We didn’t do any camps last year and it was a loooong summer. We are doing two weeks of camp this year that are strategically scheduled to help break the summer up. The other weeks we’ll just play around: pool, parks, bike rides, library, play dates, whatever. This is probably my last summer as a sahm so I hope we make the best of it.

We do a lot of camps (sport, tech, dance). My older kids have enjoyed full day camps. My third does best with morning camps followed by the pool.

Kids will be 5, 7, 9, and 11. They will go to VBS for a week and the older three will go to sleep away camp for a week. They are also on the swim team.
Schedule is something like:
7:30-9 play outside, plant flowers, do yard work
9-9:30 breakfast/clean rooms/ put away laundry
10-11 swim team
11-12 lunch
12-2 hang out at the pool, go to the library, movies, zoo, etc.
2-3 “mom school”
3-5 quiet time/tv time/craft time (this is just the hottest part of the day and I don’t want to be outside)
5-6 back outside
6-7 dinner either at home, at the pool, or at the playground
7-9 we all play together

combo of 2 different vacations, a couple day camps, and afternoons at our CC pool

We've already spent about 3k on camps for 2 kids and I still have camps to figure out for our other kid

We did one VBS and one week of half day camp last summer. Otherwise it’s trying to get out to the park or splash pad every day.

Definitely half day camps (or maybe till 3:00 for the 6 year old).

We do a mix of different camps for the middle 5 weeks or so of summer, then we have several weeks on either end to do fun things or be lazy.

We go to the neighborhood pool, bring snacks and lunch, and stay all day.

On off days, I plan an outing - we've always been the type to get out of the house after breakfast- anything from nature center, water park, berry picking, bowling, etc.
Fairfax public library has their annual summer coupon book which makes places like the water park affordable.

Where are you located op and what is your budget?

1x monthly we visit family in California for a week.
2x monthly we do a long weekend trip.
In August, we go to the lake for 2 weeks.

But in the other days, my summer schedule with my 3 year old is like this:
Monday - story time, pool
Tuesday - zoo, splash park
Wednesday - pool, museum
Thursday - playdate
Friday - day trip / playdate to Eastern shore, the beach, a farm, etc

By the time I think about camps, they are already filled up. Older child does one or two weeks. I kind of hate summers, particularly August. We spend a couple weeks on vacation to visit family. Other than that, I don't have a planned schedule, but I do feel like we need more structure.

We take one two-week vacation in June, a week in July, and one in August, so those weeks are covered.

Kids go to half-day camp M-F, and after camp we typically have an hour of quiet time, and then we do various things like swimming with friends, 9-holes of golf, bike rides, hikes. Most evenings, they play with neighbors outside. Lots of night walks. A few overnights with grandparents.

OP SAHM summer plans vary usually on situation and budget. You told us your situation but you didn't tell us your budget. What did you do last year?

Kids are 5 and 8. I do three weeks of camps, mostly 1/2 day just to get them out of the house in the morning. We will go to the beach one week, go visit family another week and go to the beach just the three of us another week. The rest of the time, we will go to museums, mini golf, day trips, the pool, library, etc. I was scared last summer, but we had so much fun that I was sad summer was over. It went really fast.

Yes to camps! We also have our own interests to cover on weeks off but if you’re a sahm your camp options open way up because you can enroll them in the half day or three hour camps.

I don't do much camp. We normally do swim lessons, pool, hikes etc.
For your age kids you should look for camps at the nature center that allow you to attend. Brookside gardens has some that are great. Library story hours, etc..

SAHMs what do you do during the summer? Do your kids attend camps? Do you create a schedule and take it all on yourself? What would you advise? No family here to help in anyway. Kids are 4 and 6. TIA.