... any camp without a qualifying test of some sort would not be at the right level.
... talk to him about the challenge of transitions and what would make a good match. And then, feel comfortable bailing if reasoned discussion - not knee-jerk panic - says this is a poor match.
This echoes our experience. Making a list of pros and cons during the discussion of this camp, or even a list of pros and cons of each day, may help with decision-making and guiding the discussion.
Weighing the various pros can cons in this case, is the most weight being placed on the friend's behavior rather than on the camp offerings? Seeing the decision-making process being placed on paper teaches the child a tool for future decision making. If you add the name of the camp, date, and the child's age and keep this for future reference, this may make a great catalyst for future discussion and planning. For example, when making plans for summer activities for next year, when the same friend (or former friend) is in one of your child's classes and becomes the subject of child's discussion at home, or when your child looks back on how he has grown as compared with what he used to think was important.
Keeping a copy of the camp description with your decision-making page can also be a great tool for teaching your child about hyperbole, especially marketing hype. When vetting future activities you may wish to ask how much time of each day is spent on the featured activity.
