Homegrown Summer and Holiday Camps
Home Made Camp Experience Saves Money, Creates Fun and Learning
Mar 29, 2008
With soaring gas prices and other expenses, summer and holiday camps for kids might be out of reach. And despite the increase in speciality camps, like programs for computer or robotics enthusiasts or art camp, you may simply not be able to find the kind of camp experience your child will enjoy.
Well, depending on your children’s ages, you might want to consider running your own mini summer camp. Here's how:
Decide on a Theme
Consider, possibly, where you children need additional work, or what topics they really enjoy or might want to learn more about. Possible themes might be Art, Everyday Science, Math Club, Book Club, Music Club, Photography Class, or a Movie camp. Don't overlook things you enjoy, too. If you have fun, so will your kids.
Explore Academic Support
You might be able to run the camp yourself with your own skills and interests or perhaps there’s a teacher your child knows or one that another parent might recommend. You may also know or be able to find someone with experience in the particular subject you’re exploring. Responsible high school or college students might be interested in teaching, or helping teach, a camp as well.
Ways to compensate others can range from exchanging free instruction for your own children in return for your hosting the learning camp to offering babysitting or other assistance to a teacher.
Plan Your Program
Decide how you want to organize and schedule the class. Do you want to run it during the day, evenings, or weekends? How many days a week? How many hours a day?
If you're working with very young children, a short day camp -- say 9 am to noon -- is more effective, and easier on everyone.
You may not want to meet more than a couple of times a week, either. After all, it is summer or a holiday, and some quality unscheduled time is just as important as quality scheduled time.
Connect with Campers
Try to limit your group to no more than ten students, and be sure to collect the camp fee you and the teacher agreed upon before the class begins. Be clear of your expectations of others, especially if you plan to host the camp in your home. You may want to put together a general list of agreements, including prompt drop off and pick up of children, food allergy concerns (you may want to avoid food altogether, especially if it's a short day camp), and any required or recommended materials or appropriate dress.
Homegrown Camp
A simpler version of a home learning camp can just consist of your family and a couple of others touring around town together to enjoy any of a variety of free or low cost activities. Plan a different outing or activity each day, enjoying free summer movies, special cost cutter days at zoos or museums, backyard pool parties, and making pizzas together. Visiting museums, science centers and zoos together will often net you a group discount, as well.
Whatever you do for your winter, spring or summer breaks, you can make it fun, and academically fundamental. Low cost, and high fun and educational impact, make the homegrown camp the best of all possible holiday camp worlds!
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