How is Student Tour and Camp Consultants paid?

There is no charge to you and no obligation to use any program we recommend. Our fees are paid by camps and tours. Because we work with hundreds of programs, we are able to offer you an objective, professional opinion. Our goal is help you find the perfect fit.

How do I start narrowing my options?

Judy Macnow suggests pondering the “Five S’s”. They are:

Style: Does your son or daughter prefer a very rustic atmosphere with platform tents or do they go for plush, polished-looking facilities with hot-water showers?

Structure: Do you want a lot of structure or should your child have more free time and more say in choosing daily activities? Is your child comfortable making those choices?

Spend: How much do you want to spend on a program? In addition to tuition, which can vary greatly, there may be additional costs for items such as airfare and uniforms.

Safety: What’s the program’s safety record? Have there been any serious accidents there? Has it been under steady ownership for a good number of years?

Staff: Is the staff well qualified? Have they worked with kids before? Do the specialists have appropriate backgrounds? Some programs won’t hire anyone who’s had less than one year of college. Some rely heavily on international counselors. While this may pose language and cultural barriers in some settings, it can be a real plus in certain non-traditional camps that consider cultural awareness part of their program.