By: Jane Wiechel, Education Support Hub
As a single mom working full-time, I remember the panic set in when I realized I needed to have plans for my two daughters for the summer after school ended. While I looked forward to summer, I had mixed feelings about this season for my children. How would I manage childcare while working? How can I avoid the “I’m bored” comments? What would I do? Where would they go? How would they get there and get picked up, and what would it cost? I knew that summer was still months away, but I also knew, based on experience, that summer camps would fill up quickly.
Many summer programs across our area have already opened enrollment, as you may have guessed. To assist families with the process of finding the right camp and registering, the Education Support Hub has created a one-stop place for the information.
Our kids need the connections found in school and sports, after-school programs, and the countless other activities that were scaled back or halted due to health concerns over the past two years. For many children, this disruption created a learning loss that has implications for continued school success.
Summer learning camps can be a fantastic way to transition back into group interactions and close the learning gap. Camps, academies, and out-of-school programs offer learning and developmental growth delivered through fun and engaging models.
A summer education camp program provides a safe environment for children to develop social skills, decision-making skills, and even experience the great outdoors.
Playworks, a nonprofit that promotes child development through play activities, published practical ways to keep kids active – and socially and emotionally healthy. This article still provides key suggestions and resources. For more information, go to https://www.playworks.org
If you are interested in exploring camp options for your child this summer, Education Support Hub has made an online tool to help you find a camp experience:
