Summers are magical, right? School is out, the days are long, and free time abounds.

Yet after a month or so, boredom sets in, and kids and the couch start to become inseparable. Glued to smartphones while binging on Netflix, or just mindlessly mashing buttons as they play video games for hours on end.

Where’s the magic in that?

If only there was a way for kids to design video games instead of just playing them. Or an opportunity to create the next big app rather than being sucked into someone else’s.

Good news—that’s where summer camps come in.

Great for balancing out the unstructured, school-free months, summer camps are fun, build character, and provide opportunities for campers to meet new friends and reconnect with former classmates. Plus, kids can discover new interests - like game development or app design - and stay intellectually engaged. (See more summer camp benefits.)
So, where do you start?

The good news is, with today’s overabundance of camps, there’s literally a type of camp for every child. On the flip side, with so many options, choosing can make you feel a lot like Goldilocks on the hunt for a camp that’s just right.

Here are seven tips on how to make the summer camp selection process a little more manageable—sending your brood on their merry way to months of that so called summer magic. (And when you've found the perfect option, here are summer camp tips to help kids make the most of their experiences.