Summer vacation is almost here, and many working parents have the same challenge: finding a fun, safe camp that works with their work schedule. But don’t worry! You can find the right camp that keeps your child happy and busy all summer long, even with your work hours.
DeAndrea Evans-Springer, corporate professional and mom of three, says that the first three things that she looks for in a camp are: an enjoyable experience, safety and a great reputation.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had some instances with camps where the children weren’t watched as well as they should have been,” she says. “So, I look for camps that are aligned with my faith and family values, that keep the kids busy by providing great activities, while also keeping a good eye on them.”
Springer got a sense of what camps were out there through resources like camp guides, but then she relied on word of mouth.
“I definitely relied on the referrals of my friends with kids of similar ages, or a little older, who had experience in these different camps,” she says. “This helped me to understand the nature of the staffers, the camp experience, and to really see what the reputation was for the level of care that my children would receive. Most of the time, it was spot on.”
Andrea DiSalvo, director of Summer at Laurel School, warns parents that sometimes the camp day is different from the regular school day. Therefore, parents should ask whether the camp offers before and after care and if they offer flexibility.
“Maybe you get stuck at work and can’t pick up in time and didn’t sign up for aftercare,” DiSalvo says. “Choosing a camp that can accommodate you and be flexible when needed can take a little bit of stress off of you.” She also suggests choosing a camp that provides lunch and snacks so that is one less thing to think about.
Another factor to consider is whether the camp can operate as a one stop shop — accommodating a wide variety of interests and ages. This allows for one drop off and one pick up for all of the children.
“This is better than taking your children from camp to camp during the summer,” DiSalvo says. “Bouncing around can be stressful for the children if they have to deal with the uncertainty of each week being a whole new experience and needing to make new friends each week.”
Springer also tries to avoid the summer bounce around for her own kids.
“Our children will typically go to two camps in the summer – one that they attend most of the time and then there may be a week where they go to a more interest-focused camp. We really have steered away from having our children in several different camps. Multiple camps made it challenging for us to have a routine.”
Also, choosing a summer camp goes beyond making it work for your schedule.
DiSalvo adds one of the things that she sees often is parents getting stuck in the process of choosing a camp and trying to plan their children’s summer, but then overlooking what the children are interested in.
“If you have a kid who loves to be inside, signing them up for a camp that is all outside won’t provide a successful camp experience for that child,” she says. “One of the best ways to help provide a successful camp experience for your children is including them in the camp selection process.”
She adds it’s important, because when you have their buy-in, they’re far more excited to go to camp in the morning than when they feel like they’re being left somewhere when you go to work.
To better understand camp day, ask the camp directors what the children are doing all day at camp.
“We look for camps that have field trips,” Springer says. “Our children love it, and I love that they go to all these different places, that Mom may not have the time to take them because of the fact that I work so many hours.”
When you’re ready to finally enroll in the camp, there is one more step you need to take. Double check your calendar so you know your schedule and the weeks you need to enroll in for camp.
“There are often lag weeks where camp ends about two weeks before the children go back to school,” Springer says. “Parents need to think about what the children are going to do during that time.”
Also, if parents plan to take a vacation during the summer, they should know and solidify those dates ahead of time before committing to camp. Springer says she learned the hard way and warns, “If parents don’t consider their vacations and time off from work, they can find themselves losing money or not getting the full value of a camp that they have paid for.”
Sometimes the process of planning out your child’s summer as a working parent can feel overwhelming, but with research and diligence, DiSalvo says, “You can find a camp that is packed full of fun things so while you’re working, your children are still having fun, experiencing new things, and having a good time.”
