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 Search
for Summer Programs in the Directory
by Category.
It's that time of year, as we anxiously the arrival of spring,
to begin making plans for your child to use their summer hiatus
from school to broaden their horizons as they explore talents
and hobbies, learn new skills and make a difference in the community
through volunteering. Somerset County United Way, together with
the Courier News, is proud to bring you the 2005 edition of the
Summer Opportunities Directory.
The directory contains a listing and description of programs
and volunteer opportunities available for children in grades K-12.
It is divided into seven sections, according to program category:
day camps, educational programs, library programs, residential
camps, special needs camps, sports and recreation, and volunteer
opportunities for youth.
The directory is intended as a resource for parents and guardians,
it is not an endorsement of any program. The information included
has been, in most cases, provided to Somerset County United Way
by the listed organizations. Parents are strongly encouraged to
review the programs carefully and acquire additional information
if necessary when choosing a summer program for their children.
Somerset County United Way would also like to extend an invitation
to families, schools and youth organizations to take advantage
of the year-round youth volunteer opportunities that we offer.
These include Youth Earth
Day in April, with Earth-friendly volunteer projects designed
for young people, Youth Make
a Difference Day with a variety of community service opportunities
in October, National Family
Volunteer Day in November, and Wrapped
in Love, a winter clothing drive in November and December.
For more information on these and other youth-oriented service
programs, call Somerset County United Way at (908) 725-6640.
Best wishes for a safe, happy and healthy summer.
John Graf, Jr.
Interim President
Choosing a Summer Camp
For information about a camp's safety record, contact the New
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Consumer
and Environmental Health Services, P.O. Box 369, Trenton, N.J.
08625-0369, or call (609) 588-3124.
Many camps are accredited by the American Camping Association
(ACA), an organization that promotes high standards in organized
camps and enhances the quality of the camping experience. Accreditation
involves a rigorous peer review that determines whether a camp
meets industry-accepted and government-recognized standards. Some
camps have not indicated their accreditation status in this directory.
To find out if a camp is accredited, contact:
The American Camping Association, New Jersey
P.O. Box 761
Lambertville, N.J. 08530
(215) 830-0167
(877) 488-2267
executive@ACAcampsnj.org
www.ACAcampsnj.org
For further assistance, call the Catholic Charities Child Care
Resource and Referral Agency at (908) 927-0869 or Child Care Connection
at (908) 725-4428 to speak with a child care consultant who will
help you identify the summer programs that best suit your child's
needs.
When researching summer camp options, the ACA suggests asking
the following questions:
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What is the background of the director?
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What is the camp's philosophy?
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What percentage of campers return each year?
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What is the geographical area of the clientele?
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What are the ages of the counselors?
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What percentage of staff return each year?
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What is the ratio of counselors to campers?
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How are special needs handled?
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Are there additional expenses?
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What is the camp's refund policy?
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What is the transportation system?
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Are references available?
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