Should we Stay or Should We Go?

Though people may say that the campfires, memories, and friendships that kids build at overnight camp are priceless, in the midst of a recession, many families are forced to disregard this belief. Sending a few kids to overnight camp for 4-week sessions can easily cost over $10,000. Even with scholarships and sibling-discounts, prices of overnight camps are astronomical.

With the school year coming to a close, you’re not alone if you’re a parent who is stressing out about ways to give your kids a fun and memorable summer without breaking the bank. For all of you parents in this bind, GirlMogul has put together some reminders and tips to help you keep your kids busy and happy, while on a tighter budget.

Remember…

• You are not the only parent who can’t afford overnight camp this summer. According to the executive director of the American Camp Association, Bette Bussel, camps that usually fill up and post waiting lists by December, still have vacancies. With less kids going off to overnight camp, more kids will be around the neighborhood, ball field, and pool to keep your children busy and active.

• You may love the idea of your child going off to overnight camp and building social and practical skills in the woods, but for many kids, camp is not a perfect fit. Your child may be relieved to spend some time at home building their relationships with friends and family when the pressures of school are off.

Tips

• Bring some aspects of camp to your summer at home! Organize barbecues and smores parties with your child and his or her friends. Let your kids “camp-out” in the backyard or go on day-hikes or weekend canoe-treks.
• Organize “field trips” on the weekends that your kids can look forward to all week. Try to get a few parents and a group of kids together to make it more of an event. Go to the beach, the water park, the zoo, a carnival, or a fair. Ask your kids to make a list of their “Top-Ten Destinations” (within a reasonable radius) at the beginning of the summer.
• Indulge in your (and your kid’s) creative side and organize art, music, and theatrical projects. Have your kids paint a mural, get out their instruments and start a band in your garage, or give them a small budget and have them produce a play.
• Recruit neighborhood teenagers (who may be having trouble finding their own summer jobs given the economic climate) to organize activities like sports games, scavenger hunts, and trips to the town pool. This is a great way to make sure your kids are entertained and supervised if you have to work during the week.
• Look into less-expensive day camps that cater to your kids’ interests, likes sports camps, art camps, even cooking camps! Day camps are almost always less expensive than overnight camps, and are another great way to get supervision for your kids during the work-week