With warmer weather approaching, registering your kids for summer camps is probably on your mind. It may seem far off, but the joy of having the kids home, sleeping late, and no daily routine will wear off (usually sooner, rather than later). Or, you’ll need to get back to work and then reality hits -- now what to do with your kids? Send ‘em to camp!

And kids do love camp! The bus ride, the getting-to know you games, hiking in the woods, making s’mores, kayaking, jumping rope, doing arts & crafts, whatever it may be, they really do enjoy it. Summer camp offers kids a chance to explore surroundings different from home. They experience a different kind of independence, develop their social skills and learn to be with others.

Here is your Vermont Camp Survival Guide to navigate your way through:

Find&GoSeek has over 30 different categories of camps listed like art, nature, pre-school, skateboard, outdoor adventures, YMCA and more. Once you find what you are looking for, read what other parents have to say about their child’s past experience at the camp to help you make your decision.

Some Sanity Savers and Bright Ideas

• Have young children? Many camps offer half day programs or part-time options.
  o Movement Center
  o Little Lakers Camp
• Need transportation to camp? Girl Scout and YMCA camps offer it.
• Looking for a less expensive camp? Try your town’s Rec. Department or another town's. Many times, for a few bucks more they will let your kid in too.
• Got company coming to town and want to have all the kids go to camp for just ONE day?
  o Apple Tree Learning Center has on/off-site adventure camps in Stowe
  o Mad River Glen Naturalist Adventure Camp in Waitsfield
• Wanna go to camp with your kids for the day?! Try a Petra Cliffs family camp day.

Before long, you’ll be singing “kumbayaa, m’lord, kumbayaa…”

Miss Magpie