With thousands of summer camp opportunities listed on Blueprint4, choosing the perfect program for your child can feel overwhelming. We’re here to help! Keep these important steps in mind as you search and get ready for your child to have a fun and fulfilling summer experience!

1. Consider you and your child’s needs vs. wants

Choosing a camp begins with thinking about what you and your child want to get out of camp. Are you looking for a camp with lots of different activities that will expose your child to new experiences and topics? Or does a more specialized camp with a single focus make more sense? Are you hoping for a more free-play environment or are you looking for your child to develop or hone a specific skill? You will also want to consider logistics like budget, location, and transportation.

We recommend involving your child in this process if possible – letting them participate gives them ownership in the process and makes for a happier camper come summertime!

Here are some things to consider at this stage:

• Budget
• Location
• Transportation
• Overnight vs. day camp
• Child’s interests and skills
• Special needs
• Date ranges available

2. Searching for camps

Now comes the fun part – the search! The search platform on Blueprint4 lets you select all the qualities you decided on above. You can search by your child’s age, their areas of interest, location, cost, time of day and date range. Many times, you’ll get several results that match your criteria. Each camp listed on Blueprint4 includes an information blurb so you can learn more about the camp specifics, their session dates, and the cost.

Another great way to see what camps are available to you is to attend a summer camp fair where you’ll be able to meet camp providers in person and learn more about what they offer. Some camps also offer parent information sessions where you’ll be able to ask questions in-person and learn more about the camp firsthand. To help you keep track of all the camps you’re considering, you can use the calendar tool on Blueprint4 to save your selections.

Oh and did we mention—the Blueprint4 search platform is completely FREE to use! We’re just here to help you find great summer opportunities for your child.

3. Making the final selection

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a few options, it’s time to make a selection. Doing your research is important to give you an idea of what’s out there. Once you have found a camp on Blueprint4, visit their website to learn more and register.

We recommend using their website or contacting them to find out more about:

• Camp environment and facilities
• Camp leadership and counselors
• Safety and accreditation

The choice of summer camp is an important one, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. With Blueprint4’s search platform, you have a wide range of summer camps in St. Louis at your fingertips. Happy searching!