Independent. Transparent. Opinionated.
Parents don't have time to read two hundred Google reviews to figure out if a camp is any good. The whole reason Summerwise exists is to do that work — honestly, on the record, with a point of view. Here's the standard every guide on this site is held to.
Our voice
We write for parents the way a thoughtful friend would talk to you over coffee — specific, warm, occasionally funny, never breathless. If a camp is great for a particular kind of kid, we say so. If it's overpriced for what you get, we say that too. Generic listicles ("Top 10 Summer Camps!") don't ship from this site.
How we choose what to recommend
- • Editors pick camps from the full directory — not from a paid list.
- • A camp's Camp Score is the starting filter, but never the final word. We override the data when we have direct knowledge.
- • Every "best of" list states the criteria up front, so you can decide if our definition of "best" matches yours.
- • If we haven't been able to verify a camp ourselves, we say that plainly in the guide.
Conflicts of interest
- • Sponsored placements exist and are always clearly labeled. They never appear inside editorial guides.
- • Editors don't accept gifts, free sessions, or comped trips from camps.
- • A camp can pay to claim and improve its listing. It cannot pay for a higher Camp Score, a better review, or inclusion in a guide.
- • If we ever cover a camp owned by a Summerwise team member's family, we disclose it inline.
How reviews work
Only families we can confirm enrolled their child get the verified badge on their review. Anyone can leave an unverified review, but verified ones are the only ones that move the Camp Score. Reviews are moderated for personal attacks and PII; we don't edit them for content.
Corrections
If we got something wrong, tell us. We correct quickly, leave a dated note on the page, and re-score the camp if the correction touches a scored input.
"If we can't prove it, we don't show it."
See also how we score camps.