Okay, so I wanted to get my kid into a hockey camp this summer, and we live kinda close to Vermont, so I thought, “Why not?” Let me tell you, finding the right one was a bit of a journey, so I figured I’d share my experience.
First, I just started by, you know, hitting up the internet. I typed in “hockey camps Vermont” and a bunch of stuff popped up. It was overwhelming at first!
I started clicking around on different websites. Some looked super professional, others… not so much. I realized I needed to narrow down what I was looking for. I made a list:
- Dates: When did I actually want my kid to go? I needed to find something that fit our summer schedule.
- Age Group: My kid’s 10, so I needed to make sure the camp was for the right age range. Some were for younger kids, some for teenagers.
- Skill Level: My kid’s been playing for a few years, but he’s no superstar. I wanted something that would challenge him, but not be totally over his head.
- Price: Let’s be real, these camps can be expensive! I needed to find something that wouldn’t break the bank.
- Location: I needed to check how long the drive would take, and also whether to stay nearby.
With this list, I went back to those websites. I started eliminating ones that didn’t fit. For example, some were only week-long day camps, and I was looking for something more, so I scratched those off.
Then, I started to compare the ones that were left. I looked at their schedules, what kind of drills they did, and who the coaches were. Some websites had videos, which was super helpful. It gave me a better feel for the vibe of the camp.
I also tried to find some reviews online. I checked out forums and parent groups to see what other people were saying. That helped me weed out a couple that had some, shall we say, “less than stellar” feedback.
Making the Choice
After all that digging, I narrowed it down to two camps. They both looked pretty good, but one had a slightly better schedule for us, and the reviews mentioned that the coaches were really good at working with kids of different skill levels. That was a big plus for me.
So, I took the plunge! I registered my kid for that camp. It was a bit of a process, filling out all the forms and paying the fee, but it was worth it. Fingers crossed he has an awesome time and learns a ton!
The whole experience taught me that finding the perfect camp is totally a journey, and requires a plan. I’m just glad I have done it. Wish me luck!
