Every year, when school lets out for the summer, kids get excited for their vacation. But, it usually doesn't take long before they start complaining that they're bored. It turns out that while most kids think their favorite thing about summer vacation is unlimited freedom to make their own plans, what they really love most about the break is having fun experiences.
Video games, playing outside, and watching television can entertain kids for part of the summer, but all of these activities start to feel boring and repetitive after a few weeks. That's where virtual summer camp comes in. Virtual summer camp is a great way to keep kids entertained over the long break between school years. However, this innovative experience is a fairly new invention, and parents are sure to have questions about it.
Virtual summer camp, in its most basic description, is a summer camp that happens online instead of in person. However, there are a wide variety of virtual summer camps, and they each have their own themes, schedules, and events. What they all have in common is that they give kids a chance to experience new things and make new friends in a socially distanced environment.
In addition to being pandemic and disease safe, virtual summer camps also work hard to ensure their campers' all-around safety. Campers and their virtual counselors are thoroughly vetted, to make sure no one unsafe can attend. Camp activities are carefully evaluated to make sure they are developmentally appropriate. Further, most virtual camp programs also use filtering software to make sure that group chats stay safe for all campers. Because of their stringent safety protocols, virtual summer camps are some of the safest activities children can participate in online.
When deciding what kind of virtual summer camp to enroll their child in, parents should keep a few things in mind. The first is time differences. Because virtual summer camps can be held anywhere, it's important for families to find one with a schedule of events that fits into their life. For instance, a camper in California may not enjoy a virtual summer camp that's based in Maine if it means they have to be ready to start their day at five o'clock in the morning.
Secondly, parents should make an effort to choose a virtual summer camp that aligns with their child's interests. Camp counselors will struggle to keep campers engaged over video conferencing software if they aren't at least a little interested in the camp's theme.
Finally, parents should check user reviews. Knowing what other families' experiences with a specific camp were like can make it easier for parents to decide if it will be a good fit for their child.
Because virtual summer camps are fairly new, it can be hard for parents to guess what kind of activities they might offer. Some parents might even assume that because they're on the internet, these camps can only offer video chatting and online games. Fortunately, there's more to virtual summer camp than that.
There are a wide range of activities that can happen at virtual summer camp, and these can vary to match the camp's theme. As an example, a detective-themed camp may get campers involved in working together to solve a mystery. A scout-themed camp, on the other hand, may encourage campers to work hard to earn new badges. Many virtual camps even organize scavenger hunts, trivia contests, camp sing-a-longs, and arts and crafts activities that have been tailored to fit the camp's theme.
