Camps can suit individual tastes.
-by Beth Trites
St. Louis Jewish Light

While sitting by the fire and enjoying a hot drink that warms you right down to your toes, it’s hard to imagine summer camping.
But Jenny Wolkowitz said now is the time to plan. Wolkowitz is the first St. Louis consultant for Tips on Trips and Camps, a 32-year old business with consultants around the United States and abroad that helps parents find the perfect summer getaway for their children.
There are more than 10,000 camps in the United States, which can make picking a perfect camp a daunting task.
“Representatives visit camps while they’re in action,” she said. “We have chosen to represent 450 programs that are high quality.”
With so many types of camps and programs from which to chose, parents may still struggle to know what is right for their child. And that’s where Wolkowitz can help.
“We screen kids to see what are their likes and dislikes, and consult with the parent to see what type of program is appropriate,” she said. “Then we give parents a selection of camps and they can choose.”

Types of Camps
From traditional overnight camps to wilderness challenge trips, Tips on Trips and Camps introduces families to a variety of excursions from which to choose.
“We first start by looking at the age of the child,” Wolkowitz said. “Grade-school age kids typically prefer the traditional overnight camps. And teens like anything from language immersion, pre-college courses, travel and community service trips.”
Other types of specialty camps, which focus on one particular aspect, include individual sports, weight loss and ranch camps.
To help narrow the field of choices, Wolkowitz asks parents specific questions, such as if they prefer a co-ed camp, which type of activities their child is interested in and if they have a specific date or price range.
Wolkowitz said there are also a variety of camps that cater specifically to Jewish children.
“They all have the traditional camping experience, but the way they break down is how much they concentrate on the religion – come camp with Jewish kids.”

Determining if your Child is Ready
A large part of choosing an appropriate summer trip is understanding what a child is ready for, and Tips on Trips and Camps asks the right questions in order to find out.
“We ask parents if the child has spent the night with friends or family and been okay,” Wolkowitz said. “Also, have they outgrown day camp? Do they ask about overnight camping? Do they seem interested in spending time away from home?”
“For some kids, being away from home and school helps them flourish with new experiences. There’s something about camp that really helps them grow."
Once Wolkowitz interviews the parents and child, she compiles information of the camps she things are a good fir for the child.
Debbie Greenberg, a Creve Coeur mother of two, discovered Tips on Trips and Camps through a friend, and said Wolkowitz provided her with “a wealth of information” after their consultation.
“She sent us DVDs, videos, and camp newspapers,” Greenberg said. “And the camp directors have contacted us to ask if we had any questions. I like that she really listened to our kids, and she tailored it to their needs.”
Tips on Trips is a free referral service that receives compensation from camps once children have signed up. For more information, visit their website, www.tipsontripsandcamps.com.

Copyright © 2003, St. Louis Jewish Light (This is an excerpt from 12/31/2003)