| What's the best way for your child to be safe, | | | | definitely not essential to enjoying a premier |
| have fun and beat the summer heat? Sign them | | | | water sports camp experience. For example, jet |
| up for a water sports camp! | | | | skiing, wakeboarding and fishing camps often take |
| Summertime and aquatic activities go | | | | place at lakes or rivers. They don't require a |
| hand-in-hand. According to Theresa Torrone, a | | | | beach or ocean for kids to have fun." |
| volunteer for the American Camp Association | | | | When asked about surfing camps, Torrone said, "I |
| (ACA), "Water sports camps are one of the | | | | suppose if you want to learn to surf or attend a |
| fastest growing segments of the specialty camp | | | | surf camp, you'll need to find a water sports |
| field within the summer camp industry as a whole. | | | | camp near the beach. But even if you don't live |
| There's a water sports camp for kids and teens | | | | by the beach, you can still go to an overnight surf |
| of all ages no matter where you live." | | | | camp. There are a number of them across the |
| Also known as aquatics sports camps, water | | | | country." |
| sports camps generally offer surfing, jet skiing, | | | | To find a list of water sports camps, Torrone |
| wakeboarding, boogie boarding, body surfing, | | | | suggests contacting the American Camp |
| parasailing, swimming, inner-tubing, kayaking, | | | | Association. |
| canoeing, fishing, boating and related activities. | | | | "The ACA's a great resource. Whether you're |
| What if your child doesn't have previous | | | | looking for a surf camp, jet skiing camp, |
| experience with these activities? Torrone says | | | | wakeboarding camp, or just a swimming camp, |
| not to worry. | | | | the ACA can provide you with a list of accredited |
| "Most water sports camps accept kids from | | | | programs all over the country." |
| every aquatic background, so your child can | | | | Torrone says you can also look on the Internet. |
| participate and enjoy the activities safely and | | | | "If you want a surf camp, try Surf Camp It's a |
| have fun no matter what." To cover your bets, | | | | fantastic search engine for finding surf camps. |
| however, Torrone says to "always check with | | | | Other Internet sites for finding waters sports |
| the camp director first." | | | | camps and surf camps include and "These sites |
| Sometimes parents think a water sports camp is | | | | have comprehensive listings of water sports |
| out of the question if they don't live close to the | | | | camps so you can find a great program." |
| ocean. But Torrone says your kids can still get | | | | Whatever camp you choose, it's always wise to |
| the full benefit of attending a water sports camp | | | | involve your child in the decision-making process. |
| no matter where you live. | | | | "If your child is involved in picking the water |
| "Some of the premier water sports camps in the | | | | sports camp they'll eventually attend," she said, |
| country use lakes, reservoirs and pools as their | | | | "they're going to end up loving it that much more. |
| primary activity base. The ocean is fun, but it's | | | | |