Yeah ots a bummer, but camps way too expensive. But, while camps can be great not every kid can and wants to go. Your kids will be fine, camp doesn't automatically mean a great summer.

If you're in Fairfax County, look into RecPac for the summer. It used to be super cheap, a week-to-week summer camp hosted at various grade schools. I was a SAHM who sent my oldest to it one summer for about three weeks because her friend was going. I think it ran 8:30 to 3:30, so not full day but it's something. Not sure it still exists or will be running this summer, but you can check.

Also, Girls Scouts. Sign your kid up for the summer day camps. We did that, too.

Where do you live? A lot of places offer pretty cheap county run camps

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.

Anonymous wrote:I’m only back to work weekends with COVID. We are living very frugally this year. I could prob swing two weeks of 300 max.

Two weeks of summer camp is pretty common for families with only one income in this area. They fill the rest of the time with other activities.

My parents couldn't afford camp when I was a kid. I played in the neighborhood with friends instead. I was happy doing that. You are doing your best - don't be so hard on yourself.

If you can, find fun things to do that are free or low cost on the weekends or see if you can get a college kid or high school kids to babysit a couple half days & do some crafts/play/etc.

I work very PT and I feel the same way. My son and I go places, to the pool, watch tv, go on little adventures, etc. It is what it is and he seems happy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look to the rec camps. They are relatively cheap compared to other camps.

They are largely booked up or for older children at this point. Will look more. Mostly want to offer some non adult social time for kid.

Are you a SAHM? Join the local moms groups then. They have so many great outings and nearly all are free.

I am not a SAHM mom. This is not helpful even if I were. I tried those groups when we moved here. Not our people.

It wasn’t the stay at home part by the way it was that everyone was vastly wealthier than we are. it’s fine to stay at home but there were significant class issues with our local moms group. Which most people wouldn’t understand unless they have a smaller income.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look to the rec camps. They are relatively cheap compared to other camps.

They are largely booked up or for older children at this point. Will look more. Mostly want to offer some non adult social time for kid.

Are you a SAHM? Join the local moms groups then. They have so many great outings and nearly all are free.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look to the rec camps. They are relatively cheap compared to other camps.

$300 a week is not cheap when the summer is approx 12 weeks long.

THANK YOU

I’m only back to work weekends with COVID. We are living very frugally this year. I could prob swing two weeks of 300 max.

Anonymous wrote:Look to the rec camps. They are relatively cheap compared to other camps.

They are largely booked up or for older children at this point. Will look more. Mostly want to offer some non adult social time for kid.

Anonymous wrote:Look to the rec camps. They are relatively cheap compared to other camps.

$300 a week is not cheap when the summer is approx 12 weeks long.

Then don’t do camps. Not every kid goes to camp. Ours does but only goes about 4 weeks to break up the summer a bit. Some camps have scholarships or FA available too btw.

Look to the rec camps. They are relatively cheap compared to other camps.

I feel like a failure.