Camp registration in Somerset starts earlier than most families expect. By the time the last snow melts, the popular weeks at town recreation programs are often spoken for, and the overnight camps that draw kids from around the county have been filling cabins since January. The good news is that camps here come in enough shapes and price points that nearly every family can find a fit — if you know what you're comparing. Here's a practical side-by-side look at the main options, the ages they serve, what drives the cost, and the sign-up windows you should have on your calendar.

Three Basic Shapes of Summer Camp

Almost everything on offer falls into one of three buckets, and they behave very differently when it comes to scheduling and price.

Day camps are run by town recreation departments, school districts, churches, community centers and private operators. They typically run five days a week from about 9 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m., sold one week at a time. This is usually the least expensive option per week and the most flexible if your summer plans are still shifting.

Specialty day camps focus on one thing: sports, theater, visual arts, robotics, nature and farm programs, sailing, horseback riding. Days may be shorter, groups smaller, and the price per week noticeably higher. They're worth it when your child has a genuine interest, less so when you're simply buying child care.

Overnight camps are residential, one to eight weeks, usually an hour or two away. They carry the highest price tag, though a longer session often costs less per week than a one-week trial. Many families start with a short session the summer before middle school and extend from there.

Plenty of Somerset families mix all three: three weeks of town day camp, one week of specialty camp, one short overnight session, and a week with grandparents. That patchwork is normal, and it's often cheaper than a single full-summer program.

Ages: What Each Type Usually Serves

• Ages 4 to 6: Half-day and full-day day camps, often run by towns, churches and preschools. Ask hard questions about ratios and bathroom help at this age — a 1-to-6 ratio looks very different from 1-to-12.
• Ages 7 to 10: The sweet spot. Nearly every camp has a program, and this is when specialty camps and first overnight stays become realistic.
• Ages 11 to 13: Adventure, sports and arts programs, plus the first real overnight sessions. Friends start mattering more than the brochure.
• Ages 14 to 17: Counselor-in-training programs, leadership tracks, travel programs and intensive specialty camps. Note that many camps won't enroll teens as campers past 14 or 15 — check before you assume.

One detail trips up a lot of parents: most camps group children by the grade they're entering in September, not by birthday. A child with a summer birthday can land in a younger or older group than expected. Ask which rule the camp uses.

Where the Money Goes

Advertised tuition is rarely the whole bill. When you compare camps, compare the cost of one full week with the care you actually need, then add the extras. The usual add-ons:

• Before-care and after-care, often billed by the week or by the hour
• Lunch and snacks, or a daily lunch account
• Bus transportation, if the camp isn't walkable or drivable
• Field trips, admissions and special event days
• Materials, uniforms, T-shirts, equipment rental
• Deposits, payment deadlines and any non-refundable registration fee
• Late pickup charges — usually the most avoidable and the most annoying line on the invoice

A pricier camp that includes lunch, bus and care until 6 p.m. can easily beat a cheaper camp where every one of those is billed separately. Get the all-in weekly number in writing before you decide.

Refund policies deserve a close read. Ask what happens if your child gets sick, breaks an arm, or simply hates it after two days. Some camps refund pro-rata, some offer credit toward next summer, and some refund nothing after the first day.

On the money side, day camp costs for children under 13 sometimes qualify for dependent care tax benefits, while overnight camps generally do not. Rules and limits change, so check with a tax professional about your own situation rather than relying on a general rule of thumb.

Registration Deadlines, Month by Month

1. January and February: Overnight camps and the most competitive specialty programs open registration, often with early-bird pricing.
2. March: Town recreation brochures arrive. Resident registration typically opens before non-resident registration, sometimes by only a week or two.
3. April: The most convenient weeks — usually late June and early July — fill. Waitlists start forming.
4. May: Your last comfortable month for getting a full summer of first choices. Balances and health forms come due.
5. June: Cancellations open up scattered spots. Day camps still have room, especially in the later weeks of August.
6. July and August: Weekly openings appear as families change plans. Call rather than refreshing the website — offices often know about a spot before it's posted.

These windows shift from year to year. A camp's website may still show last summer's dates, so a two-minute phone call beats an hour of guessing.

Questions to Ask Before You Pay a Deposit

• What is the total cost for one full week, including care until 6 p.m.?
• What is the camper-to-staff ratio, and are the counselors adults or teenage volunteers?
• What happens on a rainy day, and is there indoor space?
• Is lunch included, and how are food allergies handled?
• What is the refund policy if my child is sick, injured or unhappy?
• How do you handle a child who doesn't settle in during the first two days?
• Is the camp licensed or accredited, and by whom?

Vague answers are useful information. If nobody can tell you the ratio or the name of the person supervising your child's group, that tells you something about how the place is run.

A Simple Plan for the Next Two Weeks

Start by counting the weeks you actually need coverage. Write the dates on a sheet of paper, including the odd weeks around holidays and family trips. Then set a per-week budget ceiling that includes care, lunch and transport — the all-in number, not the sticker price.

Next, shortlist three options for each week you need: one town or community program, one private day camp, and one wildcard such as a specialty camp your child would genuinely enjoy. Call each with the question list above and take notes in the same place so you can compare fairly.

Register the ones you want first, since waitlists move fastest for the families who got on them early. If a camp your child loves is full, ask to be added to the waitlist and ask when deposits are due — that's when spots open.

Finally, if your child has a medical, behavioral or accessibility need, call the camp before you register rather than writing it on a form afterward. Ask directly whether they can staff it. A good camp will tell you honestly, and the answer saves everyone a hard July.

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