5 minute read
Summer is Coming: Time to Think About Summer Camp
By Tana Poncsak
School will be out in the blink of an eye, and summer will be here. Moreover, if you haven’t secured your child’s summer camp plans, now is the time to get moving.
In case you’re thinking about sending your child to camp for the first time, here are some things to think about as you’re looking for the perfect fit. • Consider the age of your child – Most sources say that the age of 8 or 9 is a good age for going away to a sleepaway camp, but many professionals also add that it depends on the child as well. As parents, we know our children best and can be the best judge when it comes to each individual child. But if you’re unsure, there are some signs to look for to know if your child is ready. According to the
Camp Walt Whitman website, there are 7 Telltale Signs Your Child is Ready for Sleepaway Camp. The article points out that the ability to take care of their own personal hygiene, successful sleepovers, and the ability to successfully navigate new situations are all telltale signs your child might be ready. But if you don’t feel they’re ready yet or they don’t want to go to a sleepaway camp, a local day camp may be the better choice. • Consider the child’s interests – As you’re looking to send your child off on an adventure at summer camp, give thought to the things your child likes to do and where his or her interest lies. While one child might love a sports camp, the child who is interested in art or drama may not be happy at a soccer camp. And you’ll want your child to have a good experience, especially if it’s his or her first time at camp. The good news is, there are all types of camps for most every type of camper. A quick search on the Internet or asking friends and family can help parents find a camp to fit almost any interest. From sports, arts and crafts, science and academics, religious – you name it, there’s probably a camp for it. • Consider the cost. Camps can get pricy, depending on the type of
camp and location. According to the American Camp Association, in June 2019, the average weekly cost of day camp was $199 to $800, while sleep away camps averaged $680 to $2,000 per week. • If you’re considering a camp for the first time, view the website thoroughly. Is it a well-put-together website? Read the online reviews and ask friends and family if they or anyone they know has had a personal experience with the camp. You’re looking for an unbiased opinion. And then consider speaking with the camp’s owner, manager, and perhaps a counselor or two to get a better feel for the camp overall. Are the counselors enthusiastic? • Know the camp’s emergency, COVID-19, safety, and other general policies and guidelines before dropping your camper off.
Hopefully, with a little legwork and research up front, you’re less likely to get a “Hello Muddah…Hello Faddah” letter from your camper, and instead, he or she will have a summer camp adventure to remember.
Choice Educational Academy
n Mondays and Wednesdays
9 am to 1 pm
n Full Time Accredited School n Credit Recovery n Accepts Special Ed. Students n Graduate Early
271 South Culver ST. Ste. A • Lawrenceville, GA 30046 470-514-5525 • nancyg@ceaschool.com
Travel Tales Continued from page 9 some airfares are in the $200 to $300 range domestically, it will just be for a day or two until the flight fills up. Then the “giant computer in the cloud” will juggle everything around so that the airlines don’t lose any money. Up go the fares! It is also difficult at this time to find a decent hotel room for under $350 per night, especially if it is in a great location with great views. That is here in the USA. But in Europe, you will be lucky to find accommodations under 500 Euros per night (approximately $550 in US dollars).
So if you are ready to go, start your planning now! Ask your favorite travel advisor to help you to get the best of everything. They know where to look to help you with a wonderful get away from home!
Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel advisor. More information at pam@walkeradventures.com historians will define this period of time. However, I can see the finish line, and, man, I want to be there bad. I know you do, too.
So, let us continue to give each other the benefit of the doubt, love more, listen better, judge less, care more, smile, and be patient. Someone I was interviewing said it best: BE KIND. We all need to be loved and told it will be okay. IT WILL. This, too, SHALL pass. Trust me, I do not profess to have mastered all these things, and I work on them each day. And please know, we can only control what we can control. So, control the controllables.
To all my family, friends, colleagues, and this community, you are the best. Your support and partnership mean more than I can ever tell you. I wish all of you the best, and thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!
Perimeter Cares pays off unpaid lunch debt for elementary school students. We have paid off over 60 schools and plan to take care of all elementary schools in the state of Georgia.
perimetercares.org
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