monticellotimes . com All About Kids • Thursday , May 9 , 2024 Page 7
Keep summer days fun and busy when camp ends
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Here are some ways to fill the gap between the end of camp and the start of a new school year .
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Many adults have fond memories of attending summer camp when they were children . The American Camp Association reports that each year more than 14 million children and adults take advantage of the camp experience . Summer camp is a place for kids to learn new skills , make new friends , experience being away from home for extended periods of time , and explore new locales .
Summer camp program lengths vary . Some children attend local camps that may last a week or two , while others attend sleep-away camps that last a little longer . Since summer vacation typically lasts between eight to 10 weeks , parents may discover there still is plenty of downtime after summer camp ends . Here are some ways to fill the gap between the end of camp and the start of a new school year .
Schedule a vacation
What better way to keep the magic of summer going than by rolling summer camp right into a family vacation ? Give kids time to enjoy a few days to relax at home , but then buckle up for the next adventure . This can be a trip away from home , or a series of day trips or activities guided by all members of the family .
Organize a sleepover exchange
Parents of school-aged children can coordinate with one another to fill up a week or more with sleepovers . Each family can take a night or two , and the kids can jump from house to house extending the fun with one another . Sleepovers can occur inside the home or under tents in the yard .
Recreate favorite camp activities at home
Why not take what makes camp entertaining and try it at home ?
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Copy the camp s itinerary and engage in similar activities , such as canoeing or nature hikes . On nights when the weather cooperates , everyone can gather around a fire pit to roast marshmallows .
Enroll in a recreational program
Some towns offer free or low-fee activities to residents through their parks and recreation departments . If budgeting does not allow for a camp experience , there are likely town-wide activities that can fill the gaps until it s time for children to go back to school . Some even may offer after-hours childcare options for parents who have scheduling conflicts with work .
When summer camp ends , parents have different options they can explore to keep children engaged and supervised until a new school year begins .
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