Summer Camps Shape Character

If your kids have been looking for a way to spend their summer this year, something that doesn’t involve camping out in front of the television, playing video games, or watching brainless reality shows, then summer camp is just the thing for them. Summer camp isn’t just a rite of passage; it helps kids build their confidence, creates lasting friendships, and helps shape their character - something they’ll carry with them as they grow into emotionally healthy and fulfilled adults.

At camp, there is no shortage of fun activities that will both test and build important skills and values that will be essential in your child’s mental and emotional growth.

Here are a few more ways summer camps help shape character:

1. Gain self-confidence - At summer camp kids are encouraged to become more self-reliant. Mom and Dad won’t be there to nag them to brush their teeth, make their bed, or finish their chores - they’ll be expected to do all of that themselves. In turn, their self-esteem and confidence grows with each task they complete by themselves.

Through a series of games and confidence-building activities, kids will learn to trust themselves and to not rely too much on others, especially when they have all the tools to achieve so much on their own.

2. Build leadership skills - Kids get some of their first taste of leadership at summer camp. Whether it’s guiding a group through a particularly thick patch of forest, or leading their team to victory in a game of dodgeball; it’s through these simple tasks and activities that the foundation for leadership is cultivated and honed.

3. Become more adventurous - It’s no secret that, these days, because of modern conveniences, parents go out of their way to keep their children away from any kind of danger; whether it’s by sterilizing their environment of germs or by safe-guarding every nook and cranny of their home so that it’s one hundred percent kid-proof.

At summer camp, kids are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and to take calculated and adult-supervised risks, even if it’s just by hiking a mountain trail, swimming in a lake, or participating in a sport they’ve never tried.

4. Increases social skills - Perhaps the reason summer camp is most memorable is because of the friendships forged during the camp’s duration. At summer camp, kids can be themselves with other like-minded kids, and the friendships that come out of nights sitting in front of a campfire are ones that can last a lifetime.

Read More

Budgeting For Your Kids’ Summer Camp

Summer camp is a great experience for kids - one that offers many benefits that will last them through to adulthood. The investment you are making in your child’s development is important but it can take a bite of your household budget. But don’t worry. Luckily, there are ways you can fit it in without doing too much damage to your bank account.

Here are some tips on how you can budget for your kids’ summer camp experience:

1. Let your kids chip in - If your child has been bugging you about letting them to go away to camp, let them help out with the expenses. Whether it’s by having them donate a portion of their allowance to a ‘summer camp fund’ or by babysitting for neighbors, not only will it help you out financially, but it will teach them the value of money and hard-work.

2. Cut out other luxury expenses - If your family goes to the movies or eats out regularly, refrain from doing these activities for a couple of months until you’ve saved enough to afford summer camp. Switch to home movie night by renting videos or by cooking a big family meal with all members chipping in. Not only will you be able to save but you’ll bring the family closer together as well.

3. Focus on the goal – As summer camp may not fall under the “necessities” category of your household budget, it would be best to set-up a separate account for it. Most summer camps release their schedules and rates several seasons ahead, so you can better prepare for it by setting the target financial goal and the timeline for reaching it.

4. Be early - A great incentive for doing your research well before summer camp season starts is that most camps offer a 5 to 10 percent discount for early registration. This could mean potentially hundreds of dollars in savings. Take note that early registration means signing up early, but not necessarily paying for it yet.

5. Find out about discounts – Some summer camps like Camp Tamarack appreciate camper loyalty. Some discounts may apply to your child if he has been a camper in the past. This is also true for families that have more than one child enrolled in camp. Check out sibling discounts or alumni discounts (for parents who also joined the camp in their younger years).

6. Refer other campers – If you already know that you are enrolling your child in a good summer camp, it literally pays to spread the word. Some camps have referral programs that can take off a few hundred off your rate.

7. Pay by cheque or cash instead of credit card – Check out if your chosen camp offers discounts if you pay by cash instead of swiping the cost on your card. Most merchants who use credit card facilities are charged by the card company between 2% to 3.5% in transaction costs. As such, some of them prefer cash or cheque payments and pass the savings on to their customers.

8. Understand the cost of camp extensions and enrollment in specialized programs – If your chosen summer camp allows extension of stay or offers a specialized program, find out if there is an additional cost for it before signing up your kid for such activities.

Read More

What Kids Learn at Summer Camp

Going away to summer camp is a thrilling time in a kid’s life. They’ll learn lessons about independence, build their self-confidence and help foster a sense of community and collaboration at camp. If you’re thinking about sending your child to summer camp, you may want to read on.

Here are some of the valuable lessons and skills your kids could learn at summer camp:

1. Friendship - Summer camp is where friendships are forged and bonds are strengthened. It’s where kids can learn to be comfortable with other people their own age, find new ways to engage each other and discover common interests and bond over them. The friendships fostered at summer camp can last a lifetime, and it’s a great way to bring the shy ones out of their shells.

2. Self-confidence - During camp, they’ll be able to benefit from a variety of confidence building exercises. Whether they’re interested in performing arts, sports, or visual arts, they’ll gain the confidence needed to navigate the world outside of camp, while equipping themselves with the new skills and knowledge.

3. Self-reliance or independence - It’s easy for kids to fall into a routine of dependence, especially when they’ve got you to clean up after them all the time. Summer camp nurtures a spirit of independence by encouraging self-reliance in campers and giving them the confidence to do things on their own. It helps kids gain the maturity needed to work things out on their own and to be conscious of their various responsibilities, like helping out with chores at home, completing their homework on time, and being respectful of their environment.

4. Detachment - If your kids are prone to homesickness, you might think summer camp will be too much for them to handle. But feeling homesick is a natural part of going away to camp, and it’s a problem that resolves itself within a few days, sometimes even hours. While it may be hard for them initially, they’ll eventually learn how to detach themselves from being overly involved or attached to home, and they’ll be free to spread their wings and apply themselves in other activities like sports and arts, in ways they never have before.

5. Spirit of community and collaboration - At summer camp, your kids will learn valuable lessons in collaboration. They’ll be able to build on ideas with fellow campers and foster a spirit of community through collaboration. They’ll be both student and teacher for other kids as they exchange ideas and learn new skills.

Read More