CAMP GUIDE
Many families spend winter fi guring
out how to chase away cabin
fever and endure frigid temperatures
until spring and summer mercifully
return. Parents thinking ahead
to swimming pools and days lounging
on the beach can put their daydreams
to practical use by planning ahead for
their youngsters’ summer vacations.
Youth recreational programs and
summer camps can bridge the gap in
care between the end of school and the
day when classes resume. Due in part
to high demand, parents who want to
place their kids in summer-rec programs
or summer camps should being
vetting such programs and camps
well in advance of summer. The following
are a handful of tips for moms and
dads who want their kids to have fun
and fulfi lling summers:
Ask for recommendations. Speak
with fellow parents and trusted friends
about where they send their children.
Personal recommendations can be
very helpful, providing fi rsthand insight
into a particular camp or program.
Schedule appointments to visit
camps that fall within your budget.
Take your child along so she can get a
sense of what camp will be like.
Explore all options. Camps come
in more fl avors than ever before. Certain
camps may be faith-based ministries
while others may focus on particular
sports. Band camps and art
camps may appeal to creative kids.
Also, there are plenty of general-interest
camps that offer various activities
without narrowing in on any particular
one. Parents may need to choose between
a sleepaway camp or day camps,
depending on which camp experience
they want for their children.
Inquire about camp schedules.
Many camps are fl exible, but day
camps do not have the same level of
fl exibility as after-school programs.
Arrangements will need to be made
if care is required after regular camp
hours. Speak with camp staff to see
which types of after-hours programs,
if any, are available.
Determine your camp budget.
As varied as program offerings may
be, camps also can vary greatly with
regard to cost. Government-run camps
may be less expensive than those offered
by private companies. Day camps
typically cost less than those that provide
room and board. Find out if a particular
organization subsidizes a portion
COURIER L 40 IFE, FEB. 22–28, 2019 M BR B G
of camp costs. Scouting programs
often have a dedicated camp and may
offer affordable options for scouts.
Martial arts schools and dance centers
frequently offer camp schedules.
If camp seems out of reach, look
into local summer-recreation programs
at parks or schools. Such programs
may not be as extensive as
those offered by camps, but they can
quell kids’ boredom and keep children
occupied during the day.
In addition to camp, remember to
plan for some free days so children
can just enjoy some downtime. Such
days can break up the monotony of a
routine and provide kids and families
time to relax together.
Summer recreation may be far off,
but it is never too early to start making
summer plans, including fi nding
camps and other activities for kids.
Start to plan childrens’
summer recreation now
Some summer camps focus on a particular sport, catering to young athletes who want to
further develop their athletic talents.
PROSPECT PARK YMCA & PARK SLOPE ARMORY
Where there’s a Y, there’s a way to have FUN! Throughout the gyms, classrooms, playgrounds,
campgrounds, buses, and trains, campers laugh, play, and learn all summer long.
This is all in the backdrop of the biggest playground of all — our city.