Choosing a summer camp.

FOR JAMES SAWYERS AND Paula Parker-Sawyers, the $3,000 they spend annually on summer camp for their three children is money well spent. The Indianapolis couple have been sending their 15-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 9 and 11, to either day camp or resident camp since they were five. Like many African-American families, the Sawyers have found camp to be an enriching experience for their children--and one that can't be duplicated either at home or school.

Camp helps keep children active, involved and entertained through a variety of fun and recreational programs. On a deeper level, it teaches them cooperation, instills independence and builds self-esteem and confidence. It also helps kids build lasting friendships and gain an appreciation of nature.

It's probably too late to enroll your children in a camp for this summer-- at least for a sleepaway camp--but now's a good time to check into and visit programs for next year.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT CAMP?

"The whole essence of camp is learning new skills and working together as a group," says Deborah Smith, director of facilities and resources at Hoosier Capital Girl Scouts in Indiana. The 46-year-old Smith has been involved in camp administration for 25 years, and has been sending her two teenage sons to camp ever since they were youngsters.

"The magic of camp is that kids end up trying things they never dreamed of and making friends with peers from all over the country and the world," says Billy Dannals, 30, director of summer programs at YMCA Storer Camps in Jackson, Mich. "It's amazing that on the first day of camp, kids are crying because they don't want to stay. On the last day of camp, they're bawling because they don't want to leave," says Dannals.

To this day, Parker-Sawyers, 43, vividly remembers the camp experience that matured her daughter Elizabeth, seemingly overnight. During the two weeks of Girl Scout camp, the 11-year-old Elizabeth and her fellow campers hiked daily, trekking longer distances each day. Gradually, the girls were strong enough in mind and spirit to hike 13 miles, sleep overnight in the woods and hike 13 miles back the next day.

"The experience made Elizabeth realize that no matter how hard a goal appears to be, with practice and tenacity it's possible to accomplish it," says Parker-Sawyers, a program director at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Traditionally, summer camp has not been an integral part of the black experience. "Due to segregationist policies of the past, African-American families do not have a legacy of sending their children to overnight camp," explains Henry M. Thomas III, CEO of Camp Atwater, a 74-year-old, all-black camp in North Brookfield run by the Urban League of springfield, Mass.

"The high-end camps in the majority culture didn't welcome minorities when I was growing up," concurs Eleanor Minus, chairperson of African-Americans in Camping and director of the Methodist Camp Service in New York City. Today's camps, however, are doing a better job of attracting a diversity of campers. According to a 1993 survey of 1,144 camps accredited by the American Camping Association, 700 reported that 10% to 50% of their campers were African-American. In addition, 33 camps reported that more than two-thirds of their campers were African-American.

At first, choosing a camp for your child can seem a bit overwhelming. After all, there are an estimated 5,500 resident camps and 3,000 day camps in the country. About one-third of these camps are independently run, with fees ranging from $35 to $100 a day. The remaining two-thirds are service or agency camps operated by churches, public agencies or nonprofit organizations. Fees at these camps run anywhere from $15 to $55 a day.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAMP

Most camps offer traditional activities such as swimming, hiking, canoeing, boating, archery, tennis, basketball and arts and crafts. However, there are also specialty camps that allow children to explore their interests in one particular area, which might include sports, theater, computers, horseback riding, language skills or wilderness adventures. There are also a small number of black-owned and-operated camps, which emphasize African-American history and culture.

Before selecting one of these camps, it's crucial to match your child's interests and personality to the camp's programs and atmosphere. Equally important is choosing a camp that has a philosophy and value system you support. For instance, many camps emphasize competitive sports, but there are also camps that focus on noncompetitive activities.

Some camps are highly structured, keeping campers busy with a full slate of programmed activities throughout the day. Other camps have a more relaxed atmosphere for kids who need the freedom to explore activities of their own choosing each day. There are also camps that seek to instill a particular set of values and/or uphold certain religious beliefs.

For Carolyn and Sam Francis of Mitchellville, Md., Camp Friendship in Palmyra, Va., proved to be an excellent choice for their two sons. For 16-year-old Damon, a seasoned camper with athletic prowess, Camp Friendship's adventure program included daring activities like canoeing, caving and rock climbing. For Jonathan, a 13-year-old with attention deficit disorder, the camp's structured general program offered enough constant stimulation to keep him engrossed.

To understand a camp's philosophy and programs, it's best to meet with the camp director, see the camp in operation, talk to other parents, listen to what veteran campers have to say about their experiences and review camp literature carefully. Many parents find it helpful to attend camp fairs and presentations at neighbor's homes or community centers.

All these factors played a role in Wilbur Johnson and CeCe Byers Johnson's decision to send their 10-year-old daughter to Gwynn Valley Camp in Brevard, N.C. "I learned about the camp from a friend and was impressed by what I heard at a presentation. But when I got the brochure and application, things started jumping right off the page. The camp's values were very much in sync with our personal beliefs," explained Byers Johnson, a 43-year-old educator from Charleston, S.C.

DOES RACE MATTER AT CAMP?

The racial makeup of staff and campers is obviously of universal concern to you, especially if you are planning to send your children off to resident camp. You want to be sure that your children have role models to emulate. And like most parents, you undoubtedly want to see that the percentage of blacks on staff reflects the percentage of black campers.

So, ask up front about the diversity of the staff, whether or not there have been racial conflicts and the percentage of black campers. Even if the numbers aren't quite what you had in mind, how camp personnel answer such questions can tell you a lot about their experience with a diversity of children.

"When I asked questions about the camp's history in taking care of black children, they gave thoughtful answers, not defensive or pat ones," recalls Carolyn Francis, a 45-year-old nurse and psychotherapist who sent her two boys to Camp Friendship. "I had a sense that my children wouldn't be pioneering children integrating the camp, and that the camp had experience with African-American children and kids of other races."

Beyond the multicultural camp experience, you might consider that handful of black-owned and -operated camps that specifically aim to reinforce cultural identity and awareness.

"For many years, my child was the only child of color at camp and that matched the environment of her school," recalls Paula Martin, who lives in Sudbury, Mass. Last year, the 44-year-old educator sent her daughter to Camp Atwater because, "I wanted her to have a black camping experience. I wanted her to spend time living with other girls just like her--African-American children raised in a suburban environment. It made her feel okay about her interests. For the first time, she met other black girls who play lacrosse and have mothers who belong to sororities."

Ron and Valerie Ward of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., also discovered how enriching an all-black camp experience could be after they sent their boys, ages 9 and 12, to Camp Olmsted in Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y. "A majority of the kids at the camp were from the inner city so our boys met kids who live very different lives," explains Ward, vice president of a food service management company. "Camp gave them an appreciation for the situation they live in and they took on leadership roles at the camp."

Beyond diversity, experts advise parents to consider the ratio of counselors to campers, the background of the camp director, the training of counselors and the first aid experience of the staff. Choosing a camp accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA) offers some clear advantages.

"Accreditation is a good indicator that the camp operates within industry standards that relate directly to the quality of programming, administration, staff, safety and risk management," says Camp Atwater's Henry Thomas.

It's also worth checking the ages of the counselors, and the percentage of staffers who return each year. The ACA recommends 80% of the counselors be 18 years or older. "Older counselors are better able to make good choices, see consequences of actions and recognize behavior that needs intervention before a problem arises," points out John Miller, ACA's executive vice president.

Nonetheless, the overriding factor in choosing a camp is the degree of confidence you have in the staff and facilities. "You're handing the care of your child to others for 24 hours a day for a period of several weeks," says Eleanor Minus of African-Americans in Camping. "You need to be comfortable with the management style, the counselors and programs."

Ultimately, the rewards of making the right decision can be far-reaching. As Paula Parker-Sawyers sums it up, "Camp teaches kids how to be away from mom and dad, make it on their own and get along with others. Kids see camp as fun. Parents see it as a life lesson."

RELATED ARTICLE: Is Your Child Ready For Camp?

Whether you choose a day or overnight camp, there's plenty of fun, enriching and varied programs available. You might start your child off with a local day camp program and then move them on to overnight camp when they seem ready. However, their readiness will depend on age, maturity and personality, among other factors.

Ask yourself whether your child is adaptable and makes friends easily. Has he or she spent any extended time away from home on overnight visits to friends? Is your child eager to go to camp?

If the answers are mostly yes, overnight will probably work out well. If the answers are mostly no, hold off on overnight camp and stick with day camp--and reevaluate in another year or so.

"Ninety percent of the kids who come to our resident camp want to be here and do just fine," says Billy Dannals, director of summer programs at YMCA Storer Camps in Jackson, Mich. "But if the child doesn't want to be here and feels abandoned, then there's likely to be a problem from day one."

Experts recommend choosing a general camp program for the first few years rather than a camp specializing in a particular sport, hobby, artistic pursuit or educational interest. That way, kids will be exposed to the full breadth of camp activities and have a chance to develop other interests and skills.

To assure your child the best possible camp experience, it pays to involve him or her in the camp decision-making process. Consider the following tips:

* Visit the camp together, preferably when it's in operation. Such an expedition will familiarize your child with the environment.

* If a visit isn't possible beforehand, ask the camp to send videos and brochures. See if the camp director can visit your home or is scheduled to participate in an upcoming camp fair or neighborhood presentation.

* When reviewing brochures and videos, consider what appeals most to your child. Consult referral services or guidebooks to help locate appropriate camps.

* Choose a session length that's appropriate for your child, your budget and family schedule. Most resident camps require a two-week stay; some, a four-week stay.

* Pick a location that's accessible for weekend visits.

* To the degree possible, fill your child in on camp routines and programs.

* If you attended camp, share your camp experiences. Talk about the fun you had, the skills you learned and the friends you made.

* Pack appropriately. Make sure your kids have enough of the right clothes, bedding, towels, outerwear, shoes, toiletries, flashlight, batteries, spending money, etc. Most camps will provide a list of necessary items.

* Head off homesickness. A certain amount of homesickness is normal during the first few days. Pack a friendly reminder of home, such as a favorite doll, stuffed animal, poster, pillow or family photo. Also, supply the necessary pre-stamped envelopes and stationery so your child can write home easily.

* Write to your child regularly with words that are reassuring--"I'm sure you're having a good time." But don't overdo news about all the at-home happenings or you're child might feel he's missing out.

* Follow the rules about visiting and phone calls. Usually, parents suffer the pain of separation anxiety more than their kids. Unnecessary phone calls may make you feel better, but it might make your child feel bad.

* Don't worry. Counselors are trained to recognize and deal with symptoms of homesickness and will call if things really aren't working out.

Resources on Summer Camps

For more information, check out the following sources:

* The American Camping Association Guide to Accredited Camps is available for $12.95 Phone: [phone]-CAMP.

* The Right Camp--The Complete Guide to the Best Summer Camp for Your Child, by Richard C. Kennedy and Michael Kimball, is available from Times Books (a division of Random House) for $15 Phone: [phone].

* Camping Association, 5000 State Rd. 67 N., Martinsville, IN 46151-7902 Phone: [phone].