Preface
Now in its 31st edition, the Guide to Summer Camps and Summer Schools traces its origin to 1915, when Porter Sargent’s Handbook of Private Schools included a summer camp section. The popularity of this section led to the first publication of A Handbook of Summer Camps in 1924. (The book assumed its present name in the 1950s.) While the breadth of summer options for young people has increased greatly since the publication of the first summer guide, the book’s objective remains the same: to assist families, educators and advisors with the summer program selection process.
As is the case with all Porter Sargent reference books, the Guide is characterized by its objectivity. Summer programs do not subscribe for space, but instead are listed free of charge as a service to both the programs involved and our readership. Porter Sargent editors compose the listings based upon data provided by administrators on questionnaires. The resulting resource consists of formatted listings that allow for ready program comparison.
Although it does not include every residential summer program in the US, the Guide is representative of programs throughout the United States and Canada, as well as travel, study and special-interest opportunities in other countries, and reveals a wealth of diverse and challenging options for boys and girls. Programs designed solely for individuals over age 19 do not appear.
Please note that each program listed in the Guide must accept boarders. Many camps and schools also accept day participants, however. In such instances, enrollment information and fees for day clients are detailed.
Programs affiliated with a national organization (such as the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, the YMCA or Camp Fire USA) are suitable for listing. Listed programs, however, must open their enrollments to the general public. In some cases, boys and girls who lack membership in the sponsoring organization pay a nominally higher program fee.
The book’s objective is to make available comparative facts on summer programs of varying types. Chapters are organized either geographically (by region) or alphabetically by program name, depending upon chapter focus. Please consult the Table of Contents or the individual chapter introductions for details.
For the past four editions, close editorial attention has been paid to chapter placement. Program focus receives priority over program location; for example, a language immersion program conducted overseas would be listed in the Academic Programs—Specialized chapter, not in either Academic Programs Abroad (which describes general academic sessions) or Travel Programs. The goal is to lead readers more readily to suitable programs.
Continuing efforts that commenced with the three previous editions, cross-reference indexes preceding certain chapters have expanded. The improved utility and ease of use that result will likely enable families and advisors to better match child or adolescent with program.
Over the past two editions, we have altered our method of reporting on camps that run concurrent boys’ and girls’ programs (as opposed to coeducational programs). These coordinate single-gender programs are now listed as “Coord” in the age range. When the boys’ and girls’ sections have different names, both names appear at the top of the listing.
Religious recreational camps occupy a distinct chapter, Camps with a Religious Focus. Those seeking programs with a religious affiliation but not a strong religious emphasis may find a list of such programs at the beginning of the Recreational Camps chapter.
Readers familiar with the Guide will notice a dynamic change to the format of the book: After more than 50 years in its previous format, it now boasts a larger page size—not to mention bigger font sizes for improved readability. In addition to adding more content to the editorial listings, the larger page size has enabled us to expand the School Feature Indexes.
Also new to this edition: Programs that have been accredited by the American Camp Association (formerly known as the American Camping Association) include an accreditation reference in their editorial listings. The ACA is a community of camp professionals that accredits more than 2400 recreational camps that meet approximately 300 standards pertaining to health, safety and program quality.
Some programs with editorial listings also elect to reserve space in the optional Illustrated Announcements section. Through Illustrated Announcements, schools and camps present their own statements, many of which include photographs, regarding what they consider to be their most significant features, unique distinctions and facilities.
Even more complete and meaningful representation is achieved through the objective reporting of facts in the editorial listing combined with a program’s individual declaration of purpose contained in its Illustrated Announcement. These two accounts, both the listing of statistical and summary information and the attractive illustrated pages, prove to be the broadest basis for a parent, advisor or camper to gain insight into the breadth and strength of the various programs.
The publisher does not intend for the Guide to be the sole tool of selection for those choosing a summer program; rather, the book should be used as a starting point and a method of narrowing one’s search. Educational advisors, many of whom help place children in both school settings and summer programs, provide an invaluable service for families seeking an appropriate summer placement. In selecting an advisor, parents should make certain that the advisor chosen does not receive remuneration from programs he or she recommends.