Don’t wait until the last minute to find a summer program for your children

Easy tips to follow for finding a good summer camp for children and not waiting until the last minute.

Most school districts begin their summer vacations at the end of May or beginning of June. Sometimes families consider fun summer plans a year in advance, but fail to consider summer programs or camps for children. Plans for summer vacations vary and can include family trips and relaxation or an extension of educational lessons for school aged children. Summer education programs can assist children in reinforcing what they learned throughout the school year.

Many parents work year round and need not only child care, but educational or recreational programs to enhance their children’s summer vacations. A lot of youth are in need of quality full day summer programs. The search for the perfect youth summer program should begin at the beginning of the year if not before. The good summer programs tend to fill up fast, so don’t wait until the last minute!

To prepare for you summer program or camp search, start by asking around. Ask your friends and your child’s friends and their parents to see if anyone recommends a good program. Then start an online search for a good summer program.

Summer programs are offered by a variety of organizations, schools and recreation centers. Some are geared toward education or special interests such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, math enrichment, reading or music, while others focus on fun and recreation such as sports and dance. Recreation camps can include basketball, soccer or football.

Whether you are thinking of an interest, enrichment, educational or recreational summer camp, Michigan State University Extension suggests considering the following things when beginning your search:

  • You child’s special interests.
  • Costs of program and possibility of scholarships.
  • Location of summer program or camp.
  • Timeframes and deadlines associated with registration.

It is important to find the perfect summer program or camp for your child to feel comfortable in knowing they are engaged and safe for the summer months. The key to finding the right program for your child is starting your search as early as possible to increase selection and availability. For more tips about finding the perfect summer program, visit Parenting’s “How to Pick the Right Summer Camp for Kids.”

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