Considering it’s mid-May and some schools around the country are about to be out for summer in a couple weeks, odds are you’ve settled by now on a camp for your child. Whether day camp, sleepaway, or a specialty camp that caters to kids with specific interests, you probably know how much you’ll be paying (sorry for bringing it up), what activities your child can expect to do each day, and what the snack and meal situation is. But have you taken all precautions and asked all the important questions for when it comes to their overall safety and well-being?

Here are 5 things to consider as you prepare your little one (and yourself) for an awesome summer at camp:

• Ask questions about the staff. There’s nothing wrong with a teenager that has only babysitting experience being one of your kid’s bunk counselors, especially if they’re a 14 or 15-year-old counselor-in-training (CIT). Still, you do want to know if any of the older staff members have earned any specific certifications. Is there someone on your child’s immediate team that’s CPR-certified? A lifeguard? Working toward a degree in education? Every little bit counts.

• Make sure the camp is accredited. Each state has different requirements for day camps and sleepaway camps, but no matter where you live, it’s mandatory that each camp has a state license to operate. (The exception here would be an at-home daycare or backyard camp). If your camp is a member of the American Camp Association Accreditation (ACA), that’s a bonus. ACA accreditation is optional, but it assures campers and their families that that camp has passed a rigorous review of more than 300 standards across staff, safety, facilities, operations, and more.

• Review the camp’s pool policies. It’s important that your child’s camp is focused on water safety and equipped to handle so many swimmers at once. Many camps will assess your child’s swimming skills at the beginning of the summer. Ask the higher-ups questions such as what the ratio is for swim instructors to students, and how many lifeguards are on duty during each pool period. You can also inquire about what training staff members are given around pool safety specifically, what the deep water swim test entails, as well as if there are flotation devices such as life jackets or swimmies available for kids who aren’t yet ready to be in the water on their own.

• Inquire about sunscreen and water breaks. In the heat of the summer, it’s imperative that your kid is protecting their skin from the sun’s UV rays, as well as staying hydrated. Ask if your child’s bunk will have designated times for water breaks and to reapply sunscreen—my son’s camp requires kids come in each morning with sunscreen on, and they reapply after each swim sesh, for example. You’ll probably be asked to send your son or daughter in with a reusable water bottle every morning, but make sure there are plenty of places on campus and time slots during the day where it can be refilled.

• Find out if your child can get emotional/behavioral support. Some kids do great in large groups with people they may not know; others like my little guy take a bit longer to warm up. Especially if your kid is on the younger side, ask the director who will be there to support the child with the transition into camp, as well as transitions to and from different activities if that’s something they struggle with. Some camps may also have mental health support available to all campers. My son’s camp, for example has a Camper Care team where he can check in daily if he needs a little break from the group activities.

What other questions will you be asking as your child begins their summer at camp?

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