The air is getting warmer, days are getting longer, the
kids are getting restless- there's no denying it, summer is just
around the corner! Whether your family embraces the
flexibility of a summer schedule or you cringe at the thought of
making arrangements to keep your kids occupied for 11 weeks,
deciding how they will spend their summer is often a stressful time
for families. While many parents of elementary aged children
aren't quite ready to send their young ones off to overnight camp
for week, summer camp programs have huge benefits for
kids.
Luckily, there are options for families to keep kids
closer to home while still reaping the benefits that summer camp
programs have to offer. Day camps are a time for kids to
expand their horizons and learn new skills that schools just aren't
able to provide. During the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities'
Spring Break Adventure Camp, children were given the opportunity to
explore their world through bird watching, fishing, and hikes in
our community. Through partnering with several organizations,
this week off from school was not a week off from learning, rather
kids were empowered to ask questions and search for answers outside
of the school setting. Campers in the program reported that,
"It was the best week ever!" and, "We had a fun time getting
to know each other and volunteers."
But is it worth it? Some parents feel that kids need
a break from structure during the summer, or that it's easier to
have a family member care for them rather than paying for
camp. While those are valid reasons to keep
your children home, the value of even one week in a summer
camp program that encourages an active lifestyle, outdoor play, new
friendships, and exposure to a variety of activities is
priceless. Many programs also offer partial scholarships to
families in need of assistance.
Summer day camp registration opens in the spring and some
programs fill quickly. Find out more about YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities
camp programs.
ENTER TO WIN!!!
COMMENT with your favorite camp activity to be
entered to win a $100 voucher for any 2013 YMCA Summer Camp ...
there are 4 to choose from! (some restrictions may apply.)
Winner will be announced on June 1! Good
LUCK!