Are You Ready For The Summer?
It’s February but we’re enjoying this amazing taste of Spring…
And what comes after Spring? Well…Summer of course…
And then the panic sets in…
OMG…it’s almost Summer?!?
What am I going to do with the kids?
And so Summer Camp Planning kicks into high gear.
Day Camps, Sleep Away Camp, Traditional, Sports, and Specialty Camps…
There are a million options when it comes to summer camp and that can definitely be a stressor for busy parents trying to sort through everything and make the best choice for their kiddos.
And you’re not wrong. This is the time to plan ahead for summer.
January, February & March.
You know me…I like to plan ahead. Get organized. And I’m always trying to simply the process. Planning for summer camp is no different. So I wanted to share my tips & tricks, with the help of Jennifer Rosenstein, The Camp Lady
6 Tips to Simplify Summer Camp
Enlist the help of an expert
Last year, my daughter went to sleep away camp for the first time. In the years prior, she attended our local township day camp but she was ready to make the leap. As a busy mom and business owner, I just didn’t have the time to research camps in our area or attend local camp fairs.
Enter Jennifer Rosenstein fromThe Camp Lady. Jennifer specializes in overnight camps throughout the East Coast and teen programs domestically and abroad. Jennifer is passionate about the value of camp in a child’s life–building self esteem, confidence, independence, social skills and most importantly friendships. She works with parents to make sure that children and young adults of all ages can find the summer camp that is best for them.
Did I mention this service is FREE?
By working with an expert in the field you save time, money and reduce the stress. The options are hand-picked, based on The Camp Lady’s years of experience with each camp and your family’s requirements.
All you & your kids need to do is pick the best one!
Prioritize your child’s camp wants & needs
The first step is helping Jennifer get to know your child and your needs/wants for summer camp. During an initial 30-minute phone call, Jennifer will ask a series of questions, including:
- Your child’s age, interests
- Time frame needed
- Local or out of state
- And, of course, budget
Don’t worry if you’re still working through the details. Jennifer will help you along the way. With this information, Jennifer can put together some recommendations on which camps best fit your child’s/family’s needs.
Evaluate the options
Within one week of our initial phone call, brochures, DVDs and other materials from the summer camps that Jennifer had hand-selected started to arrive at our home. As they arrived, my daughter read about each camp and determined which piqued her interest. Since we couldn’t visit each camp, this information was great to have at our fingertips.
Pick your summer camp adventure
After 2 weeks, our daughter decided on a summer sleep away camp. She decided on Camp Cayuga, a co-ed, sleep away camp nestled deep in the Pocono Mountains! It had everything on our daughters wish list.
Finalize the details
After the decision was made, we started working on…All the paperwork:
- Camp application
- Camp health forms
- Camp dates and fees
- Camp activity sign ups
It’s important to get all your paperwork in, schedule your deposits, additional fees and register for any a la carte items or activities in advance of sending your child off to camp.
Shopping for summer camp
Your summer camp will also send you a list of recommended and/or necessary items. Schedule a fun day and head out to shop, list in hand. Make sure you cross all items off your list. If your daughter is anything like mine, she’ll be so excited and will want to make certain she has everything.
One stop shopping alert! Jennifer, The Camp Lady also hosts a “camp store” in her home, from February through April, where parents can get almost everything on their packing list.
Carrie Tip: Everything must be labeled (even socks) so invest in a laundry or fabric marker, custom labels so that everything can be clearly and quickly identified.
Summer camp can be such a memorable time for our kids. New adventures, new friends, new found independence. Whether they are headed to day camp for the first time or they are spending 6-8 weeks at sleepaway camp, parents need to be organized. When you are organized, you are more productive, more present, less stressed. The Camp Lady definitely delivered for me in those areas!
Happy Summer Camping!
About Carrie Kauffman
Carrie Kauffman is an award winning professional organizer, member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, Greater Philadelphia Chapter (NAPO-GPC) and owner of Carrie’s Essential Services, LLC. Carrie Kauffman provides organizing services, in homes & offices, on the Main Line and surrounding communities. Carrie’s Essential Services specializes in moving & packing, preparing homes for sale, office setup including filing systems as well as general organizing & de-cluttering.
About Jennifer Rosenstein, The Camp Lady
Jennifer Rosenstein is a lifelong camper who spent many years at both day camp and overnight camp as a camper, CIT and counselor. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons and still maintains many of the friendships that she developed in her years as a summer camper. Jennifer is passionate about the value of camp in a child’s life–building self-esteem, confidence, independence, social skills and most importantly friendships. She works with parents to make sure that children and young adults of all ages can find the summer camp that is best for them.
Phone: 215.694.3357
Email: jennifer@studentsummers.com