March 2006

SUMMER MADNESS: CAMPS, OTHER PROGRAMS, AND KEEPING YOUR CHILDREN BUSY WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT!

Summer "madness" begins when you have to start thinking about it while it’s still winter. But, yes, now is the time to think about summer care and summer camps for your school-age children. The earlier the better!

If you’re a parent who works outside the home, you know how time consuming and challenging it can be to look for summer activities for your school-age child. And you also are aware of how expensive it is.

Summer is fast approaching and if you are thinking of traditional day camps and overnight camps, NOW is the time to look and sign-up. Most programs require a deposit or full-payment ahead of time, so it is wise to enroll your child now.

Camps and Activities

There are many types of structured activities for children’s summer recreation. Most summer care and activities are offered through either day camps or overnight camps.

Day Camps

Day camps are programs and activities held during the day where you drop your child off and pick them up later on the same day. Most day camps operate a full day, but unfortunately, they often have a shorter day than the typical workday. Typically day camps are:

• less expensive than overnight camps,
• full-day or part-day,
• offered by weeks and can be chosen by weeks, and
• theme-focused (for example, sports camps, theatre camps, art camp, nature camp, etc.).

Overnight Camps

Overnight camps are designed for children to stay overnight usually for a week or more. They are typically:

• more expensive than day camps,
• geared toward children ages 7 and older, who are able to sleep away from home,
• located in rural areas or open areas, away from urban areas,
• offered by week or the entire summer months, and
• sometimes geared to specific themes, specialties or groups.

Theme-Centered or Special Camps and Programs

There are many themed or specialty programs that are offered during the summer months. They are designed to provide instruction and experiences around a specific topic or skill, and many children enjoy them. Since there is little variety in subject matter, many of these special programs or camps, whatever they are called, are usually more short-term.

Popular special or theme programs exist in:

• art
• sports – soccer camps, gymnastics, karate camps, basketball camps,
• theater or drama,
• computer,
• creative writing
• reading and math enhancement,
• horseback riding,
• science, and many more.

You will find many of these specialty camps and programs through children’s sports programs, local schools and universities, or businesses that focus on a particular subject (martial arts schools, reading and math improvement).

You will find that programs that focus on remedial skills (improving reading, writing, math, school skills) and on programs for children with specific learning disabilities or developmental disabilities typically are one of these theme-centered or special camps/programs.

Questions to Ask

Which ever type of camp you may consider, make sure you consider and ask the questions that will help you make the best decisions.

• Is the program licensed or accredited?
• For what age group is the program designed?
• Which days and hours does the program operate? Is extended care available?
• How much does the program cost?
• Is financial assistance available? Is there a sliding scale fee?
• Do you require a deposit? What is the refund policy?
• Is there a waiting list? How likely is it that you will eventually get into the program/camp?
• Does the program accommodate your work schedule or family’s schedule?
• Is transportation provided?
• What activities does the program offer?
• What are the qualifications of summer staff, counselors?
• Is food provided? (day camp) Are snacks or drinks available? Is food and drink cost included in the fee or do you pay separately? (with cash, an account?, etc.)
• How does the program monitor children’s activities? Peer relationships?
• Is the program able to meet special needs of children? Which needs?
• Do they have brochures or other material you can read?

To find out what your summer options are in your community, start by calling your local:

• Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency at 1-800-424-2246 or go online at www.childcareaware.org
• YMCA, www.ymca.net
  
• Boys and Girls Club of America, www.bgca.org
  
• Parks and Recreation Services (usually under a county or city government, look at their website or webpage)
  
• Community centers
  
• Libraries – they often have summer activities
  
• Faith-based organizations
  
• Area high schools or universities may offer a variety of summer camps
  

If you aren’t able to do camps all through the summer, you may be able to do a combination of activities to keep your children occupied. Speak with other parents in your community to see what they are doing with their children in the summer. If you aren’t doing “camps” all summer, parents may want to share and do their own home camps and trade off with one another. Also keep in mind, many child care homes or child care centers offer school-age programs or activities as well, and during the summer may have an extended summer schedule for older children.

Keeping children active and engaged takes a lot of planning and scheduling. Starting now will give you more time to think about what you need, can afford, and want your children to experience. There are hundreds of programs out there, but the challenge is to find one that will work for you and your family. Starting now will help take some of the “madness” out of the summer fun.