This post is sponsored by YMCA of Greater Houston. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For months I have been dreaming of sending my older boys to summer camp. But as summer drew closer, I had no idea of where to start or how to find a great summer camp for my child.

Determination, research, and the internet taught me how to find a summer camp for my child. If you are, like me, looking for a summer camp, let me share with you how I found a great summer camp, YMCA Camp Cullen, for my child by asking the following questions:
Overnight or Day Camp
This is where you need to start. Is your child ready for a overnight camp? Are YOU ready for your child to go to a overnight camp? Determining whether your child is ready to be away from you, on his or her own for several days is really best decided by you and not just because they are a specific age.
If your child has never been away from home for even a sleepover at their grandparents, you may need to begin with a Day Camp this summer and work your way up to an Overnight Camp.
The impacts of an overnight camp on a child can be truly amazing. They have the opportunity to learn independence, self-care, and confidence in a whole new way.
Special Needs or Special Interests
There are quite a few summer camps for children with special needs. It’s actually very exciting to see so many camps for children who have disabilities or special situations that require specialized accommodations or programs.
If your child has a specific interest in an activity you can also find camps that focus on honing one or two unique skills like a horsemanship or science focused camp.
In my research, I also found camps that focus on empowering children or teaching them life-changing tools like Kamp K’aana that teaching healthy living skills to children who are not a healthy weight.
Read the Reviews
With Facebook, Yelp and Google at our fingertips it is easy to find what parents and campers are saying about their camp experience. First hand testimonies can really expose the overall recommendation of the camp.
If the camp has 203 reviews on Facebook and has a 4.5 star rating like YMCA Camp Cullen, you can be very confident the overall experiences of the campers and parents has been extremely positive.
Accredited Camp
Did you know that camps can be accredited? This means that their program, facilities, and staff have all been audited and approved by an authorized by a third party.
The accreditation of a camp, like a school, creates checks and balances for a camp program, as well as keeps a camp innovative and safe. The safety of my child is always in the forefront of my mind as I am research a camp for my child.
YMCA Camp Cullen is accredited by American Camp Associations which has been assuring the quality of camps for over 100 years.
Call and Ask
Don’t be afraid to call the camp administrative offices and talk directly to the camp director or program leaders. They know that we will be entrusting their children to them for a week and expect parents to be concerned and to have questions.
Price
I’m sure we all wish money was not a factor in making a decision about camp for our children, but reality is camps can be an investment. Look for scholarship programs for the camp and don’t be afraid to contact the camp about applying for one.
An investment in a week of camp, like YMCA Camp Cullen will impact your child for the rest of their lives. It will be a week of learning principles to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body. Not to mention the memories and friendships your child will make.
Summer Camp for your child is worth it!!!
I hope this helps you find a camp for your child this summer. If you are in Texas, I highly recommend YMCA Camp Cullen. It is just 2 hours north of Houston and has been hosting camps for 75 years.
YMCA Camp Cullen has camps for ages 7-17 year olds. Each week has a different theme or focus creating opportunities for every age group and child with special needs or interest.
The YMCA of Greater Houston has a reputation of putting families first and encouraging strong values and character. I love that all of their programs are centered around the family and building each person up individually.
I am excited for our two oldest, Jayden & Jimmy to experience a week at YMCA Camp Cullen. Be sure to check back for a full review of all their fun!
Oh wow. There’s so much to think about when you’re picking a summer camp. My kids have never gone to camp, so I never realized just how much went into choosing one.
My boys went to overnight camp this year. It was with the church so it was more affordable than YMCA
I’m interested in a science camp for my son since he’s considering an engineering degree. Your tips are so helpful and timely!
I think camps are great for kids. My girls usually go to summer school, but I think a camp would be even more fun. I’m going to have to look at them for next year.
This is definitely a nice and complete guide. I guess becoming more picky and skeptic is understandable in this circumstance. Wonderful post you have here.
I am looking for a summer camp for my kid, too! It’s so hard to decide! Thanks for these tips!
These are some great tips. I will be sharing this with my readers who have younger kids.
Love these ideas. Summer camps can be a great way for kids to learn new things.
Summer camps have really been a tough call for me once. What really helps as well is talking to your friends and moms on playgrounds. I’ve learned so much just by networking with the parents in real life.