Are you ready for this summer? If you're like many Minnesotans, this summer may be a pared down version of past ones. Perhaps you'll be cutting out the family vacation or maybe replacing it with a "staycation" with no stressful, pricey travel arrangements. But don't downplay another great alternative: summer camp.
 
Day Camp as an Ultimate Daycare

Many parents move summer camp to the top of their plans when other plans become harder to arrange. "Summer camp offers a wonderful outdoor experience at a great value," says Tara Markley, the camp director at Camp Tanadoona.  Compared with what the average family spends on daycare, day camp is extremely reasonable. The median weekly fee for day camps is $182, according to the American Camp Association. That's $2 less than the average weekly cost of childcare in the Twin Cities metro according to the MN Child Care Resource and Referral Network.

 

Tax-free Day Camp
Parents shouldn't miss out on the tax credit they could get from sending their child to Day Camp. Both the federal government and the state of Minnesota permit parents to receive income tax credit for child care expenses, which often include Day Camp. Visit the IRS's Web site for more information about the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. (note: Camp Tanadoona federal tax ID number is 41-0706116).

 

The majority of the youth in Camp Fire's clubs are urban savvy. They know to look both ways before crossing the busy streets in their neighborhoods, not to talk with strangers, and how to navigate the bus system. But, setting up a tent to sleep in the woods -- this idea may illicit bewildered looks that seem to say, "why?" 

 

This response will soon change. The youth in Camp Fire clubs are getting visits from last year's Overnight Camp Director, David Billington (whose "camp name" is Pingu), who will help these youth warm-up to the idea of outdoor camping. 

David will be visiting as many Camp Fire clubs as he can during the coming weeks. The youth in these clubs will have a chance to play camping games, sing camp songs, shout camp cheers, and participate in camp story telling. Some will even practice setting up tents, which were donated by REI's Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids Program. One of Camp Fire's core values is belief in the power of nature to awaken a child's senses, curiosity and desire to learn. "By getting these youth excited about camping, we hope they will be more likely to try new outdoor experiences and feel the joy of learning and playing in nature," says David.

 

The chance to try new outdoor experiences will come quickly, since all these youth have been invited to two field trips out to Camp Tanadoona this spring. During these field trips the youth will engage in an assortment of camping activities. Last year, Camp Fire organized camp field trips for 350 youth.