Our Summer Camp Co-Op: An Ambitious Summertime Experiment between Friends
By Meredith Klassen
When we were kids, the ebbing of the school year triggered giddy delight for my sisters and me. Back then, long summer days were simple and splendid: sleep in, ingest a healthy dose of Life cereal and Bugs Bunny cartoons, and then bounce out the front door in search of the neighborhood posse of friends.
I cherish the memories of our childhood summers, but so much has changed in the last 30 years. As parents ourselves now, my sisters and I cannot fathom the thought of our children running amok in the neighborhood unsupervised all summer long. Now, we face the challenge that so many parents dutifully face each year; how to keep our children safe, stimulated, and busy during those long summer months without stretching the budget too far.
Like many parents, we begin summertime preparations months in advance. We stockpile vacation hours, save for camp enrollment fees, and research summer youth programs that both interest our children and fit our budgets. We also shamelessly cash in any babysitting favors with the grandparents and barter with friends for occasional summer kid swaps. Each year it's a routine that we have come to dread.
This past summer, while facing yet another anxiety riddled, pocket-book draining school break, my older sister, Ellen, and I looked to each other for new ideas. We both manage busy households and work part-time. Each of us has two children between the ages of 2 and 9. Our husbands work long days and are happy to leave the annual summer kid-scheduling entirely to us.
When Ellen first mentioned the idea of a summer camp co-op, my initial reaction was cautionary. Take my summer vacation to babysit our combined gaggle of kids? Hmmm, how much fun would that be? But, when she explained that a camp co-op is not just babysitting or a week-long play date, but a full day camp experience with themed activities and a focus on learning and social development, I became intrigued. Then, when she added that a camp co-op is organized and run by parents and is free for the participants, I was hooked.
The advantages of a camp co-op were undeniable; peace of mind knowing our kids would be safe and well-cared for by a known and trusted adult was first and foremost. Second, we liked the idea of avoiding costly summer camps. And then there was the flexibility of tailoring the schedule to suit our needs. It didn't take long before we agreed to give it a try. What was the worst that could happen? If it wasn't right for us, we could always return to watching each other's kids in between carefully planned (and paid for) summer activities.
Read Meredith's steps to coordinating a co-op >>>
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SPRING BREAK... With Valentine's Day just off our heels, and the candy still lingering in the pantry, it doesn't seem possible that it is time to start planning for Spring Break. Spring Break gives us the opportunity to go out of town, plan a staycation in our beautiful city or select a great camp for the kids. No matter the choice, it is time that needs to be planned for as the kids are out of school for a week!
If you are considering an out of town trip, be sure to check our 
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