How much would you pay for summer camp?

[cruisnfamily]

The subject of summer activities for the kids is beginning to come up and DH says he cannot justify some of the outrageous fees charged at these camps since I am a SAHM and the kids don't HAVE to go anywhere. I only the other hand feel like it is not in the best interest of our kids (or my sanity) to have them sit around for 10 or 11 weeks with no plans at all. Usually we have a weeks vacation in the summer and send the kids for 2 or 3 weeks of camp each.

Here is the problem of the moment DS7 went to the local hands on museum day camp for 2 weeks last summer and absolutely LOVED it! He really, really want to go again. The kids are at the museum from mon-Thurs 9:30-3:30 with a field trip on Friday. Each week has a different theme and they really do it up well. DS is bright and very interested in science type stuff so this is really up his alley. Well, one week day camp this year is $185 . DH says no way, DS insists he must go.

What do you think.....is this too much? Would you pay it if your son was really into this stuff? We've tried other camps and none were a hit like this one. I was thinking just 2 weeks.

So give me your opinions.

 

[NHAnn]

$185 for one week day camp based in a museum seems a little high to me, with just one day being off-site field trip. Does the fee include lunch and snacks and all expenses ??
Even though it's high, I still would like for my child to go if they really liked it so much, as long as that price includes everything, no extra charges for anything. Maybe there are other compromises that could be made on the family vacation or the other kids' stuff if your DH has an overall summer budget in mind that this camp puts a dent in? If it is just on principle that your DH thinks this camp is overpriced, maybe he would compromise and have him do just one week? I do agree with you that the kids should have some experience like that, especially if they are really drawn to it as your DS seems to be ! Good luck!!

 

[Tiggeroo]

I will be paying $400. for a week of cross-country/running camp for my son.
On another subject, Sea World seemed to have some very neat looking camps, especially if you already live in Fla. As a SAHM I doubt I would pay for more then one week of camp, even at a lower price. I would find some other things for the kids to do. I also really like to keep my kids summers as unstructured as possible. I remember my summers being like this, and think you grow and learn alot in a relaxed summer. Last year all of my kids were working part-time and you can't believe how fast it is till their summer's can no longer be relaxed.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by NHAnn
$185 for one week day camp based in a museum seems a little high to me, with just one day being off-site field trip. Does the fee include lunch and snacks and all expenses ??

The fee includes the week at camp, the field trip, and a t-shirt. No snacks provided and we send a bag lunch every day. So, there are no extra expenses but we send the lunch.

DH objects on principle. He just thinks that is too high for summer camp. Honestly, I agree, it is ridiculously high for one week day camp (I can send my daughter for 2 weeks sleep away camp with Girl Scouts for $250), but, he really enjoys it and gets alot out of it so I'm willing to pay.

 

[betz]

Well, I think it is reasonable.
The summer camp, which I assist in coordinating, costs $400 for two weeks, 9 - 4, no lunches included.
Overnight camp for my DD, 12 yr old, runs from $1200 - 1500, a week.
At UHa (University of Hartford) Extended Daycamp with transportation, again no lunch, 8 - 5 is approx $500 a week, depending upon which activities you join.
Town camp, for local grammer schoolers, is approx. $65 a week, without extended hours and is a lower quality camp.
I'd say go for it.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

For the past 4yrs Ive been sending DS to our town daycare camp. The cost is $20 per day and you naturally pick the days you send your kids. Of course when he was younger I sent him more often because he needed someone to watch him.

Thinking of sending him to Nature's Classroom this year. The cost would be $135/wk. Hoping to be able to send him for 3wks.
IF my work hrs are reduced to 21 I may or may not still send him.

I think it's good for the kids to have something to do over the summer otherwise DS is definately not an outdoor kid.

 

[janette]

The day camps around here are about $250 a week. My older DD goes to a couple of weeks of Dance camp Monday-Thursday, brings her own lunch and snacks and it's $250. A few other camps like the art or theatre groups are about the same.

I don't think the price seems high. Girl Scout day camp is very cheap but that is all volunteer and much of the cost is covered by the funds of the service unit/council.

Most day cares are a little cheaper also, usually about the cost of childcare in the area with extra for field trips in the summer.

I work but have a flexible schedule, I don't need child care during the school year but in the summer try to work with what camps I can find and other activites that are all day for the girls. It does tend to be expensive but they usually enjoy the camps.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

shh...don't anyone mention the cost of camp around me...my ex husband just had a cow when I sent him the bill for summer 2003. the girls are going back to the same camp as last summer, but daddy dear has decided it's "too much money." he doesn't have a choise though -- the court ordered him to pay it.

 

[snoopy]

DS went to baseball camp last year, and also just a general day camp. The baseball camp was $250 per week (snacks included, no lunch) and the general day camp was $200 per week. Didn't seem especially expensive to me, but I guess it would depend on what part of the country you live in and what the going rate for summer camp is.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by snoopy
Didn't seem especially expensive to me, but I guess it would depend on what part of the country you live in and what the going rate for summer camp is.

That's right, snoopy. In NY or DC this would not be expensive at all but we live in FL. Going rate for generic summer camp runs about $75 a week. "Specialty camps" run around $125....so, this is exceedingly expensive for our area.

I've decided to pay it though. Just 2 weeks for him. I can tell DH isn't gonna be happy.

Have any of you girl scout moms out there received info on GS sleepaway camp yet? Got to work on DD's camp situation next.

 

[cinlee3]

DS has gone to basketball day camp the last two years and it is $185.00 a week. This is from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm bring and bring your own lunch. I think it is well worth the cost because he loves it.

 

[Robinrs]

I agree it depends on the cost of living for your area. I paid $185 a week for my son's day camp at a local science museum and it was close to the most expensive deal in town. I had him in another camp for $60 a week and a sports camp for $30 a week. Only the $60 a week provided food, which he said was awful...

I think it's a sin how much some places charge for camp, but they know that people will pay for it. I sent my son because I had no choice, I'm a single Mother and he had to be somewhere I could trust. Believe me if I didn't have to send him he would not be there, it's like paying a double mortgage for two months!

BTW, I'm convinced my son's A in science was totally based on his time there, maybe you might mention that to your DH!

 

[kendall]

again, depending on your geographic region, etc. Here are some other questions/issues to consider:

* What fires DS up so much about this camp? Is it the staff? the material? intellectually stimulating and not all "play"? Are the experiences structured versus babysitting?

* Does DS take what he learned in this camp and apply it to other things he does? Everything from content, to ability to work with others, to learning style. Does this motivate him with regard to other activities and ideas?

*What is the staff ratio? Perhaps there is more staff involved in this program, hence higher cost.

*What materials are involved? That is another driving cost of the camp.

*the environment of the camp - safe and nuturing? staff interest in the individual student? encourages development?

I would say, if he is so motivated to attend this camp, definitely send him - you indicate you have seen him unmotivated by other camps. Talk with him about why this camp is so special - he may or may not be able to verbalize it.

Perhaps he can help defray the cost of the camp - does he receive an allowance? Maybe part of his allowance can be set aside to help pay for the camp. Extra chores to help pay, etc.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

We have an excellent summer recreation program here in our town and don't have to send the kids to camp, per se, but do other things. DD#1 wants to do a musical theater thing, M-F 8:30-12, for $55. DD#2 wants to try swim team this year, every morning plus 5 meets, $60. Plus if it fits in DD#1 will do 4 mornings of volleyball camp in August ($20) and DD#2 will do a theatre program for younger kids (free). DS will do T-Ball ($10) and we will go to the library once a week and the zoo a few times.
I am off all summer so I am lucky they get to do this stuff. I remember I went to GS day camp when I was about 8, but never sleepover camp.
Of course our best "camp" is always our vacation!!
Robin M.

 

[d.kurz]

Originally posted by betz
.
Overnight camp for my DD, 12 yr old, runs from $1200 - 1500, a week.

OMG!!! Flying lessons?? Day trips to spas? Surf and Turf for lunch? Accomodations at the Hilton?

My kids are too old for this now, but our township had a day camp that ran 9-2:30 every day for 8 weeks. Rain days they went to the high school gym. Cost was an incredibly unbelievable $15.00 per FAMILY for the entire 8 weeks.!! I used to tell my DH that the camp alone was worth the taxes. I can't tell you how mant times I read the info when we first moved here, convinced it was a misprint.

Granted, it was loosely organized. Staffed by teens. The kids were allowed to come and go as they pleased. All of this was made clear up front.

Several parents tried to stage a revolt when they went to $15.00 a week. They didn't garner much support among the rest of the parents, though!!

 

[jamsmom]

If you can finanically afford it, I say pay it. Sounds as though your son REALLY wants to go.

OR>>>>> go to WDW for that week (or more). Camp would probably be cheaper

 

[Spirit Feather]

We plan our own theme weeks during the summer. If I need ideas, I get the camp brochure from the YMCA and see what themes they are using.

We did Chocolate Week one summer. We read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, watched Willie Wonka, toured a chocolates factory, watched the I Love Lucy chocolate factory episode, cooked with chocolate, did science experiments with chocolate, etc.

A few years a ago we did a train week. We saw Thomas the Train in the theater, rode a train, read about trains, etc.

These weeks are lots of fun, easy to plan and keep everyone entertained for less than the cost of going to camp.

 

[Spirit Feather]

Oh! I forgot our Dinosoar week! We loved Dino Week! We went to the local Natural History Musuem and looked at the skeletons and we got out our pictures from our trip to the Smithsonian. We went fossil hunting at a state park, identified our fossils with library books, baked dino shaped cookies, watched Jurrasic Park (for the older one) and Land Before Time (for the younger one). We had a dino puzzle that we put together and read a couple of good books.

We we have a museum membership, the only costs were for gas.


Also, our Township's park department has a summer camp program. The kids go from 9:00a.m.-11:00 a.m. and they play games and do sport activities. The kids can go back from 1:00-3:00 and they do arts, crafts and play board games. It is FREE and only one block from my home!

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

We pay between $300-360 per week for our summer daycare. That includes a field trip each day and any meals. The program usually ends between 7-8 pm each day depending upon the trip.
The field trips include visits to themeparks, sporting events, waterparks, etc.

I believe that the price for the summer camp offered that does not include field trips and meals runs closer to your figure of $185, so I would have to say that is reasonable for our area.

 

[Lars624]

Sleep away Cheer Camp for DD13 this summer is $450.00 for one week.