The cold dreary months between January and March mark the camp fair season in New England and provide an opportunity to focus on summer plans. A Camp Fair is an excellent tool for prospective parents and campers who seek a summer camp that will be a good fit and a rewarding experience. These fairs exist so parents and prospective campers can explore several camp options at once. Look upon them as one-stop shopping! Attending one or two can be a real time saver, particularly if you approach the fair with an open mind and a willingness to do your homework. Assembling so many camps and prospective campers and their families in the same place at the same time is a real service to campers and families; and it is a great opportunity to get to know the diversity that exists within the camp world.

Whether you are at the very beginning of a camp search (identifying your options and exploring what's offered) or you are deliberating among a few finalists, attending a camp fair can help. At a camp fair you have access to camp directors and other key administrators and the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. This sort of informal meeting is the next best thing to touring the camp during the summer.

Every camp at a Camp Fair wants to show you as much as possible. No such thing as too much information! Many offer photos and slides of the camp, testimonials from campers, in-depth brochures, take-home videos, references.you name it. The information- gathering phase of a camp search can take weeks if not longer. Even with the ease of downloading camp information from the Internet, it's oftentimes necessary to wait for certain camp materials and forms to arrive in the mail. So, being able to pick up brochures and applications at a camp fair display can save a great deal of time! Look at each camp's display and you'll have an opportunity to collect information and see visuals that might not be available on the Web or elsewhere.

As helpful as camp fairs are, you should know that every camp in New England is not represented. There may be camps that are a fabulous match for your child that are not in attendance at the fair(s) you attend. If you wish to explore additional camp options, consider consulting a professional like those with the Camp Information Service run by the American Camp AssociationNew England, a non-profit organization that accredits children's summer camps and offers free consultations for camp seekers. You can contact ACA New England at (781) 541-6080 or toll free at (866) 534-2267.