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Like most savvy parents, you were probably well aware of the
recession long before the official announcement caused the stock
market to take yet another nosedive. And, like many, you've
probably taken some steps to curb any big spending, or you've
begun cutting the nonessential "fat" from your budget.
The state of the economy may also have you worrying about your
children missing out on the joys of childhood because the purse
strings are simply pulled too tight to factor in a night at the
go-cart track or that family trip to the Grand Canyon. But one
childhood joy that may still be within reach is a life-changing
summer camp experience.
It isn't necessary to break the bank to provide a fun-in-the-sun,
make-new-friends, develop-new-life-skills camp experience for
your child. A number of American
Camp Association-Accredited® camps
offer camp opportunities for as little as $75 per week.
"I'm a great believer in you don't have to
go to the most expensive camp to have a great camp experience," said
Phil Lilienthal, former camp director of Camp Winnebago in Maine
and Global Camps Africa CEO. If you're dealing with an
experienced and caring staff of camp counselors, "you can
have a program in a parking lot, and it can be great," he
said.
Camps
often offer scholarships or other financial aid. And in
keeping with the American Camp Association's (ACA's)
overall desire to see every child experience the magic of camp,
ACA local offices across the country are working to address the
economy-driven financial limitations affecting prospective campers
these days.
"Most ACA-accredited camps offer some sort of assistance,
so it's worth asking," said Bette Bussel, executive
director of ACA, New England.
Michele Branconier, executive director of ACA, Southern California/Hawaii,
agrees. "So many of our [California] camps raise money
of their own to help kids. And organizations like the L.A. Times
and the Community Campership Council in San Diego are a big help,
too," she said.
It's important when doing your research not to rule out
any camp. The critical issue is choosing the camp that's
the best fit for your child.
Lilienthal added, "Get references the same way you get
references for anything else. And talk to other parents."
Once you've narrowed down your list of potential camps
to those you feel offer the programs and staff best suited to
your child's needs and personality, then ask if they offer
financial aid and how to apply.
Bussel does caution against waiting too long to do your research. "The
sooner they apply to various camps the better, because there
are limited scholarship dollars."
It remains to be seen how long this economic crunch will last,
but that doesn't mean you have to put your son or daughter's
childhood on hold. Camp is a child's rite of passage, and
with the cost-effective fees and financial aid options available,
you can bet the last thing on your child's mind at camp
will be the state of the economy.
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