Please give feedback on summer camps!

[widemouthedfrog]

I'm looking for help with a work-related question. I work at a nature center and we are trying to reinvent our summer programs because of a serious lack of funding. I want to reinvent them as summer camps, but we may have a challenge staffing them 5 days a week.

I would really, really (did I mention really?) appreciate peoples' thoughts on what works for your family. Would a 3-day camp work for you? It would work for our family, but that is because I work part time and don't rely on camps as full day child care.

Thank you in advance for taking the poll!

[babymommy2]

I've lived in 2 different communities and I hardly ever see 3 day camps, if they are 3 days it is usually through the YMCA or similar and for young kids, like 3 year olds. Almost all camps I have seen (and sent my children to) are 5 days, and a lot have pre and  post care as well, for working families.

[la mamita]

Originally Posted by babymommy2 

I've lived in 2 different communities and I hardly ever see 3 day camps, if they are 3 days it is usually through the YMCA or similar and for young kids, like 3 year olds. Almost all camps I have seen (and sent my children to) are 5 days, and a lot have pre and  post care as well, for working families.

Exactly. I don't think a 3 day per week camp would sell. 5 day half day camps are popular around here as are full-day, full-week camps. Especially popular is a half-day camp with an option to go full-day and cover work hours.

[beanma]

I voted for all four options. For our family any of the above might work because I don't WOH, but I agree with the PPs that you would have a better chance getting folks for a 5 day a week full or half day camp. My kids do a couple of 5 day halfs and have enjoyed them. If you need to cut down hours to make budget I'd definitely pick 5 half days over the 3 day option.

[Super~Single~Mama]

I voted 5full days.  I used to work at a summer camp, and while most of the camp was overnight, there was a daycamp.   It was HUGELY popular with the locals, b/c it was the cheapest summer childcare available on island.  3 day wouldn't work for me b/c when I get a job it will be full time - and I would have to find other care the other 2 days/week.

[Ornery]

When I WOH, my oldest went to daycamps all summer long through the local Y.  They have a super cool daycamp site about 20 minutes outside of town and he had a blast.  They also had before and after camp care. 

For SAH parents or parents with flexible schedules, a 5 day half day program might work but I think most parents are going to have a hard time with a 3 day week.

[CarrieMF]

For parents who do not work having the option of a drop in rate or a 1 day rate would be nice.  Here the camps are for 5 days.  Since I don't work during the summer I won't pay the $160 x 3 for my kids to go.  the gymnastics place here have week long camp rates & day rates.  It's $35 or so to send your kid for the day, that I would do.

It also depends on the rate.  2 of my kids dance.  There is 1 dance camp here that is $415 if you get in on the early bird rate.  They go from 8-4ish for 5 days, you provide lunch/snacks.  They do ballet, tap & jazz at the end they do a little mini recital dance.  OTOH, my oldest attends a Judo camp that is 4 hours away, she is gone for 7days(6nights), all meals & lodging is provided.  They have a carnival, banquet, dance, swimming plus alot of judo.  It is $350.  The away camp is a better deal.

[Holiztic]

We looked at the camps at our nature center and they sound awesome except the timing.  I am a SAHM homeschooling mom to a 4 year old and the camp for him is 4 hours, 5 days.  Way too much for us.  So we registered for a county nature camp that is 2.5 hours, 5 days.  3 days would be interesting, but not a sure sell for us.  I do like the idea of immersion,i.e. every day for a week.  Some camps cover the half vs. full by having a morning session and an afternoon session and an optional lunch to connect the two for full day.

[Polliwog]

I'd look at your community needs. Are half day camps popular? Is there a need for more full day camps, especially quality ones? Who are you looking at to staff your camp? College students? Teachers on summer vacation? I think it would be easier to staff a five day week than it would a three day one.

I'm not working right now, but DS is signed up for a variety of camp weeks. Some full day, some half.

[HollyBearsMom]

Our nature center has both 5 and 3 day camps. There are 1/2 day options for the younger set and then full day for the older kids. I have no idea which is more popular though.

My son went for the 3 week session of the 1/2 day, full week camp at age 4. He went back the next summer. He loved it but when he got older he didn't want to go because it was pretty much the same thing every summer. He was bored and wanted something new. 

[widemouthedfrog]

Really interesting - I asked on Facebook as well and many of the local folks are saying 3 days is fine - the culture here seems to be that those who would otherwise SAH (like me) have to work part time because the cost of living is very high, and those people seem to prefer 3 days. It is lousy for those who work 5 days a week, but we're certainly not attracting those who WOH full time right now either - even less so!

What I'm doing is moving from a class during the summer (a 1 1/2 hour class once a week) to a camp-based approach (3 days in a row). Or, at least I will do it if I can convince my colleagues to do it. They would like me to cancel much of the community programming this summer to focus on other things, as we're in a terrible money crunch. I'm resisting.

We might be able to shuffle staffing to do a 5-day a week option, but it would likely be 1/2 days, and I think that it would be a terribly hard sell to my colleagues.

I just don't want to try something that flops terribly! It's interesting how opinion is divided. Thanks!

[One_Girl]

I voted for the five day a week option that covers all the work hours because I work outside of my home and the only way I would put my child is something like that is if it was accessible with my schedule.  A schedule that caters to slightly less traditional hours may draw more parents who wouldn't normally do a camp (something that starts around 6:00 a.m. or stops at around 7:00 p.m. versus the traditional 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 or 6:00 p.m.).  I think that what will be successful depends on the city you live in and the income base you are catering to.  If you live in a big city with a lot of stay at home parents who have the expendable income to afford a half day camp then a schedule that caters to that a few days a week, or even every morning may be a good way to go. If the programs in your area typically draw most of their participants from working parents then a program that caters to those hours will probably be most successful.  A full day option for only a few days a week doesn't seem like an option that will do well because not a lot of people are necessarily going to need care for those specific three days and the people who want something for their children to do during the summer probably won't want something that takes up three full days a week.

[leighi123]

I'd really like a camp that was open work ours, but you could drop off/pick up as needed.  

In the summer I teach classes that are 2-3 hours long, one or 2 classes a day, and it would be nice to have ds in camp just durring those hours.  Its too random for most camps though. 

[Shannie77]

All of those options could work for me, but my top choice would be 5 half days.  That is popular here with dance, gymnastics etc. camps.  Many camps also offer (at an additional cost), before and after camp child care, so that parents really can use it as a daycare.