We can’t afford camps of any kind

[Anonymous]

My kids (twins) loved camps. They are graduating seniors and starting college in the fall. They went to a lot of different camps — government recreation, boy and girls scouts, Christian-based, lots of sports (swim, volleyball and lacrosse), horseback riding, rowing, STEM. They loved them all. The cost varied. Summer camps helped them gain confidence, socialization and life skills. My girl is a sporty girl so she thrived in the sports camps. She is so much more confident than I was at her age. I attributed a lot of it to the summer day and sleep away camps. Many camps provide financial aid or support for need based families. People donate to camp organizations and non-profits for kids to experience camp. OP, you need to investigate. There are affordable camps. Start with your county or city. You are a great mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are a failure because you have failed tteach your children how entertain themselves!

There’s always one of these boomers in the bunch. Go away.

Op’s kid is 5 right now! And does not have siblings.

So many posters here are worthless.

Thank you.

Let’s be real - the child is young and sometimes parents and kids need a break from each other (as we all know after this past year).

[Anonymous]

Scholarships?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it's not what OP wants to hear, but how did you not know this or prepare for this? Did someone in your family lose their job or did you have a financial set back this year?

Kids are expensive, this is not new information nor an unpublicized piece of information.

Why waste your time typing that response?

[Anonymous]

Could you set up a kid exchange with a friend, where each of you takes both kids for a few mornings/week and then you switch? That might give you some structure and time apart. My town also offers a very cheap park camp.

Unless you need the childcare, you don't really need camp. It's not always that fun or well-run, either, and my kids often disliked it, especially as the summer wore on.

Maybe meeting other moms of similar income and outlook would help too. When my kids were little, I had a friend who was very budget conscious and DIY-oriented and I learned a lot from her about how to entertain kids and structure a productive day for them without camp or expensive activities.

[Anonymous]

Turning 6 over summer. I’ve been on the Arlington parks site. I found one open class for mid August, in Fairfax for $370, for 4 days. I’d rather buy us a rack of pool/park day passes for that $$ and hope we can find kids at playground. I’m working weekends, but will be home during week. My parents can’t provide care, but we can visit as soon as they are vaccinated. I like the idea of occasional babysitter so she has someone besides me to interact with. Even little kids need breaks from their parents and sitters have younger energy. That’s something that’s more affordable as well. Her father is unable to help during weekday daytimes, but is amazing on weekends

Next year we’re hoping more of the regular day camps/school programs
will be open. We will be managing that differently, and I will be back to work full time. I know we’re lucky I have this flexibility, but it’s dramatically changed our options.

There's a difference between not being able to afford camp and missing the sign up. Arlington Parks and Rec camps open registration more than a week ago. The good and affordable camps sold out in the first hour, if not sooner. You have to be on top of registration dates if you want to send your kid to camps in this area.

I believe that Steve and Kate's camp is operating this summer and that you can sign up for single days. You might try that.

[Anonymous]

Most of the really "nice" camps, especially if they are ran by nonprofit organizations like nature centers, zoos, museums, etc. have scholarships you can apply for. It won't get you through the summer, but I bet you could qualify for 1 or 2 weeks at a cool camp/s if you apply to several.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a boomer and I'm not even that poster, but I agree. Kids can't entertain themselves anymore. I bet they'd love a lazy unstructured summer.

Nobody cares Karen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are a failure because you have failed tteach your children how entertain themselves!

There’s always one of these boomers in the bunch. Go away.

Op’s kid is 5 right now! And does not have siblings.

So many posters here are worthless.

Chiming in like, “LoOK aT TheSE KiDs NoT ENterTaining ThEMselVes!” Like when you were alive lady, all y’all had was rocks and a wooden hoop, world has changed.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I never realized how mean and nasty posters could be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a boomer and I'm not even that poster, but I agree. Kids can't entertain themselves anymore. I bet they'd love a lazy unstructured summer.

Playing by themselves cause all their friends are at camp.

[Anonymous]

Look, in general it is the truth, kids can't entertain themselves anymore. OPS problem is more complicated I agree, but this whole thread started because camps are outrageously expensive.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I went to camp tv watching with grandma, then play outside, like all the other poorer kids. Going to actual camp is way more interesting. Unfortunately, lots of kids can't afford to go to camp: the very poorest may have options and the wealthier have options, but the people in between are stuck.

[Anonymous]

And, OP, my parents did not feel like a failure--because most parents in our income range could not afford camps.

Even though my dh and I made significantly more, we could only afford one day camp per summer in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look, in general it is the truth, kids can't entertain themselves anymore. OPS problem is more complicated I agree, but this whole thread started because camps are outrageously expensive.

Many kids have had a solid year of entertaining themselves at home, including mine. My 5 yo is starting kindergarten and the last time she was outside of my care she was 3 as her preschool closed this past year. She's doing camp to get ready for K. It's a weird time.