The website says full day, 9 to 3. You assume your kid is supervised, fed, and active for those six hours. You also assume drop-off can happen at 8:30 because of work and pickup at 5:30 because of work.

None of those assumptions is automatic. Here is what to ask before you sign up.

What “full day” actually covers

9 to 3 means programming. It does not mean parents are welcome at 8:30. It does not mean a counselor is at the gate at 7:55. Some camps have a 10-minute drop-off window. Some have an hour.

The right question is what is the earliest I can drop off without paying extra, and what is the latest I can pick up?

The before-care question

Most working parents need a kid dropped off by 8 or 8:30. Many camps offer before-care for $5 or $10 a day. Some include it. Some don’t offer it at all and you’re driving across town at 7:50 to drop a kid off at a relative’s house first.

If the camp doesn’t list before-care on the website, ask. What’s the earliest I can drop off, and is there a fee?

The aftercare question

This is the one nobody asks until the second week of camp. Aftercare is the 3 to 6 window. Some camps include it. Some charge $15 a day. Some don’t have it, period.

If you have a 5pm work meeting twice a week, you need aftercare or a backup pickup person. Sort this out before week one, not during.

Lunch: the four versions

One. The kid brings lunch. You pack it the night before. Most camps say cooler-pack. The reality is that the kid will eat half of what you pack, regardless.

Two. The camp provides lunch as part of tuition. Get the menu in advance. Most camps run heavy on hot dogs, pizza, and pasta. If your kid has any food sensitivity, you’ll need to opt out.

Three. The camp has a cafeteria with a daily menu and the kid swipes a card. This is a college-style camp setup. Usually fine, but the kid needs to be old enough to choose. At five and six this is too much choice.

Four. The camp has a daily food vendor visit. Tuesday is pizza, Wednesday is sandwiches, etc. Cute idea. Often $10 to $15 a day on top of tuition.

The right move at five to seven is almost always the kid brings lunch. Less variability.

The snack question

Most full-day camps have a 10am snack and a 2pm snack. Some don’t. If they don’t, your kid will be hungry by noon, and they will not be a delight in the afternoon.

If the camp doesn’t have a clear snack plan, pack two extras.

The hydration question

Camps that don’t have a 10-minute water break every hour are camps where kids get dehydrated. Pack two water bottles. Both labeled. Both the kind that don’t leak in a backpack.

The bathroom question

For five-year-olds, ask where the bathrooms are relative to the field. If the bathrooms are a five-minute walk, your kid will hold it. If your kid holds it for six hours, you’re picking up a kid in wet shorts.

The medication question

If your kid takes a daily medication, ask what the camp’s protocol is. Most camps have a nurse on site. Some have a counselor with a list. Some have nothing and expect parents to come do dosing.

The right protocol is a nurse, locked storage, and a sign-in log. Anything less, you should know in advance.

The right script for the camp call

I’m signing up my five-year-old. I want to confirm a few logistics. What’s the earliest drop-off without an extra charge? Is there before-care or aftercare, and what’s the fee? Are lunches included? What’s the snack and water schedule? Where are the bathrooms? Who handles daily medication?

Six questions. Three minutes. The answers tell you whether your week will work.

Looking for full-day camps? Browse day camps in our directory. Filter by age and state.

Run a camp? Add your listing for free. Listings that include before-care, aftercare, and lunch details rank higher in parent searches.