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Looking for a cure for the winter blues? Start making plans for the
Manatee
Observation
and Education Center
50
summer. Having something fun to look forward to - such as days
off and family trips - can make those dreary days more bearable. One
thing you’ll want to add to your summer planning list is finding a great
summer camp or two for your kids.
• First, know the best places to look: You may not be aware of
the number of great summer day camps taking place around your
community. Start with college campuses, parks and recreation
departments, local school districts and churches. Be sure to tune in to
nonprofits, like performing arts centers, museums and your local animal
shelter or zoo. Finally, ask the other adults in your child’s life for the
inside scoop. The art teacher, soccer coach and scout leader may be in
the know about the best camps in town.
• Look for the immersive experience: Yes, it’s fun to sleep in a cabin
and spend all day sailing, swimming and climbing. What’s key is that
these kids are immersed in a new reality that’s different from the usual
home and school routines. So when a local organization bills an activity
a “camp,” they promise an experience that lets your kid jump in and
become a part of something. When choosing the right camp, look for
that quality. Is there a clear theme or topic? Will kids be active and
involved? Or is the “camp” just made up of a series of talks led by adults?
• Make sure your child is on board: Consider your child’s interests and
how camp can make them stronger. Your play-acting child with a flair for
drama will probably thrive and bloom at theater camp. However, if camp
is a strategy to help them improve at something they struggle with,
make sure the program is designed for these kids, or you’re setting them
up for a session of misery.
• Don’t forget the fun factor: Blake Furlow, CEO of Bricks 4 Kidz, says
kids keep coming back to their camps partly because these sessions
bring building with LEGO Bricks to the next level of fun and excitement.
But watching their
enjoyment unfold
during the camp is also
massively rewarding.
“Seeing the kids light
up, get excited and
make new connections
during a Bricks 4
Kidz class is a heartwarming
experience,”
Furlow says.
• Consider longevity:
When looking at
various programs,
a good question to ask is how long the camp has been around. New
summer camp themes and programs can sound exciting and fresh, but
it takes a few rounds to work out the kinks with any new organization.
Choosing well-established programs with experienced leaders is
one way to ensure that your child will get that worthwhile and fun
experience with a new activity.
If you’re looking for a camp experience from a trusted provider that
fosters learning in STEM subjects, look for a Bricks 4 Kidz franchise in
your community. Bricks 4 Kidz is celebrating its 10th anniversary of
providing fun and enrichment for kids in schools and communities
across the United States and beyond. At these camps, kids get to use
LEGO Bricks along with specialized LEGO Technic pieces like gears, axles
and electric motors to build unique and exciting models to help kids
explore engineering and architecture - while having a blast doing it. To
discover camps taking place in your area, visit Bricks4Kidz.com.
— Brandpoint
5 THINGS PARENTS SHOULD KNOW
BEFORE CHOOSING A SUMMER CAMP
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