Summer Day Camps

Summer's Coming: Don’t Panic. Plan.

School’s almost out. While your kids are counting down the days, working parents are secretly (or not-so-secretly) panicking. What am I supposed to do with these kids all summer?

The answer depends on your child’s age, your work situation, and your sanity level. But before you spiral into a spreadsheet of options, take a breath—and set a goal.

Step One: Set a Summer Goal

Stay with me here.

Yes, setting a “goal” sounds overly earnest and possibly exhausting, but hear me out: knowing what you actually need from summer will stop you from signing your child up for Advanced Coding Camp in Bulgarian just because there were 3 spots left and a mom on Facebook swore it was life-changing.

• Basic childcare so you can work uninterrupted?

• A budget-friendly option that won’t wreck your wallet?

• Academic support, whether your child needs a boost or wants to keep learning?

• Enrichment in the form of arts, sports, languages, or hands-on skills?

• Exercise, because some kids just need to burn. it. off?

Knowing your “why” will help you sort through the chaos and focus on what fits your family best.

When to Sign Up

In some places (hi, East Coast!), summer camp sign-ups start as early as December. Yes, December—for camp in July. As a rule, the higher the population density and the more dual-working-parent households in your area, the earlier camps fill up.

Mark your calendar, set a reminder to avoid a last minute scramble.

Sticker Shock Is Real

Summer camp is expensive. Like, bonkers expensive. If you have access to a Dependent Care FSA or a daycare reimbursement program, use it. Those pre-tax dollars can help take the edge off the cost.

Skip the FOMO

Feel like a bad parent because your kid isn’t kayaking, coding, or learning French this summer? Don’t.

If you don’t need the childcare and your child is content spending time at home, that’s okay. Honestly, no camp has changed the course of my child’s life. (Exception: academic catch-up camps. Those can be game changers.)

Most camps are glorified daycare. Let go of the guilt.

Mind the Gap(s)

Here’s a fun surprise you will likely notice immediately: most camps follow the public school calendar and are limited in the few weeks before school start. So if your child goes to private school and gets out early? You now have an entire unscheduled week between the last day of school and the start of camp. Plan ahead, or brace yourself for a last-minute scramble involving grandparents, work-from-home “flexibility,” or extended screen time. No judgment—we’ve all been there.

Tips & Recommendations

Start early.

Even if you’re not ready to commit, research your options and set alerts. Camps that align with your schedule, location, and goals go fast.

Prioritize logistics.

If you need full-day coverage, search for camps that:

1. Offer early drop-off and/or late pick-up

2. Run full-day sessions

3. Are close to home or work

That narrows the list a lot before you even think about themes or activities.

Avoid doing the same camp all summer.

Even the best camp gets old by week two. Mix it up. Prevent the dreaded “B” word (boring) from entering your home by July.

Consider the heat.

When you’re signing up in January, it’s easy to forget that by July, that turf soccer field will be an inferno. Look for camps with indoor options, water features, or shaded play. And packed lunches? They wilt fast—keep that in mind when planning meals.

Use summer to experiment.This is a great chance for your kid to try something new without committing to a full season or pricey gear. Think: test-driving an interest without the pressure.

At the end of the day, summer doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be planned well enough. Give yourself permission to do what works for your family, not what looks good on someone else’s feed.