Every autumn parents ask me the same thing: how do I know whether a swim camp is any good? The websites look alike, with nice photos of a blue pool and enthusiastic coaches. Yet the differences are real, and you only see them when you ask the right questions.
First you look at your own situation: how often your child trains, what the goal is, and whether your child is ready to spend a week away. This article is about the next step: you have a few options. So how do you compare them fairly?
Below are twelve questions you can ask any camp organiser, including us. For some of them I have added how we do it, so you know what to expect from us.
In this article
Why not just book the first camp you find?
Your child will be away for a week, often abroad, and will train more than usual. So you want to know who stands at the side of the pool, who is around in the evening and how you stay informed. If your child has never been to a camp before, first talk with your child about whether they are ready for a week away.
Tip: ask your questions by email, so you have the answers in writing.
Questions about training and coaching
Who leads the training sessions, and is that person there all week?
A well known name on a website means little if that person only drops by for an afternoon. Ask who coaches the sessions, what their background is and whether that coach stays with the group for the whole week.
Every camp is led by an Olympic or national champion.
What does a full camp day look like?
Ask for a concrete daily schedule, not a general description. What time does the first session start, what happens between sessions, what does the evening look like?
On a full camp day there are two training sessions of two hours, plus 1 hour of dryland training before the afternoon session and a warm up before the morning session.
How does the camp fit into my child's season?
A camp does not stand apart from what your child does at the club. Ask the organiser how the camp fits into a season, and then always discuss it with your child's own coach. To see how a camp week is built up with us, visit the May Camp 2027 in Piombino page.
Where will they swim, and when is the pool reserved for the group?
Ask about the pool and the times. Is the pool reserved for the group during training, or are other guests swimming too? How many lanes are there? If the answer is vague, ask again.
Questions about supervision outside the pool
Who is responsible outside the water?
Training is only part of the day. Ask who is with the children between sessions, at meals and in the evening, and who carries final responsibility.
Besides the coaches there are supervisors and a photographer or videographer. I am there all week as organiser and coordinator.
Where do the staff sleep?
At a camp with overnight stays you want to know whether the staff sleep in the same place as the children. Also ask how the rooms or apartments are arranged.
At the Residential Camp the staff stay overnight in the same accommodation. The children sleep in shared apartments with several beds per apartment.
How do I stay in touch as a parent during the camp?
Ask who your point of contact is and how you will hear from them if something comes up.
As coordinator I am the link between coaches, staff, parents and children.
How does the camp handle dietary needs and personal information?
Ask how the organiser collects information about food, allergies or other points of attention for your child, who gets to see that information and how it is handled during the week. A serious camp asks about this itself.
Questions about the camp itself
Which age and level is the camp for?
A camp for recreational swimmers is something different from a camp for competitive swimmers. Ask who the camp is designed for and what is expected of your child.
May Camp 2027 is for swimmers aged 10 to 18.
What exactly is included, and what is not?
Ask for the list: training, accommodation, meals, travel, kit, activities. Whatever is not mentioned is usually not included.
You choose between the Day Camp and the Residential Camp. Residential means 6 nights full board in the accommodation. At the Day Camp, lunch is a separate option.
Who is the organiser, and how long have they been doing this?
Ask how long the organisation has been running camps and where.
Expert Swimcamp has been running camps since 2023, in Spain and Italy. We are an official partner of Arena.
Can I talk to parents of previous participants?
An organiser who trusts their own camp will happily put you in touch with a parent who tells you honestly how it went.
