Inexpensive Summer Camps for Kids
Shopping for Affordable Children's Camps/Day Care this Summer
Feb 18, 2008
Looking for a safe, fun, yet low-cost day/overnight camp for your child this summer? What to look for in child care during the summer months, without breaking the bank.
The end of the school year is a time a lot of parents dread, not because they don’t want to spend time with their kids, but because the summer camp/day care issue becomes front and center.
How to Find Affordable Summer Camps for Your Kids:
- Contact the YMCA in your area. Often this organization offers inexpensive day camps with a lot of choices. Whether your child is a swimmer, a gymnast or a soccer player, YMCAs usually offer specialty camps for every interest. Most camps operate between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Ask about additional charges for before and after care.
- Visit a summer camp fair. In the spring, many communities set up a number of booths at a local school. Camp organizers hand out flyers and representatives are available to answer your questions. Just remember, companies from all over the country come to try and woo your child to attend their camp. And often, the camps are more elaborate than many adult vacations, with a price tag to match.
- Check your local community center. Many cities across the country sponsor day camps for kids. Just be sure to check out the camper/counselor ratio as well as the age and experience of the counselors. Find out what kind of training the employees will receive prior to camp starting. High school and college students might be great with your kids, but only if they know what they’re doing.
- Ask friends and relatives if they know qualified babysitters. If you can’t find a summer camp you or your child is interested in, consider a college-age student who needs a summer job. A full-time nanny is less expensive during the summer when students are searching for work.
- Look into overnight camps. If your older child is read to stay away from home for a week or more, an overnight camp may be a good alternative. The camps you remember as a child don’t even resemble those of today. You can still find the traditional swimming-hiking-marshmallow-roasting sleep-a-ways. But now the choices are endless. From rowing and tennis to computer and cheerleading camps. Whatever your youngster’s interest, there is likely a camp where she can pursue her favorite pastime. Check with other parents at your school to find out where they send their kids. Your child might feel more comfortable going to camp with a friend.
- Contact colleges in your town. Many community colleges and universities offer inexpensive classes/camps for kids in the summer. Your child can learn a new skill and have fun at the same time.
- Check references. And make sure the camp is accredited. A good place to start is the American Camp Association. They make sure camps meet up to 300 standards for health safety and program quality.
The copyright of the article Inexpensive Summer Camps for Kids in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Inexpensive Summer Camps for Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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