Camping can be a great experience for kids, but it is usually far from frugal. Now is the time to take a look at camps, since many of them fill up quickly. But how can you fit the camp experience into a frugal budget? Here are some ideas.
Church Camps
Our local church offers a few different daytime summer camps for kids. Fees range in price from free to $65 for the week (and that includes sports equipment and a t-shirt). There is the traditional bible camp, but there is also a basketball camp, a soccer camp, a cheerleading camp, and an art, dram and music camp. Look on the Internet or call local churches to inquire about the summer camps they may sponsor.
School Camps
Your child’s school may also offer low cost or free summer camps for their students. Camps may be academic or sports-oriented. Call the school office. Even if your school doesn’t offer a camp, they may be able to direct you to another school in the district or a neighboring district that does.
Form a Camp
For a group camp within your neighborhood of other parents who stay at home or are willing to take off from work for a few days in the summer. Organize a camp of different activities, depending on the strengths and resources of the parents. Double up, so that there are at least two parents in charge of a day’s activities. Perhaps one day could be devoted to swimming, another day for arts and crafts, another day for sports and another day for hiking in the woods. You can even include cooking, music etc. End the camp on with a Friday evening BBQ for campers, siblings and parents. The kids can display their crafts or take turns talking about what their favorite part of camp was.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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