Cheap Camps

Camp can be just as educational as school, with the added dimension of children learning through experience. Through activities and play, children learn a wide range of skills and develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. At camp, children learn by doing, living, and experiencing things for themselves. It’s one thing to watch a nature program on television, but quite another to experience nature in real life.

Residential camps can be downright expensive, even if the experiences are worth every penny. If you’re trying to figure out how you can afford to send your child to summer camp, consider the following cost saving ideas.Cheap Camp

Families that in the past have sent their children to private sleep away camps, especially on the east coast, are now looking for less expensive alternatives. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan all provide summer camp with similar activities and programs at a thirty percent savings.

For many you may need to change your private camps look to alternative programs that might be similar to what you have done in the past yet less expensive. This is just a matter of shopping on the internet for price. See Swift Nature Camp as a wonderful value camp.Adventure Camp

Parents can also choose a less expensive overnight camp program, such as a YMCA or a even a church program. These summer camps can save sometimes half compared to a private camp.

Park Districts also offer a day summer camp. These are usually the most cost effective, however, day camps generally do not offer the same array of activities and benefits that an overnight summer camp provides.

Summer camps do have discounts and campership programs, but seldom are these programs FREE. Each summer camp decides how to run their own discount program, so it is important to ask the camp director how to become a part of their particular program and see if it will help make camp affordable for you.

The ACA (American Camp Association) recommends: * Parents should ask whether the camp participates in income-eligible subsidy programs, for instance through Title XX. * A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses for qualified dependents that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or to attend school full time. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information. * In certain circumstances, day care expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services and paid with pre-tax dollars. Visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for more information. * Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: The IRS allows an income tax credit of up to $6,000 of dependent care expenses if you have two or more dependents (up to $3,000 for one dependent). The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. This applies to qualifying day camp expenses as well. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information.

Remember, all camps are not created equal and cost is often reflected in quality of programs. It is imperative that you do your homework to ensure a quality experience for your child. One areas where camps cut costs is staffing. Some camps use volunteers while others have paid staff. Look at counselor-to-camper ratios to determine how many campers are sleeping in each cabin with how many children. What age are the counselors? If they are not over 18, parents should be wary.

Search out the total cost of the camp. This should include not only tuition, but transportation, camp store, spending money, laundry, off-site trips, and uniforms (if required). Ask about how deposits and if it is refundable. When are fees due?

Safety is the most important area of any Summer Camp. Regardless of cost, you want to ensure that your child will be safe and will return home at the end of the program. One way to make sure your selected camp is safe is to verify that the camp is an accredited member of the American Camp Association. The ACA ensures that over 300 standards are met in their accreditation process.

Lastly, It is important to try to remember what it is like being a kid. Summers are long! The experiences at summer camp create a lifetime of memories. Many adults fondly recall their camp days. Do what you must, but don’t let this summer pass your child by without a Overnight Summer Camp experience.

Tags: Relationships, Home and Garden, games

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!