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Type summer camp into any search engine and the results can be overwhelming. There are pages and pages of listings. One cannot rely on the search engine to rank the “best” camps from top to bottom. At or near the top of the search results will be camp-directories. This is because they put the most money into their sites and have the most links since they represent so many clients. Of course a directory cannot dictate the best camp for you.

Somewhere on the pages you will find individual camp-websites you can peruse as well as the aforementioned directories.

While the camp directories are convenient, they are not authorities in identifying the best camp for you: you are. The directories are companies that charge camps for their listing services. There are charges for premium placement (being at the top of the page) for banner ads (the ones that blink or scroll at the very top of the page) and badge ads (logotype ads on the side of the page), as well as, for information they will share (website links are always more, color, movies, etc). I have been quoted upwards of $6000.00 dollars for a one-year ad in one of these directories. In fairness I should mention often the directory will offer a free listing, these are at the bottom of the listings with little to no data.

For you, a prospective camper or guardian thereof, there are some nice features to be found on the directories: camps are broken down by category, by region, byreligious affiliation and by overnight or day camp etc.

While this data can help draw you closer to the type of camp that is an excellent fit for you, they should not be the end of your search. It is always good to do your own search engine crawl once you have parsed out the features you want in a camp.

Maybe you want a rafting camp but you would also like to go away from home or visit another part of the United States. Then you can search for camps that can accommodate the special circumstances surrounding your camp arrival and departure: for instance a camp that offers shuttle service from the local airport.

To help you begin your camp search, here are some questions to ask yourself and thoughts worthy of consideration:

1. How long are you wanting to be at camp: for the day or overnight? (overnight camps are referred to as resident camps) If attending a resident style camp for the first time, it is NORMAL to feel nervous. Deciding on a resident style camp can be nerve-wracking but don’t eliminate this option. Remember, the other campers will be new too: you are not alone in this. Many campers who attend resident style camps make friendships that last years and often the experiences are more meaningful simply because of the newness of the experience.
2. Do you want a religious focus to your camp? If so, then make that a priority in your search. If not, then be aware, many non-denominational camps are great and respectful of all lifestyles.
3. Do you want the camp to be unisex or is CO-Ed acceptable? Either way, camp directors and counselors are aware, day and night. There are pros and cons to either camp scenario.
4. Decide what you want to do on your vacation. If you want an acting/drama-intense-camp, then choosing a camp focusing on water sports is not for you. This said it is important to look at what camps do offer because there are differences even in camps that appear similar. You may be able to do MORE and spend about the same. For example, in our area, the foothills of Northern California, there is a camp on a lake that has many water activities as well as hiking, crafts, ropes, etc. Just down the road is a camp that is based on a river. The camp on the river does everything the lake camp does as well as whitewater rafting, off site excursions to water-parks, pro-basketball games and visits an historic State Park. The costs between the two camps is nearly identical, in fact the river-based camp is even a little less expensive. Make sure you do your shopping. If you are debating between a few camps, email them, ask them questions and then compare their responses.
5. Do not exclude yourself before you make contact with a camp! For example, if you see the word “adventure” in the camp title, do not assume this is only for aggressive outdoor enthusiasts. Email and ask what, if any experience is necessary. Same goes for rafting or skydiving or surfing… well you get the idea. Most camps are geared for nearly everyone in the accepted age range. If they are worth their salt, they will have competent and positive staff to guide you along each adventure.
6. Do not be afraid to make contact, in fact, I encourage you to make contact via either email or phone. Question these people, listen or read their responses with receptive ears and eyes. You can gauge the authenticity of someone by the way the respond and interact with you. You are important and so is your summer experience, go with someone you feel comfortable!

The long and the short of it, there are many options for you when choosing your summer adventure. Take a moment, stretch yourself a bit and really go for something you want to do. Make contact with the camp. Do not exclude yourself from something new, ask questions. You are important; the response you receive should make you feel as such. These steps should help you find that right fit.

Christopher Pyle is the owner/director of http://www.actionwhitewater.com adventure summer camp and whitewater rafting company in Northern California. His entire company philosophy focuses on creating the safest and most encouraging environments for campers and rafters alike. We focus on TEAM, we focus on KINDNESS, we focus on SAFETY, we focus on personal EMPOWERMENT, we focus on COMMUNITY, we focus on SUPPORT. We’re family run, family oriented and wanting to share our place with you. Kindly, Chris

Deciding on a resume format is the first major decision to be made when creating your resume. The overall look of your resume depends on the resume format, font and outline you choose.

The two main types of format in use are the chronological and functional formats.

When to Use the Chronological Resume Format

A Chronological resume is the easiest to create and it is also the most widely used format.

Chronological resume format allows you to list your job experiences starting with the most recent and moving back in time.

This allows employers to see your progression in the career field. If you are staying in your career field, this format will allow employers to see if you are qualified for the job you are applying for. It may not be beneficial for people changing career fields.

When to Use the Functional Resume Format

Functional resume formats are more difficult to create and are not widely used. However, they are suitable in situations where people are changing career fields.

The functional resume format is based more on skill development. The format is non-linear and the emphasis is on development and achievements.

You can list experiences other than paid jobs.

Employers will be able to see your progressive skill developments that qualify you for the job

Some people choose to combine the two resume formats to gain the benefits of each and avoid their shortcomings.

Scannable Resume Format

Another type of resume format you may have to use is the scannable resume. Many employers store resumes in electronic databases nowadays. Resumes are scanned into these databases.

This can lead to some problems, as old scanners can sometimes dramatically change the look of your resume.

It is beneficial to build both a scannable resume and a printed resume which you can bring to your interviews

To overcome this you can create a scannable resume. A scannable resume is a traditional resume, stored preferably as a plain text file and with little formatting.

How Long Should a Resume Be?

Another important decision you have to make about your resume format is the length of your resume. There are no specific rules on how long your resume should be.

Resume length can vary depending on your situation.

The length of your resume will depend on how much space you need to compactly and precisely list your relevant skills and accomplishments.

If you an entry-level candidate, you can have a one page, neatly typed, compact resume. For professionals with a lot of experience, a two or three page resume can greatly impress employers.

Choice of Fonts

Keep the font of your resume simple. Classic fonts such as Times New Roman and Arial are recognized by nearly all computers. If you use other font styles, there will be a risk that the employer’s computer does not support the particular font. Also if it is too fancy, it might turn off the employer.

Remember that …

The most important information will be listed on the top of the resume as it is the first to catch the employer’s eye. In the middle is the part which will get briefly scanned. The bottom part of the resume will not get much attention, unless you get the interview.

Your resume structure should take this into account.

If you are having trouble deciding on a resume format, you can consult free resume format sites on the internet. They can provide you with samples so that you can pick out a format that is best for your situation.

Resume format, font, length, etc, collectively will form the overall presentation of the document. The purpose of your resume is to market your services to employers. Resume format and resume style can tell the employer a lot about your communication and organization skills. Therefore the format is very important in preparing a proper presentation of your resume.

Roger Clark has an excellent selection of articles providing free resume layout examples posted on his blog and if you want to find out more about resume skills and title examples [http://insiderresumesecrets.com/good-resume-examples-help-to-create-powerful-resumes], then this is an article you should not miss.