In short, if you have a quirky child who may require extra attention then this may not be the camp for you. However, if you have an easy going child who rarely has a hiccup in life then definitely consider Dwight Summer Camp.
This is our 6th summer attending a local camp and in past years we have been to Bank Street, Oasis and FastBreak.
PROS: Dwight's facilities are gorgeous (i.e., indoor pool, a basketball court, enclosed outdoor space etc.) and their curriculum for Adventure camp was impressive (i.e., seeing a Broadway play etc.).
CONS: Unfortunately our experience did not end well. My child is ADHD which I discussed with the camp prior to signing up. I was assured this would not be an issue and reminded that the camp has a low student to counselor ratio and that their staff is comprised of experienced staff working in the field of education. My child does take medication so all things combined, it sounded like a recipe for success. In reality I was called on two occasions and told my child would need to be picked up from camp immediately. On one occasion the person calling stated "we aren't sure what happened but we can discuss when you get here." Call me crazy but as a customer the very least they could do is figure out what happened BEFORE calling me. On another occasion the camp director expressed that I was on speaker phone and "did I want to say anything to my child." My child can be anxious and sensitive so I responded by saying I would speak to them in person since I suspect they may have hard time verbalizing themselves if they are emotional. The director responded with "well, they were doing a good job of verbalizing how much they don't like this camp." Umm, well... my child is 8... and probably upset... maybe even scared... (and, yes) behaving poorly given the circumstances.... but YOU are an adult AND the director so maybe try and show up with a bit more compassion. This is a job for which you are paid to do and I am helping to pay that salary. At the time of that call I was in another state for work but expressed I would reach out to the sitter and ask them to pick-up my child. The director then expressed that my being away might explain my child's poor behavior. Ouch... I felt a bit helpless being half away across the country and that definitely felt like a kick when I was already down.
I fully admit that my child is rambunctious, sometimes difficult and never perfect. They are also kind, smart, loving and desperate to feel like they belong. I've gotten my fair share of calls or requests "to speak." It's never fun and more often than not I feel disappointed but I show up, I listen and I work hard with my child to ensure the next day is a better day. Having been at this for several years I've encountered many people who lack compassion and probably should find another profession. I expect it. But in the years I have been doing this, never has a camp or program demanded I pick-up my child. In the 3 weeks we attended Dwight we had more good days then bad but the bad days were handled so poorly that I am certain we won't be returning. read more