Tweens and Summer Camp
Source: Tween Parent Staff
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While summer is just around the corner, for a variety of very legitimate reasons, some of us haven't put a great deal of thought into planning activities for our tweens. There's an entire school of thought that suggests that kids are scheduled from here to eternity all year long, so why not let them engage in a bit of downtime during the summer stretch. And, there are those who have just lifted their heads and cringed -- and are now in a panic about what to do with their tweens for the two to three month stretch!!!
If you're considering an organized activity, such as camp, there are many resources to consult. You could of course do a basic on-line search, especially if you have a very specific type of camp you're looking for. To help you out, we offer some ideas and resources below that might be of assistance. A silver lining of this shaky economy is that there are still spots available at many day and sleep-away camps. Camp can be an exciting opportunity to enable your pre-teen's independence to flourish, gain cooperation skills and try new experiences. The traditional sleep away camp experience usually involves a 4-7 week stay, but many camps offer a condensed 1-2 week option. Day camps are another choice, offering the experience without the overnight.
And, if you're lucky, there might also be "Camp Grandma" or "Camp Auntie (or Uncle)" for a visit during the summer! Hey, it never hurts to ask! An additional non-camp option might be to coordinate with another family and create some organized activities that your tween can be included in, for the returned favor of including the other family's tween in your plans.
The following resources offer assistance in selecting camps based categories such as: geographic location, sports, art, cultural focus, special needs, academic, club affiliations, technology, religious affiliated, health considerations, etc.
