These are some suggestions for saving the summer while staying on budget.
- Attend virtual day camp- Lots of day camps are turning to virtual versions where kids can go online for fun activities and experiences with other campers. It’s not as fun as in-person camp, but it includes many of the same elements to keep kiddos entertained.
- Assemble 'camp' on demand -You can book different camps on individual days or weeks and pick and choose the ones you want. A cool option is the newNational Children's Museumin Washington, DC that has one-day virtual summer camps with a focus on STEAM activities. Tuesdays are science days and Thursdays are about building kid-size structures with everyday materials
- Embrace the quick fix -Younger kids may not be ready for full-on camp-style activities, but a breaking up the day with some fun interludes can help. One option is virtual character visits fromHope, Love and Magic, where kids get a 30-Minute Zoom visit with singing, chatting, and story time with princesses or characters inspired from fairy tales and kids’ movies.
- Join a reading club -Check your local public library to see if they have a virtual reading club your kid can participate in. These programs encourage reading and give kids a change to discuss what they’ve read, which gives them a social connection they may be missing this summer.
- Try “neighbor camp” -Time to get a little help from your friends and neighbors who may be experts in something they can teach a group of kids. Know someone who’s an excellent guitar player? Maybe they can share some basic chord progressions with a group of socially distanced kids. What kids really need is a chance to play and interact with each other, so give them that and they won’t need camp.