Summer is here and the list of local camps is a mile long. It seems every business is going into the summer camp business this summer. With the economy in the toilet, summer camps can cause a strain on the finances.
This summer camps are running anywhere from $175 to $400 a week. I saw a chess camp yesterday that was $275 just for a morning session. If you have kids, you know how exciting and tempting these summer camps are for children. Even church camps have increased in price some charging as much as $300 for a weekend.
How do we, as parents, give our kids the experience and fun of a camp without shelling out the big bucks in doing so? Here are a few alternatives to the expensive camps.
Check out local churches
Church overnight camps can be expensive this year. However, the churches are known for great summer activities for kids. Vacation Bible Schools offer low-cost and sometimes free week long activities for kids. Sign up for multiple themes as multiple churches. One church in my neighborhood is even offering sport and cheerleading camps at half the cost of other organizations. Another church is also offering math camps, prince and princess camp, music camp, etc. at a fourth of the cost to get those at studios. Check the websites of your local churches for summer events.
Check out the local college
Our college offers a Kids on Campus for summer activities for kids. They have morning, afternoon and all day programming where kids kindergarten and up can attend to take classes in a variety of disciplines. Since the college is state funded, the cost is relatively low.
Plan a summer playgroup
Get a group of girlfriends together and take turns rotating through ideas for summer activities. The group we started never do activities that cost more then ten dollars a child. We have planned craft days where we will make t-shirts, splash days where we will turn on the sprinklers or hit the local pool, bounce days, park days, etc. This gives your kids the social interaction and endless fun of camp at hardly any cost.
Make your own camp
Create themes throughout the summer for your own camp activities. You can have a music week in which you go to a local concert, take a music lesson or create your own on the Wii or with the old-fashioned real life instruments. You can even invite friends over for a Guitar Hero tournament. You can do sports, science, princess, camping, etc. Get creative and do some research on the net.
Check out the local attractions
Several theaters in our area are offering free shows for kids. The movie theater has free movies in the morning. Local theater troops have free children's plays this summer. Get them on the calendar fast. The kids will love being exposed to a new medium and if they are free, what do you have to lose. The museums also offer free family days. Search for free things to do in your city.
Check out library
Our library has a different attraction every week. They plan on having everything from magic shows, puppet shows, bug guys, firemen, etc. They also have their normal programming of story times, movie days and endless books to choose from. Make it a new summer camp experience.
These are just a few suggestions. Get creative and plan well in advance. Get out the calendar so your summer is mapped out well in advance. Planning is the hard part. After that, sit back and enjoy the summer fun without shelling out tons of money.
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