excessive criticism of the child.
Questions you can ask when choosing a camp:
- What laws and rules apply at the camp? How are they set and upheld?
- Do you have fines or punishments? Which ones exactly?
- How do you encourage positive behaviour?
How do you support children with adaptation, homesickness and separation from parents?
Every camp has its own unique traditions, quirks and atmosphere that make it special. That is exactly why children come back year after year.
Questions you can ask when choosing a camp:
- What innovations are built into your programme?
- Are distinguished guests and motivational speakers invited?
- Do you run energisers and dances?
- Are there environmental initiatives (a green camp)?
- Do you have signature events of your own?
- What unique traditions and features does the camp have?
How do you develop year after year? What and who inspires you?
Rapid professional growth and enriching staff experience is a core principle of every progressive organisation in the world.
Questions you can ask when choosing a camp:
- Are your staff familiar with the latest research in child development, recreation and education?
- Which professional seminars and events in Ukraine or abroad do your staff attend?
- Which books have they certainly read in the last year?
- Which top-10 innovations did they implement in their work over the last year?
Camp comparison table (score each criterion from 1 to 10)
| Criterion | Camp 1 | Camp 2 | Camp 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and history of the camp | |||
| Camp programme | |||
| Selecting, qualifying and training the pedagogical team | |||
| Professional profile of the founders and directors | |||
| Safety of children's lives and health | |||
| Principles on discipline | |||
| Support with adaptation | |||
| Development year after year | |||
| Total |
How to make the right choice?
For your convenience, we offer a comparison table for scoring camps against the criteria above. Rate each item on a scale from 1 to 10, and in the end you'll be able to choose the best option for your child and your family.
