Getting to camp: buses, drop-off and travel

Day camp

• Drop-off and pickup windows, and extended care before and after, with the price.
• Bus service: routes, stops, fees, and what happens if you miss it.
• Carpool options: some camps share a list of local families.
• Who is allowed to pick up your child, and how the camp checks.

Overnight camp

• Arrival and departure days: many camps have set days and times for all families.
• Camp-run buses from towns or airports, and whether they cost extra.
• Travel for children flying alone: ask whether the camp meets the plane and how unaccompanied minors are handled.
• Visiting days: when, and how long, if the camp has them.

Safety questions to ask

Ask who drives, what training and checks the drivers have, and what the vehicles are. Ask how the camp counts children on and off a vehicle, how it handles a late or missing child, and how it tells parents about a delay. On trips, ask the same questions again.

Plan for the unexpected

Have a backup for a missed bus or an early pickup for illness. Keep the camp's emergency number in your phone, and make sure the camp has two or more contacts for your family. If your child has a health condition, make sure staff on the bus know.

Common questions

Do camps offer buses?

Many do, often for a fee. Ask for routes and stops before you decide. On Booka, you can filter for camps that say they offer transportation.

What if my child flies to camp alone?

Ask the camp whether it meets flights and what it requires. Airlines also have their own rules for unaccompanied children.

Who can pick up my child?

Only people you have approved in writing. Ask how the camp verifies identity at pickup.

Keep reading

• Summer camp safety: accreditation, licensing, staffing and medical care
• Summer camp cost, financial aid and tax benefits
• When to register for summer camp: a timeline