Camps on a Budget
If the thought of splurging for camp in this economy has you and your kids in a slump, check out this money-saving information and put an affordable summer camp back on the calendar where it belongs!
by Lori Zanteson
The daunting cost of camp can be enough to make any family scramble for Plan B this summer. But don’t be too quick to throw out this mainstay of childhood. Summer camp can be affordable if you follow a few insider tips.
When searching for camps, you’ll find that many offer discounts for early registration, for enrolling your child for the whole summer, and for enrolling siblings. There may even be an option for a fee reduction in exchange for a donation of time or services such as working in the office or cafeteria.
Most camps are very flexible in terms of creating a schedule that works for your time and budget. If your budget doesn’t allow for five days a week, three or four is probably fine.
The American Camping Association (ACA) assures that “there is a camp for every child and every budget,” so no family should assume that camp is out of financial reach. According to the ACA, 85 percent of camps report offering some sort of financial assistance. Many camps offer full or partial “camperships” as well as financial assistance, and $39 million in scholarships is given each year.
Uncle Sam offers a few money-saving programs that are worth a look. The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for childcare that is necessary for parents to work, look for work, or attend school full time. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows an income tax credit to your federal taxes for dependent care expenses up to $3,000 for one dependent and up to $6,000 for two. Some camps participate in an income-eligible subsidy program such as Title XX that can assist qualifying families.
Nonprofit organizations often offer bargains
When looking for the most economical camp picks, those sponsored by nonprofit organizations like city and county parks, churches, synagogues, museums, and public schools and universities are your best bet. Many are free or offer some assistance. Generally, fees range from $75 to more than $650 per week for ACA-accredited day and resident camps.
The local parks and recreation departments offer low-cost camps during the summer, as do churches and synagogues. They have the advantage of being convenient and familiar. They are close to home and are attended by children living and attending schools in the neighborhood, who may be friends of your children. Fees vary by region, but are meant to be widely affordable. Part-time and full-time options are typically available as well. Activities are plentiful and often themed for the week or the entire session based on age and interest.
Sports camp and arts and crafts camp are popular picks. They include field trips like the movies or rock-climbing gym or even an all-day trip to the beach or amusement park. Many churches and synagogues offer free Bible and religious study camps during the summer.
A little pricier but still very affordable are nonprofit community organizations like museums, gardens, and universities. Community colleges often have swimming and sports camps, and the local university may offer a drama or music camp that ends in a performance. The YMCA is a time-tested and trusted choice for a variety of sports themed and active, often outdoor, activities.
Check out CampCountdown.com, a comprehensive national site about overnight camps and summer programs for ages 7 to 18, for more nonprofit options like Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps.
Whether your child is buggy about insects or smitten with science, there is a camp to feed that desire. And now you have the cost-cutting resources to make it happen. Happy camping!
Lori Zanteson is a Southern California-based writer and mother of three who specializes in health, food, and fitness for families.
© Photo by Godfer | Dreamstime.com
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Inspire Your Kids to Cook
by Christina DiMartino
Your kids—boys and girls alike—express a desire to cook from a very early age, likely without your even realizing it. They make mud pies in the sandbox, play with child-sized cooking sets, and organize kitchens in doll houses or play areas, and they probably inquire about what you’re cooking from the time they begin to communicate.
Kids Cooking Activities offers up reasons why you should encourage cooking activities with your kids. (Set up link at underlining to http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com)
* Cooking with your children helps them to learn about nutrition and healthy eating.
* Cooking in the kitchen will give children a boost of self confidence. They are accomplishing a task, learning something important, and contributing to the family.
* Taking time to cook with your kids will give them lasting memories. They will pass the traditions on when they are grown and have their own families.
* In the enthusiasm of creating something themselves, your children will be more likely to eat what they had a hand in making.
* Kids learn real lessons in science, language, math, and creativity in the kitchen. Cooking will help reinforce all these subjects.
* Cooking is a great way to learn life skills. This is especially helpful when children are older and more independent. They won't have to rely on fast food and junk food to sustain them.
* Working together in the kitchen teaches your child teamwork.
* Cooking teaches children planning and making choices skills.
* Kids practice creativity and imagination in the kitchen. Cooking activities are a great way for kids to express themselves and enjoy their creations.
It may take longer to get the meal or snack done, but the moments with your children will be priceless. Remember to have patience. Don't worry about flour on the floor or spilled milk.
A role model for cooking with kids
Cooking With Kids, a series of 90-second videos, is hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef John Sarich. Development of the program was inspired by the reality of childhood obesity, anorexia and other eating disorders, Type II Diabetes, and low bone density, which have all become national issues. Cooking With Kids encourages parents and children to spend time in the kitchen together preparing healthy meals in ways that improve communication and help children develop healthy nutritional habits. (Set up link at underlining to http://www.cookingwithkids.org/fact.html)
The program shows how easy it is for kids to prepare snacks and meals that taste good and that are good for them. It uses the five food groups as a platform for nutrition messages. You can watch the videos with your children through the website, then print out the recipe and go try it yourselves.
The recipes that Sarich prepares with kids on the segments teach them which categories on the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Pyramid are included in the recipe. He explains how vegetable burritos, for example, include foods that have protein, fiber and dairy, and that the burritos are low in fat.
Good cooking habits
Spatulatta provides 350 step-by-step videos that teach kids good cooking habits, and offers advice for moms, dads and kids on numerous issues related to cooking with kids. It emphasizes topics like teaching kids to wash their hands properly before handling food. (Set up link at underlining to http://www.spatulatta.com)
When it comes to working in the kitchen, you know your children. You know what abilities they have and how fine their motor skills are. Some children are ready to handle a certain kitchen utensil or work at the stove earlier than others. It’s up to you to make that determination.
You set the rules in your kitchen, such as you will always light the burners and oven for your children.
Go over the workings of every electrical appliance with your child. Explain that the beaters, for example, should be inserted into a hand mixer before the mixer is plugged in.
Safety and courtesy are behaviors that need to be re-enforced and modeled.
Once you've explained how to handle an item safely, try asking your child to tell you how to do it the next time the task is required when making a recipe. We all learn best when we try to teach.
CREDIT:
Christina DiMartino has been a freelance and assignment writer since 1985. She is a researcher, interviewer, writer, editor, and manuscript collaborator with a repertoire of clients from around the world.
PHOTO / ILLUSTRATION RECOMMENDATIONS:
Go to http://www.cookingwithkids.org
TEASER:
Cooking with your kids does much more than produce tasty treats! It teaches teamwork, safety, courtesy, math, science, and more, and encourages creativity and imagination. And there are some terrific online videos that will help you get started.
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