Saturday, March 21, 2009

Cheap Camps

By Lonnie Lorenz

Camp is as important as school in a child's development. c Through activities and play, children learn a wide range of skills and develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Children learn by doing, living, and experiencing things for themselves with out parental intervention. It's one thing to do things at home, but quite another to to be independent and do them for yourself.

Residential camps can be downright expensive, even if the experiences are worth every penny. If you're trying to figure out how you can afford to send your child to summer camp, consider the following cost saving ideas.Cheap Camp

Current private campers especially those on the east coast, are now looking at alternatives that might be far less expensive. One way to save is to look in the midwest. Savings can be a much as thirty percent after airfare.

For many you may need to change your private camps look to alternative programs that might be similar to what you have done in the past yet less expensive. This is just a matter of shopping on the internet for price. See Swift Nature Camp as a wonderful value camp.Adventure Camp

Parents can also choose a less expensive overnight camp program, such as a YMCA or a even a church program. These summer camps can save sometimes half compared to a private camp.

Park Districts also offer a day summer camp. These are usually the most cost effective, however, day camps generally do not offer the same array of activities and benefits that an overnight summer camp provides.

Most importantly, most camps do have discounts and campership programs, yet rarely do these programs make camp free. Each individual camp determines how to run their own discounts, it's important to ask the director how to take part in a campership program to help make camp affordable for you.

If these areas still leave summer camp out of the question the ACA (American Camp Association) recommends: * Parents should inquire into whether the camp participates in income-eligible subsidy programs, for instance through Title XX. * A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses for qualified dependents that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or to attend school full time. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information. * In certain circumstances, day care expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services and paid with pre-tax dollars. Visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for more information. * Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: The IRS allows an income tax credit of up to $6,000 of dependent care expenses if you have two or more dependents (up to $3,000 for one dependent). The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. This applies to qualifying day camp expenses as well. Visit the FSA Feds Web site for more information.

All camps are not the same and cost is often reflected in quality of programs. Do your homework to ensure a quality experience for your child. Camps can cut costs by useing volunteers while others have paid staff. Generally speaking camps have more control over paid staff. Also asl about counselor-to-camper ratios to determine how many campers are sleeping in each cabin with how many children. It's best if counselors are over 18.

Search out the total cost of the camp. This should include not only tuition, but transportation, camp store, spending money, laundry, off-site trips, and uniforms (if required). Ask about how deposits and if it is refundable. When are fees due?

Regardless of cost, you want to ensure that your child will be safe and will return home at the end of the program. One way to make sure your camp is safe is to be sure they are a member of of the American Camp Association. The ACA ensures that over 300 standards are met in their accreditation process.

Remember the experience of being a kid? The summers seem long, and camp create a lifetime of memories. For many adults, these recollections of youth at camp are some of their best. Do what you need to save money at camp this summer but what ever don't let summer camp pass your child by this year.

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