Bye-Bye Boredom: Fun Camp Activities For Children

Camping with the family can be a fun and exciting activity. It can help families turn away from the mindless and addicting qualities of technology and focus on spending quality time together as well as enjoying various physical activities. Here are some camping traditions kids will surely enjoy:

Image source: campingtourist.com

Scavenger hunt

Children will love the thrilling adventure scavenger hunts bring. This is a fun way for children to become familiar with the landscape and explore their environment and learn about nature. When planning such activity, it helps to prepare a list prior to the trip and set boundaries and limitations to avoid any accidents.

Campfire stories

Huddle around the campfire at night and tell scary stories or fun camp memories. Storytelling is a great way to hone children’s creativity and imagination. And the activity becomes extra fun when done besides the flickering campfire while roasting some hot dogs and mugs of old-fashioned hot chocolate passed around.

Cooking at the campfire

Starting the campfire itself is an activity worth learning but the best part about having the fire is cooking. Don't forget the marshmallows because a camping trip isn't complete without piping hot, melting s'mores.

Image source: guardianlv.com

Dayna Hardin, owner of Lake of the Woods Camp For Girls, just loves the great outdoors. For more camp activities and programs, click here.

Scholarships, Nonprofits, and Day Camps: Tips For More Affordable Summer Camp Experience

Summer camp can be a wonderful learning opportunity for children, but it's a reality that not all parents will be able to send their young ones to camp on their own steam, especially if they need to be prudent about their family budget. 

Image source: scopeusa.org

That said, there are still several ways families can do to give their children the summer camp experience – all they need is to know where to look.

Scholarships - Though it's not always announced, some traditional, private camps do offer financial aid or "camperships" to needy children. Parents should apply early, however, as these can be quite competitive owing to the number of kids who want to go camping yearly.

Discounts - Some camps offer incentives like reduced rates to families who register early or enroll multiple children. Promos and discounts like these aren't always advertised, however, so it's always worth inquiring about the possibility!

Day camp - Day camp is generally cheaper than sleepaway camp as the attendees return home in the evenings. According to the IRS, parents may also claim a childcare credit if they send their child (aged 12 or younger) to day care or day camp, provided that the circumstances meet certain conditions.

That said, there are also some day camps, like the ones run by the New York-based Fresh Air Fund and select public offices like the San Francisco Police Department (which has a fishing program) that are completely free.

Image source: wikimedia.org

Nonprofit organizations and camps -There are a number of nonprofit camps in America, typically run by groups like the YMCA or 4-H, that host campers from the lower socio-economic bracket. Most programs are shorter than the typical summer camp but offer the same fun and educational opportunities to less fortunate kids. The children's tuitions are covered by charitable organizations such as Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education (SCOPE), churches, or businesses.

Volunteering - Programs where parents or the campers themselves can offer their time, energy, and talents in exchange for a discounted rate are also an option. Certain camps even offer parents who volunteer as camp nurses (provided they're registered nurses) a full tuition discount for one of their children.

With all those options, families shouldn't give up easily that they can't send their kids to summer camp. It might take a little creativity, patience, and research, but there may be a way they can be sure their kids aren't left out of the fun and learning found in summer camp.

Lake of the Woods Camp director Dayna Hardin is also the co-founder of the aforementioned SCOPE. Subscribe to this blog to learn more about the summer camp experience and how it helps enrich children's lives.