Central Florida Summer Camps 2005 including all of suburban Orlando

The summer-camp experience is a rite of passage for many Central Florida children, and continues to be a popular way of entertaining young ones during the lazy days of summer break whether your child will be away from home for half a day, the whole day or a week. Of course, most parents know, through hearsay or experience, that it's essential to start the enrollment process early -- spots fill up quickly.

Smart moms and dads are already registering kids for summer camps, where their children will spend the days swimming, painting, singing, dancing, running and playing.

If you're new to the summer camp experience, here are a few points to bear in mind when choosing a summer camp:

Some kids flourish away from home; others don't. Keep this in mind when deciding between residential camps -- where children stay on premises for the duration of the camp -- and day camps.

Look for a camp that will help develop your child's interests: Budding actors will shine in theater production camps, artists will enjoy spending the day painting and drawing, athletes will improve skills in a camp geared to their sports of choice.

Ask the right questions before enrolling your child. Ask the camp director about his or her educational and career background, and that of the counselors who will be working directly with your child. Know where the camp will be held and if your child will leave the camp facility during the camp session. Find out the ratio of counselors to campers, to ensure your child will be properly supervised. And be sure to find out what the camp's pick-up and drop-off policies are to avoid confusion and frustration later on.

Finally, every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these camp listings; however, it's recommended that parents contact the camp of their choice directly to confirm all information. And remember: Don't procrastinate! Camps generally enroll only a limited number of children, so act early to ensure your child has the best camp experience possible.

This list was compiled with information supplied by representatives of the individual camps. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If you have questions regarding the listings, please contact the camps directly.