Surviving summer break without sending the kids to day camp

I was thinking about the expense of day camp and realized that half the reason I send my kids is to have a holiday from all the neighbor kids. So it seemed like a better idea to put the money into some camping trips. We're also going to my husband's family reunion in Montana for two whole days and since he doesn't want to be there too long we're going to swing down to Yellowstone for a few days so as to not waste gas on a very long two day trip. We will go to a nearby amusement/water park where we always get a family pass, swim at the lake, fish (my son's favorite activity on earth), walk the dogs, work in the yard and garden, play with friends, visit friends out of town. I wish summer was three months longer. It always seems too short.

This is my first summer home with my kids. I feel very lucky to have this experience while my kids are still young enough to enjoy spending time with Mom. I will definitely have to do a schedule, since my four will quickly grow into half the neighborhood, I'm sure.

With my special needs son, we have some goals to achieve over the summer and I do look forward to spending time with him, one on one.

I personally think summer camp is just an excuse to get rid of your kids. And if you didn't want them, why did you have them? Its a sad world when parents can't even spend 2-3 months with their kid anymore. Sheesh!

Boy oh boy...LOL

Women are so quick to judge eachother!?!
Anyway, I live in St Clair Shores Michigan. Anyone know of any inexpensive day camps or Baptist summer camps in my area? The YMCA is way OVER priced!!

hey, uh, countrygal, not everyone is lucky enough to be able to afford taking the entire summer off of work. Are you saying that if you can't do that you shouldn't have had kids? your comment is insulting to a large percentage of the population, most of whom are good loving parents who HAVE to work to survive in this economy.

countrygal: Apparently you are bitter and NEED some "alone time".
My daughter LOVES camp and I LOVE reading and painting and sometimes just doing nothing (declare me a bad mother now ok). We both benefit from her attending camp. I fill the majority of my days doing activities and enjoying every moment with my child. But we are all human and need to enjoy what we have always enjoyed before becoming mothers. I take care of myself and enjoy my own hobbies. Making me happy in turn makes her happy because we are both getting what we need. Everyone needs alone time, when you decide to stay home, you don't decide to give up your identity and time for yourself. Get over your judgmental outlook on life and enjoy it!

I'm a stay at home Mom and I love the freedom from schedules that summers bring; however it is nice to have a break from them (for ALL of us!) and so we do try and schedule regular things to do througout summer. So far we've never been able to quite afford a summer camp, and my son is too shy anyway, but we manage to stay really busy. Our library offers a summer reading program that gives prizes every time you read 5 books, plus hosts a weekly activity, it's so awesome and it's FREE! We've also scouted out other free things to do such as free movies (we are in California, our theater shows old kids shows for free), going to the beach, camping, free outdoor concerts and the like. Also, my son loves science so summer is a great time to do the long, drawn out, stinky, messy projects that we are tired and busy to do during school time. Use your imagination! I'm sure you'll come to love summer time. As for the break AWAY from kids, get a sitter, grab your husband and go out on a date. Do this as often as possible and life in general is much better.

See what your parks and rec offers.

We use the YMCA day camp for our area. Is is expensive. We've used it for 4 years (our oldest is 10), and have been happy about all but the cost.

This will be our last year though. Next year when our youngest turns 6, she will be old enough to be allowed into the all-day day camp through our town's parks and rec. It costs as much to send all three kids to the parks and rec camp as it does to send one to YMCA camp and the activities (swimming, playground, hiking, field trips, bring your own lunch) are identical to the Y.

The main idea of the article was to spark ideas on how we can make the most of the summer with our children, not ways to ditch them. It's a great opportunity for them to learn and grow, but if you don't have a routine to follow, the summer is gone and overwith, and nothing to show for it. At the beginning of summer break, I like to brainstorm with my kids, ask them what they'd like to do and accomplish before they have to start school again. The older they get the more fun we've been able to have! You don't have to spend a ton of money to keep your children occupied throughout the break. I like to plan their summer around one BIG event, THE vacation of the summer, along with a couple of day trips planned each month. Between those, family reunions, swimming lessons, swim team meets, our summer is gone! Take advantage of it while you can!

There are a lot of summer camps that are not that expensive. Quite a few cities have americorps programs that are eight-week day camps for only $5 for the entire summer; these camps are partially government funded and expressly for kids whose parents can't afford other camps, but need to work to support their kids.
Agreed with the past two responses. In lower income families, what looks to judgmental outsiders like parents neglecting their kids is often really mom working three jobs to support her children, so they don't all lose their home. My experience is that a lot of times, instead of turning into hooligans, children in these families develop maturity and independence much faster than kids who are smothered with parents attention. But I know that's not always true.

If you live in the San Jose/Oakland/San Francisco area and would like to know about activities for families (primarily free or low cost) here is a great site to visit: http://www.siliconvalleymom.com.

The list contains movies, discount days for Oakland A's baseball games ($2), free games for San Jose Giants, free and discount museum days. Sign up for the free newsletter too.
http://www.siliconvalleymom.com

I agree with Elizabeth and wordgirrrl4!!!! You have managed to insult quite a few moms who don't have the luxury to stay at home with their children. Maybe you should post a re-traction of your insulting statement

Last summer, I was taking classes at the Community college while my 2 year old attended the preschool and my 5 year old went to the Boys and Girls Club ($80 for the whole 6 weeks of summer...BARGAIN!)

This year, I'm not taking classes, so I like the idea of a schedule. We'll be moving in June anyway, so once we get to the new house, it'll be nice to be able to find time to unpack if I have a schedule.

We'll i have been working summer camp for quite sometime now and one of the most inexpensive summer camps at $65 a week is St.Martin de Porres Family Center on the East side of Cleveland.They do various activities for the 8 week stretch and the kids seem to really enjoy. So if you know anyone interested in attending a safe and reasonable summer day camp please feel free to let them know and everyone spread the word your children and their children will really enjjoy. Ages 5-13yrs old. Hurry summer willl be here soon

I'm a grandmother and a retired first grade teacher. Don't forget a trip to the library with great reading/storytelling times as well as puppet shows...go home and make sock puppet,sack puppets or stick puppets. Many churches have Vacation Bible School for at least a week. Great fun with other children learning God's Word, playing games, crafts and refreshments. Have a great summer learning with your children.

O.K. so let me get this straight. If you can't stay home with your children you shouldn't have them. I can name a few stay at home mom's who shouldn't have had children and find them in the way most times. I agree with "wordgirrrl4"" This statement was made out of ignorance. My children love to go to different camps during the summer. Sports camps where they get more instruction, art camp and their favorite the marine biology camp. Sheesh, the excuses I use not to have my kids around. (Oh, and lets not forget Church camp where they learn not judge people)

Oh, and by the last part of my last comment, I did not mean how many actually have to work, I meant how many actually send their kids to summer camp because they have to work.

I would say that countrygal has no clue what she is saying. For one, when I was a teenager I would work all winter on odd jobs to be able to pay my own way to summer camp. I loved the time spent there with horses and people from other areas. Also, my mother was a working mother back when it wasn't as common for both parents to work and I spent at least 3 summers doing crafts and swimming at a day camp. The crafts we did were very involved and I learned many of my advanced craft skills there. My mother was a great mom, who spent all her non working at home time teaching me what it meant to be a good mom and person. She did a much better job, than some of the neighboring women did with their kids staying home all day. I am now a stay at home mother of toddler, as well as the parent of grown up children, who had me at home when they were young. There is no right answer for parenting. It is more a matter of how the time is spent with children, working parent or not… I would say...Be careful of judging other peoples experiences. You never know when life circumstances may cause you to be a working parent... Often when we think we have all the answers, is when we learn we know nothing at all…We all need to walk a mile in the other persons shoes…

City Parks and Recreation usually have here at least a Summer Fun program 0830-1400 hours extendable for swimming another hour. Daughter 8+ yrs after 3 years didn't want to go again even though this year eligible for a 3 day camp out at the beach. High School and First year college are assistants group leaders and even some teacher adults. Great programs but to add incentive we offered daughter 7 Sunday afternoons at Ice Palace nearby $7 mom $7 daughter. She is very willing.
Check your City Parks and Recreation sites its $135 the whole June 13-July 28 time and lunches are free provided by some Fed funds to the city. A heck of a lot cheaper than regular summer camps or YMCA that run into $750-$1500 !

This year is the first year I'm contemplating it for my oldest. He wants to do the British Soccer Camp offered by our local P&R. I'm not sure. I just don't think we'll have time.

We stay busy! Usually we have 2-3 weeks at my parents house.

Every-other-year we go to England for 2 weeks. This is our off year, but my in-laws are coming here for 3 weeks. While they're here, we'll go to HHI for a week on a family vacation.

Then we have some other visitors and little trips here and there planned. And we spend as much time as possible in the pool!

I don't know if we'll have time for day-camp this year -- the kids really don't get that much time off. They're in school until the end of May, and go back the 2nd week in August.

Between 3 weeks with the in-laws and 3 weeks with my parents, seems as if Summer is over before it's begun!