Some kids hear the bugle at the crack of dawn during summer camp. But 16-year-old Amanda Shaw heard the roaring engines of NASCAR stock cars outside her bunk area at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. She was attending Race Camp, a summer camp designed for kids who want to become race-car drivers.

Amanda is one of the 9 million kids who attend one of America's 8,500 summer camps each year. Maybe your child is not into race cars. Have no fear--there is a summer camp for nearly every activity, condition, pursuit or theme imaginable! Perhaps your child is an aspiring Bill Gates or has visions of playing onstage with YoYo Ma. Computer camps and music camps are easy to find nation-wide. There is a myriad of camp options from gardening to space camps, and from sports camps to special needs camps (for kids with specific medical conditions). How do you know which camp is right for your child?

This site contains general information about summer camps and specific information about individual and unique camping experiences. By minutely sifting the Internet, SummerCampHere found answers to some of the most frequently asked summer camp questions: "How do I know the camp is safe?", "What if my child doesn't like it?", "How much will it cost?" We found countless resources and untold numbers of tips about summer camps. Looking for a special camp or a specific location? This is the spot!

Summer camps are generally broken down into two main categories: residential and day camps. Residential camps usually last two weeks or more and require the participants to live on-premises for the duration of the program. Day camps, on the other hand, are usually hosted by local organizations and campers are shuttled to and from the camps and home each evening. Day programs are usually less expensive, but often do not offer as many activities as a residential experience. In addition, there are some local camps (particularly church or Bible related camps) that may last only a day or two.

The wonderful thing about summer camp is the fact that it gives kids a taste of independence--some for the first time. Although this can be frightening at first, such independence challenges kids to grow as individuals. Without the aid of mom or dad, camp kids are given an opportunity to make decisions for themselves. They are also exposed to the freedoms of summer camp which improves their social relationship skills. Living, learning, playing, eating, and sleeping with other kids their own age gives them a chance to improve their communication and negotiation skills. From late night fireside chats to squabbles over the breakfast cereal, children are repeatedly challenged to look beyond themselves and improve their social skills.

If your son or daughter believes he or she is ready for a residential summer camp, it is mandatory that you go over all the details. Camp, regardless of the length, is a huge commitment for both the parents and the child. A great way to choose the correct summer camp for your child is to look at the activities involved and the interests of your child. Is your daughter the next Venus Williams? How about tennis camp. Maybe you're no rocket scientist but one of your kids hopes to be--there are camps for that as well. There are camps for all interests, all age levels in thousands of locations world wide.

Take a few minutes to browse our site and find answers to your summer camp questions and hundreds of reliable resources pertaining to all aspects of summer camp. Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable summer!