About Summer Camps

Day Camps

Here is what we look for:

• Reasonably priced
• Convenient location (ie, close to home)
• Kids are enthusiastic about it
• Bonus if it's an outdoorsy camp with lots of time out in nature

In theory, day camps are a fantastic option because kids are busy and parents can work. In the evening and on the weekends, parents + kids can spend quality time together and do fun stuff.

In reality, many day camps are not covering full work day (ours seem to all be 9 to 3). Parents have to do drop off/pick up, which eats into the work time. After kids get home, they may (depending on a kid) cause  interruptions and require attention, which again takes away from work time. This is less so with older kids, which is why we haven't been doing "extended day" (not all camps offer that option). 

Overall, the camps are working out well this summer. But there are some things I would like to improve on.

Honestly, by the time we get to that theoretical "evening quality family time", I am in no mood for games or conversations... Sometimes I have work to finish up (because interruptions, see above). Sometimes, I am just plain tired. I feel annoyed with myself for not using our time together better. Part of my general sense of discontent is the stressful work situation I mentioned before. Part of it is lack of planning. 

Sleepaway Camps.

We haven't sent our kids to overnight camps. They say they want to go but... a few reasons why we haven't done it:

• Expense
• Pain-in-the-butt prep (labeling everything? stuff that the kids might not own and we would have to buy?) - it just looks like an overwhelming amount of prep work has to be done before the actual camp. Plus getting them to the camp if it's far away.
• There are only a few years left before the kids are grown up and will be away on their own... I kind of want to spend time with them while I can.
• Most of their friends are not doing sleepaway camps so there is less pressure all around to do that.
• My husband and I were not big on sleepaway camps when we were kids (he has never done it; I went to a sleepaway camp once when I was 15 - I loved it).

Considering that I've spent too much time during the last couple of weeks feeling stressed, grumpy, and craving an escape into books... maybe sleepaway camps would be a good option in the near future.... Like, for a week. I think it will be good for them and I think they will like it (especially if they can do stuff they are interested in). And they can do their own packing/labeling and whatnot! It would certainly give husband and I a break while providing some awesome experiences for the kids..