OT: Who here sends their kids to day camp in the summer?

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

I will probably send my 6 year old son, but it is sooooo expensive. It's $3500 for 8 weeks :eek:. I know he would love it and had a great time when we visited the place but I just hate spending that money (when it can pay for a Disney trip!) ;) . Thankfully my parents are helping us so it won't be too bad. So I was wondering how much you guys pay for camp - if you don't mind me asking :)

[LauraV]

Wow, that must be some kind of camp!
Here in Portland, OR the kids can go to a day camp for $125 or so a week.
Day camp at the Zoo runs about $175 per week.

Hmmm, I wish I could go to camp. It would be great to play and do activities all day.

[Worfiedoodles]

I think I want to go to that camp!

DS9 goes to day camp for $100/week, and it includes breakfast and lunch. They offer basketball, swimming, crafts, cooking, games, computers, lots of field trips (those are extra, usually $5-$10), and the counselor/camper ratio is 10:1. DS's camp is offered by the Salesians, a Catholic association devoted to offering activities for children. We're not Catholic, but they're happy to have ds. The camp opens at 7:30 and you can pick up as late at 6. They ask that you not pick up before 4, because they are involved in activities. We usually drop around 8:15, keeping to our normal school schedule. They get going with the organized stuff around 9. The camp counselor are kids who attend the attached Catholic prep school. They apply and are selected, and it's kind of prestigious to be a camp counselor.

I guess we are very lucky! We'll be paying for 8 weeks total as well, and we'll get that back through dh's dependent reimbursement account. If you are not already taking advantage of a program like that, you should see if it is offered where either you or dh work. We pay an amount we select into a dependent reimbursement account (for child care costs), through an amount deducted from dh's check every week. We get receipts for our costs and turn them in, and we get reimbursed for what we have spent. It's like having free care (or at least it seems that way to me), and you can get camp costs reimbursed. We turn in our costs for afterschool and day camp every year.

The dependent reimbursement account is not based on income -- you can be Bill Gates and use it if you want to, assuming your company offers it. Just a suggestion, since I suspect you might not be familiar with it, especially with a 6 yr. old and if you are a SAHM...then you might not need your parents to assist with the cost. More $ for Disney!

[deedeetoo]

Since I work outside of the home, my kids go to day camp all summer long. They are attending a mix of several different camps -Girl Scouts, gymnastics, one at their elementary school and one at the local prep school. The least expensive for me is Girl Scout camp at $230/wk. The most expensive is the local prep school which costs $400/wk. I hate paying $400/wk but that camp is the most convenient for us (only a couple miles from the house and right on the way to work) so we are doing it for a few weeks for each kid.

In the past we did YMCA camp to which was also in the $230 range, but my kids didn't like it so we dropped that one. There is a Catholic school next town over with a camp that is about $175/wk but in rush hour traffic it would probably take 30 minutes to drive there to drop them off and 30 minutes to get to work. 60 minutes in the morning and 60 minutes in the evening is just too much extra driving for me so we won't do that even though it is so much cheaper.

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I just signed my two older kids (teens) up for culinary camp for the summer (they both want to be chefs, so this will put that thought to the test). Each kid is $75 per week, but the camp only goes from 8am-noon M-F. Actually, its the cheapest I ever got away with for summer camp. My nearly 2-year-old is another story...too pricey! The camps by us (just run of the mill types...nothing fancy or exciting) want about $300 a week for half days M-F. I think prices really vary according to geographic location, age of your child and what the camp is offering.

[pweyl36]

We just can't afford it. I just can't believe the prices, its just crazy:scared1:

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Mine go to sleep away camp...

I could buy a car with the money we spend. But, they absolutely love it. We can afford it. It's nice to get them off of Long Island and into the woods of Vermont. It's been life changing for our whole family. My oldest is finished, but my two youngest (14 and 8 years old) absolutely love going. My youngest goes for 4 weeks, the oldest goes for 8 weeks. Next year they'll both go for 8 weeks.

We just love it!! When my dh and I go up for parents' weekend, we don't want to leave!!

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Mine go to sleep away camp...

I could buy a car with the money we spend. But, they absolutely love it. We can afford it. It's nice to get them off of Long Island and into the woods of Vermont. It's been life changing for our whole family. My oldest is finished, but my two youngest (14 and 8 years old) absolutely love going. My youngest goes for 4 weeks, the oldest goes for 8 weeks. Next year they'll both go for 8 weeks.

We just love it!! When my dh and I go up for parents' weekend, we don't want to leave!!

Sounds like a very cool thing for your kids to get away to Vermont! There's not too many sleep away camps around us. Maybe because we are already in the sticks! :rotfl: Me and DH have gone away for short getaways without kids, but around day 3 I am a little loopy missing mine, I'd probably be weepy all summer without them.

[maxtomsmom]

I live in Westchester where the camps can cost approx. $8,000 - $10,000 :scared1: for the summer. That sometimes doesn't include lunch. There can also be a waiting list to get in, so ridiculous. My DS6 will be going to camp at his elementary school which is run by the city of White Plains. That costs us $400 for the whole month of July. He goes from 8:30 - 2:30 and it includes one field trip a week and two swim lessons a week. Good deal. We're moving out of the area and we thought this would be a good way to say good-bye. My younger DS is going to a tumbles camp for three hours a day. We pay per session which is $55 a session. I intend to bring him there so I can pack. I like it because I can pick and choose my days.

[Stargazer]

5yr old DD is going to her first day camp the week after we get back from Disney! It's very reasonable @ $99/wk. They do have to bring a sack lunch Mon-Thurs, but then they have a pizza party every Friday.

Two snacks/day, all field trips, 2 martial arts classes, and daily fitness classes are included in the price.

She is sooo excited - they swim every Wed/Thurs and then they'll have 2 field trips/wk to the movies, skating, bowling, nature park, etc. :cool1:

I'm lovin' it already because it's very close to where I work, she'll be active every day, and it's open 7:30-5:30 which fits perfectly into our daily routine.

[Dizmom0923]

I will probably send my 6 year old son, but it is sooooo expensive. It's $3500 for 8 weeks :eek:. I know he would love it and had a great time when we visited the place but I just hate spending that money (when it can pay for a Disney trip!) ;) . Thankfully my parents are helping us so it won't be too bad. So I was wondering how much you guys pay for camp - if you don't mind me asking :)
I paid $540.00 for 6 weeks of camp for my 5 year old. That includes field trips and all I send is his lunch. Its from 9-3, what kind of camp did you look at???:scared1:

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Sounds like a very cool thing for your kids to get away to Vermont! There's not too many sleep away camps around us. Maybe because we are already in the sticks! :rotfl: Me and DH have gone away for short getaways without kids, but around day 3 I am a little loopy missing mine, I'd probably be weepy all summer without them.

It's funny - when my boys went, I didn't get too crazy. I missed them like crazy but their letters were so positive and as the years went by, they really just looked forward to it so much. When it came time for my daughter to go - I was a mess. I was literally incapable of doing anything for the time she was gone. She had a blast - missed us like crazy, but didn't get homesick. Because her birthday is so late, she was the youngest camper they had. Her camp is the sister camp of her brother's camp and they arrange weekly visits for siblings - which was great for both of them to be able to reconnect once each week (plus they'd see each other at 4th of July fireworks and other combo events).

This summer - my dh and I have a whole new attitude - we get some alone time to re-energize (we're heading down to SSR for a week alone to do the spa treatments and just chill together). They've been emailing all their friends all year long planning skits and activities and stuff. My ds is LD and he said that knowing he's going to camp each summer helps him get through school each year. I'll still miss them like crazy, but we'll all be having a blast this summer.

My boys started in day camp which was run by a local private prep school. It was great. When they first started day camp - it was really expensive for us (now we're older parents - it's a lot easier). We started to pay it off monthly when we signed them up in the fall (plus you almost always get an early bird discount and a silbing discount). It didn't hurt quite as much. There are also YMCA and other programs that are cost-conscious.

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I live in Westchester where the camps can cost approx. $8,000 - $10,000 :scared1: for the summer. .

Yikes!! That's more than sleep away camp for 8 weeks! Wow - the highest day camps in our area are about $6000 for 8 weeks. I didn't realize prices have gone up so high for day camps.

[DawnM]

My boys are going to one week of camp. Actually we are all going. It is a cubscout camp and $85 for my 9 year old and $60 for my 7 year old and free to my 3 year old. I will work in the preschool area to help out.

Fortunately, I will work for the school district so I will be off when my kids are off.

Dawn

[debster812]

This will be DS's 4th year of YMCA day camp. He LOVES it, and we're very lucky to have a great facility and program right in town. The youth program director is fantastic at what he does, and runs great programs. They do:

Ropes Courses (2 different ones)
Swimming Lessons
Free Swim
Archery
Nature (there are about 4 miles of hiking trails on the grounds)
Arts and Crafts
Sports
New Games

The 2nd Thursday of each session is the 'Overnight' where they camp out in the main field of the camp facility. Great fun. The kids come home on Friday, filthy, exhausted, and counting the days til the next sleepover. :lmao:

There are also specialty camps that are more money:

Extreme Sports
Drama
Horseback

It will run us close to $1500 for the summer, and we do not do the specialty camps.

[2forMe]

Wow I cannot believe some of the prices.. that is just crazy. most camps here are inthe 100-150 range and then some you have to pay extra for extended hours.. say 20-30 more a week. There are some more expensive ones but nothing in the price ranges that i Have seen here.. no way would I spend that much for day camp.
Sleep over camps or more though not sure how much since kids are not old enough for that.

[LisaNJ25]

My 7yo dd is going to go to girl scout camp for 2 weeks. She went last year also. Cost is $275 a week... they have financial aid programs and I pay $75 a week.

[ruadisneyfan2]

There aren't many day camps near us that accommodate working parents. So many are from 9-3 or even 1/2 day or don't include transportation which means a 30+min. drive each way before going to work. no way. Ones that accommodate working parents are at least $400/wk.
Our kids camp is $450/wk/child includes transportation, lunch, and a unique elective program that they get to choose their activities for the week everything from rocketry to drama, underwater photography to guitar lessons, sailing, fishing, water trampoline, Segway lessons, laser tag, DJing, I could go on and on...so amazing I wish we could go too!
We only do 3 weeks there since it's so expensive. For the remaining weeks, they go to my babysitter/friends house to have a little "down time" relax and play with her kids. Also we take a week or 2 off for vacation.

[tammy1210]

This will be DS's 4th year of YMCA day camp. He LOVES it, and we're very lucky to have a great facility and program right in town. The youth program director is fantastic at what he does, and runs great programs. They do:

Ropes Courses (2 different ones)
Swimming Lessons
Free Swim
Archery
Nature (there are about 4 miles of hiking trails on the grounds)
Arts and Crafts
Sports
New Games

The 2nd Thursday of each session is the 'Overnight' where they camp out in the main field of the camp facility. Great fun. The kids come home on Friday, filthy, exhausted, and counting the days til the next sleepover. :lmao:

There are also specialty camps that are more money:

Extreme Sports
Drama
Horseback

It will run us close to $1500 for the summer, and we do not do the specialty camps.

DS did the YMCA camp last year as well, and he'll do it again this year - we're extra fortunate however, because since the camp is in our county we're given a HUGE discount - we get all of that for about $65 per week - cheaper than any babysitter could ever think about being and he has tons of fun - he learned so much last year and made so many new friends. Plus, he learned that he loves archery!

[cccm]

We are going to send DD (age 9) to camp this summer for 7 weeks. I work full time and usually she spends all day at my sisters house. But now it is just to boring for her being with my three nephews. I think my sister wants a little break also.

17 days with my sister at beginning of summer
5 days with DH at Grandpa's in PA
25 days at camp
5 days at Disney with me
Back to my sister until school starts

So this year we are sending her for two sessions, 4 weeks and then 3 weeks. It is about $350 per week including transportation. I still need to do lunch and snacks.

I heard the camp is good. DD is already asking if she can go to sleepover camp. My response to her is "It isn't like The Parent Trap you know."

[JoyG]

My boys do one week of day camp at the local zoo. It runs full day and it is $126 per child per week after the early bird/member discount.

I couldn't afford to send them to camp the whole summer. Since I'm also off during the summer luckily I don't have to.