Luckily, many local summer camps offer mid-winter and spring break options so the kids can have fun and adventure right near home.   You’ll find many options on  Sign Up for Camp.

Sign Up for Camp will be at the French American International School camp fair on Saturday, February 4, 9:30-12:30.

• 50+ camps representing PreK 3 – high school
• Day and overnight camps, sports, arts & crafts, performing arts, science & nature, music as well as travel abroad programs and more!
• Entrance is free and you’ll have a chance to win $100 off your camp tuition
• The Summer Camp Fair is an annual parent initiative of the Lower School Parent Board of French American International School

Join us Saturday, February 4th 2012 from 9:30am to 12:30pm in the French American International School Gym located at 151 Oak Street at Franklin Street.

Join Sign Up For Camp’s free email newsletter for a chance to win!  Or write a camp review or share your camp calendar for more ways to win.  

Deadline: Enter by April 30, 2012.

Prizes:  Two winners will be randomly selected.  The SF Bay Area winner can choose between a free week of Camp Galileo or Galileo Summer Quest.  The East Coast winner will receive a free week at any ESF summer camp.  For more details see the Official Rules.

	At Camp Galileo, campers grades preK-5th engage in hands-on art, science and outdoor activities every day, plus have tons of fun with camp traditions like dress up days, water day and the rubber chicken cheer.  Camp Galileo has 20 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
	At Galileo Summer Quest, 5th to 8th graders dive into majors they love, like digital filmaking, culinary arts, video game design, fashion design.  Galileo Summer Quest has 10 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
	ESF Summer Camps offer a unique assortment of customized camps that appeal to children of all ages with varied interests. We have filled our camps with the perfect blend of education, sports, and fun.  ESF Summer Camps have 9 locations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland.

Every so often we conduct interviews with camp directors to collect advice for parents looking for unique experiences for their kids.  We recently exchanged emails with Toby Foote, founder of Classroom Antics Tech Camps, which has 13 locations in Ohio.  

Learn more about Classroom Antics Tech Camps at SignUpForCamp.com.

- Keep a journal of your child’s thoughts and feeling about each camp. Not only will this help you to evaluate the camp, but it will also illuminate your child’s interests as they grow and change over the years, making it easier to find those perfect camps each summer. Also note the quality of your own interactions with the camp: was it easy to get accurate information, to enroll, to converse with staff when necessary, etc.

- Post reviews of the camps where other parents can find the information. The summer camps website Sign Up for Camp, www.signupforcamp.com, houses a review section where your insights will reach hundreds of parents.

- Fill out any feedback forms that the camp distributes. If forms aren’t available, call or email the director with a few specific points about the camp’s strengths and weaknesses from your child’s and your own perspective. Often times people just go happily about their business when they are satisfied – so make a point to give positive feedback as well as to discuss any concerns.

Delaware Valley Area Discounts

Curious Jane Camp, Springside (Philadelphia, PA) and Shipley (Bryn Mawr, PA)
Curious Jane still has spaces for July 11 – 31 at Springside and August 1 – 19 at Shipley!  Discounts: $25-off per week for both multi-week and friends-and-family enrollment.
Curious Jane is for girls 8-11 and CJ Junior is for girls 5-7 – with great ‘themes’ like Toy Design, Life Science, DIY Fashion, Story Arts and Robotics.

Saginaw Day Camp, Oxford, PA
Children or grandchildren of active or retired personnel or employees of the U.S. Military, or any fire or police department receive a discount of $50 per week
Saginaw Day Camp provides a wide variety of activities including a comprehensive athletics program, instructional and recreational swimming, an adventure course and zip-line, ATVS, arts & crafts, Laser Tag, Go-Karts and much more.

Mercersburg Summer Programs, Mercersburg, PA
10% discount off on Mercersburg Adventure Camp Session 1(June 26-July 8), Teen Adventure Camp Session 1(June 26-July 8), Teen Adventure Camp Session 2(July 10-July 22), Mercersburg Summer Theatre Workshop((July 3-15), and our Young Writers Camp (July 3 – 15). Cannot be combined with other discounts and can only be used for new enrollments.
Nestled in the mountains of south-central Pennsylvania, our beautiful campus provides the perfect setting for a wide range of opportunities for learning, personal growth and, most importantly, fun.

San Francisco Bay Area Discounts

Rhythmix Cultural Works Summer Camps, Alameda, CA
$25 discount for Rockin’ Ukes & Circus Arts OR Capoeira & Thingamakids Eco-Instrument Building sessions. Write “SUFC-DISCOUNT” in the info box when registering before July 15.
Only a few spots left for ages 7-12. 9am-3pm, Before/After care available.

Golden Gate Tutoring Summer Camps, San Anselmo, CA
$40 off Lil’ Monet Art Camp on July 18-21
Children enrolled in Lil’ Monet Art Camp explore the world of color and painting through watercolor, acrylic and collage on illustration board, natural wood and stretched canvas. A snack and storytime break provide a relaxing moment between two guided art sessions each day. Students share their work in an Open Studio evening.

Peninsula Youth Theatre, Mountain View, CA
$50 off Magic Fishbone session on July 25 – Aug 5. Type code SUFC50 in the coupon field when you register. Valid for new registrations only.
Campers not only act, but also design and construct the sets, props and costumes

Dezign Kidz, Los Altos, CA
$30 off all Artistic Accessories sessions through 7/25.
Mention discount code LMC when registering.
Learn to design, sew and make original jewelry, scarves, purses, hair accessories and more! For creative kids 7-12.

The Dance Affair, San Jose, CA
Receive $50 off your camp fee when you mention Sign Up For Camp
Camps for children ages 3- 15. Half day and full day camp options. All camps are themed and packed with lots of arts, crafts, dance and good fun!

Pixie Hall Studios,  San Francisco, CA
10% off when you mention Sign Up For Camp
Four themes to choose from: Textiles & Sewing, Heroes & Heroines, Puppetry & Theater, Inventions & Toy Making.

Studio 4 Art, Novato CA
$25 discount for referring a friend in the month of August. Not to be combined with any other offer or discount.
Explore, Educate and Experiment are encompassed in Studio 4 Art’s summer camp program. Low child to teacher ratios. Project lead learning with choices in drawing, cartooning, painting (acrylic and oil), ceramics, wheel throwing, sewing, collage, mixed media, mosaics, silk screening and printmaking.

Wheel Kids Bicycle Club, San Francisco, CA
10% off sessions in August if you mention Sign Up For Camp on your registration form. Weekly camp sessions available until Labor Day.
Wheel Kids is an adventure and exploration summer day camp focused on bicycling and improving bicycling skills and self-confidence.

Urban Adventure Camps, Oakland, CA
Sign up for one of the weeks below, put “SPECIAL DISCOUNT” in the referral box and we will send you a $50 refund check for each camp you sign your camper(s) up for.  Weeks available for the special discount are:
7/18 – 7/22: History, Physics/Technology
7/25 – 7/29: Art, History
8/1 – 8/5: Art
8/8 – 8/12: Bio/Natural Science, Physics/Technology
Urban Adventure Camps is a unique day camp that take campers on daily field trips around the Bay Area to major museums, science centers and urban attractions.

Trans-Atlantic Soccer: ‘Coaches in Kilts’ Soccer Camp, Corte Madera & Campbell, CA
Two campers for the price of one! Trans-Atlantic Soccer are offering two campers for the price of one at all of their ‘Coaches in Kilts’ Soccer Camps in Corte Madera and Campbell. Simply download a mail-in form from the website at http://www.transatlanticsoccer.com/coaches-in-kilts-camp/ or call Camp Director Liam Hughes. Our ‘Coaches in Kilts’ Soccer Camp is the most culturally rich camp experience available to children ages 5 – 15. Imagine learning the training secrets of Europe’s top soccer clubs from professional Scottish soccer players, taking part in ancient Scottish Highland game-themed challenges, and experiencing life as part of a Scottish clan – all in one action-packed camp adventure!

Take My Word For It!  Oakland, Piedmont and San Francisco, CA
Bring in two other campers and receive 25% off your child’s tuition (they do not have to attend the same session as your child). When your fellow parent(s) register, kindly tell them to mention “sweet deal” in an email to us and to use your name as a referral.  Also, 10% sibling discount and 10% discount for kids who’ve been enrolled in one of our after-school or community classes.
Looking for a creative adventure for your child this summer? Check out Paper & Palette: Creative Writing and Art Camps in East Bay and San Francisco.

Clearly, from camp director perspective, the most important thing you can do to prepare your child for camp is to talk to your child beforehand about the camp.

Let your child know what to expect at camp.

• Review the camp website or brochure with your child, showing them pictures and discussing the activities that they will be doing.
• Let them know what the camp day schedule is like.   Many camps have an example of their daily schedule on their websites.
• Discuss what there will be in terms of snacks and meals. Are meals from home or provided at camp?
• Tell them how long will they stay.  Will they be picked up after a half-day, even if other campers stay all day, or will they stay until late afternoon?   Who will pick them up?
• Especially for younger children, many camp directors encourage visiting the camp before it begins.  Some camps have specific orientation days, and most will allow visits.  Meeting the camp staff beforehand can be very helpful for both the child and the parents!  Try to attend the parent information session if there is one.

Encourage your child to be independent. Talk positively about how much fun they will have.

• A child is more likely to have fun if that’s their expectation.   Mike Dobson of Urban Adventure Camps describes it like this:

Help kids get excited.  Children feed off of what parents tell them.  If a parent sends them off in awe about what a great experience they are going to have on that day or that week, the child arrives at camp with a great attitude that is immediately contagious throughout the group.  The same goes the opposite way, if a parent is hesitant when they are leaving them or says things like, “I am going to miss you so much” or “I don’t know what I will do without you”, the children take them literally and it can really stress them and put a damper on their entire experience.

• Avoiding a long separation process during drop-off can help with this as well.  You can even plan with your child beforehand for how the drop-off will go, so they know you won’t be staying past the sign-in procedure.  You can even discuss exactly what you will say to send them on to their day.

Talk to your child each day about their experience at camp and give the camp director feedback if needed.

• Each night ask your child what they liked at camp, and what the plans are for the next day.
• If they are not having a good time, let the camp director know.  In general, camp directors are some of the most kid-friendly people you can find, and they really want their campers to have fun.  They typically want to know right away if there is an issue.  Talking to them at the beginning of the week could hugely impact how much your child enjoys the rest of the experience.

Here are a couple other suggestions, particularly for the first day. 

• Read the camp materials well ahead of time so you know what your child needs to bring with them to camp.  Is any special equipment or clothing needed? How about a hat and/or sunscreen if outside all day?
• Make sure your child knows what’s in their backpack.  Even very young children can help pack it up themselves so they can find what they need.
• Allow extra time the first day to make sure you are on time.  If your child arrives late it can feel stressful to everyone, and your camper might miss important introductions and/or instructions.

For sleep-away camp, prepare for possible homesickness ahead of time.

• Most sleep-away camps are well-prepared to handle homesickness, since it’s not at all unexpected.  Read what the camp has to say on their website about how they handle it and how you can help ahead of time.  Talk to the camp director if you are particularly concerned.
• Take a look at interviews with directors from these camps  to read more about homesickness and other issues specific to the sleep-away experience:  Blue Tree Camp, Mercersburg Academy Summer Programs, The Experiment in International Living.

Summer camp is fantastic experience for the kids.   A little communication with both your child and the camp can assure that everyone starts having fun right away.

Every so often we conduct interviews with camp directors to collect advice for parents looking for unique experiences for their kids.  We recently exchanged emails with Laura Kelly, summer camp director at The Handwork Studio, which has six locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.   Laura spent her entire life working with kids so it was only natural that she became a camp director seven years ago when The Handwork Studio took their year round arts education program and developed it into a summer camp program.

With so many camps available, how can parents find the right camp for their child?  Any specific advice on selecting an art and fashion camp?

Knowing what your goals as a parent are for summer camp will help you find the camp that is best for your child.  Think about what you need: child care, enrichment, a unique experience, to learn a specific skill (SAT tutoring, math, science, art, horseback riding), sleep away.  If you don’t know exactly what you would like, but you just want your child to have fun, then the good news is your options today are really endless!  In that situation I’d suggest looking for something that is convenient for you as a parent.  How close to is the camp to your home?  Do they have before and after care if you need it?  Are they reputable?

When looking specifically for an arts and fashion camp you’ll want to ask:

• What skills and techniques will my child learn?
• If machine sewing or fashion, will my child have their own sewing machine?
• If taking a fashion program, will my child get to design, create and sew their own fashions?
• What is the experience of the fashion counselor?
• Will I have to buy and bring my child’s own supplies or will everything be provided?

What other questions should a parent ask a camp?

• What is the ratio of campers to counselors?
• Is someone CPR certified?
• Do you do background checks on your counselors?
• What is your peanut policy?
• What is the mission and philosophy of the camp?
• How will my child’s day be structured?
• Are they listed with the Better Business Bureau? If so, what is their score?

Some kids attend as many as 10 weeks of summer camp. The summer can seem long. Any tips on preventing camp burn-out?

Pick a camp where the curriculum changes from week to week.  With all the different choices available, have your child try all kinds of new experiences.  Go to camp with different friends on different weeks. 

How should parents help kids prepare for camp?

Camp can be scary for young children or first time campers.  Perhaps finding a camp that can introduce the idea of camp gradually would be helpful, those with half day or afternoon programs.  If your child is really young, find out what the camp policy is about a parent staying at the camp until the child is comfortable.  If the camp is unwilling to let you stay for a bit, you may want to choose a different camp that lets the parent stay for a transitional period.  If your child is especially nervous, have them come by and meet their camp counselor before camp begins so that is one less thing they have to worry about.  Sending them to camp with a friend can also be helpful.

Tell us what is special about The Handwork Studio camp?

The Handwork Studio is a needle arts and fashion camp.  We teach kids arts such as knitting, crocheting, embroidery, machine sewing and fashion in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.  We are as much about loving, nurturing and making your child feel special as we are about teaching needle arts.  Our instructors are trained to patiently teach the kids different skills through the completion of really cool projects.  Our days are structured around a series of activities and breaks so the kids are engaged throughout the day.  Our curriculum changes from week to week so if you need multiple weeks, projects won’t be repeated.

Read more about The Handwork Studio at SignUpForCamp.com.

Summer is a great time for your child to have a week filled with musical fun.  Many, many camps incorporate some sort of music into their regular day.  But some children can really enjoy (and benefit from) a week that is primarily about music.  “School of Rock” type camps are becoming more and more popular for school-aged children and up, and can be a great time to experiment with playing in a band.

For middle school and high school students, music camp may even be required for school participation in band, orchestra or choir.  Such a week of strong focus can really result in a boost in skill, advancement in theory understanding and increased confidence playing alone and in different ensembles.

There are many, many types of music camps.  Here’s a sample of music camps (and specialized camp sessions) from SignUpForCamp.com.   Many more camps of all types are listed on the website, so make sure to browse there too.   For additional ideas, particularly for older children and teens, check with your local schools and music schools.  This article about some prominent music camps may give you some ideas of what to look for.

San Francisco Bay Area Music Camps

La Playa Music Summer Camp, San Francisco
Offers children and youth 5-16 years of age an opportunity to explore their creativity, meet new friends, learn to play an instrument and develop skills through fun activities.

Jingle Jamboree: Exploring Music, Albany
This camp features music reading and writing, new folk music games, simple piano lesson,instrumental performances on some or all of the following instruments: violin, trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, flute and piano.  Grades K-5^th.

JAMCamp with Charity Kahn, San Francisco
Created and guided by award-winning family musician and educator Charity Kahn of “Charity and the JAMband,” JAMcamp offers music, dance, art, yoga and creative drama experiences for kids aged 4-9.

Jam Camp West, Loma Mar
This is a 7-day co-ed sleep away music and dance camp held in the stunning redwoods of Loma Mar California. JAM CAMP WEST offers a creative and fun  experience for youth ages 10 through 15 exposing them to contemporary musical trends along with  the cultural underpinnings of jazz.

Bay Area Discovery Museum: Summer Time Rock Out, Sausalito
Together with professional musicians and entertainers Brian Gorman and Marcus Stoesz (aka Rainbow Beast) campers will form a rock band, write an original rock song, and get creative with fun music and performance related games and activities.  Grades  1^st-5^th.

Delaware Valley (Philadelphia Area) Music  Camps

School of Rock, Fort Washington and Berwyn, PA
Summer Performance Camp  focuses on improving performance and musical skills by covering music theory, instrumental and rehearsal techniques and performance practice.  It’s a great way to learn a lot in a short amount of time but is meant for students who, at a minimum, are able to play basic chords and rhythms.   Grades 6^th-12^th.

Summer Spree at Community Art Center:  Rock and Roll Summer, Wallingford, PA
This program is an introduction to rock band performance, open to musically-inclined students ages 10-17 who are interested in developing multi-instrumental skills.  Some previous experience is necessary and the goal is for each student to work toward performing one song on every instrument (vocal, guitar, bass and drums).

Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music, Philadelphia, PA
Music instruction in keyboard, percussion, voice, dance and recorders with weekly camper performances. In the afternoons there are chess tournaments, Scrabble, swimming, cultural trips and recreational activities.  Sliding fee scale and scholarships available.  Ages 5-13 years.

United Friends Summer Camp: Born to Drum, Quakertown, PA
Got a kid who loves music? Let them embrace their “inner Ringo” at Drum Camp. From Tito Puente to Ringo Starr, learn to play at the beat of your own drum. Campers will create their own percussion instruments and take several walking field trips to explore the hidden music all around them.  There’s also a performance by guest African Drummers.  Ages 4-9.

Search for more music camps at Sign Up For Camp.

Luckily, camps are starting to respond to this need for more flexible scheduling.  Below are a few examples of Bay Area and Delaware Valley camps which offer more options than just weekly registration.  A couple are so flexible you could actually drop your child off at the last minute for a day of camp.  Most require some pre-paid days, registration, and/or some notice so they make sure the camp is properly staffed.  At a few camps the one-day registration process may not be very clear on their website, so don’t hesitate to call them for help.  (We find summer camp folks to be pretty friendly!)  So read the fine print and do the leg-work ahead of time if you think you might need to take advantage of one of these camps.

Bay Area Flexible Camps

Create it Ceramics
This paint-your-own-pottery and glass fusion place in Palo Alto, CA accepts daily campers (upon availability) at the rate of $70 per day, all materials included (ages 5 to 13, 9:30am-1pm,  or ages 10-13, 2-5pm).  It is an all-art weekly camp designed to inspire the creativity of each artist.  Open to boys and girls ages 5 and up.   Right now they are also offering 10% off registration for any weekly camp.  Must use coupon code:  signup10.  Cannot be combined with other discounts and can only be used for new enrollments.  Deadline:  June 15th.   (No discount available on daily rate.)

Camp Doodles
Three locations in Marin, plus now three convenient pick-up locations in San Francisco,  provides many Camp Doodle options.  Register for any number of weeks ($300 per week before 6/1) or days ($75 per day).  Their whole-summer option is $1800, plus a bit more for extended care.  Optional hot lunch is available for purchase at all locations.  Camp day runs from 9:00am – 3:30pm, with earlier/later pick-up/drop-off from San Francisco.

Kids Outdoor Club
This camp meets in Speedway Meadow of Golden Gate Park, but travels within the park and elsewhere in the city.  There’s a 5-day punch-card option ($425) which you can use any time during the summer on a drop-in basis.  Full day camp runs from 9am – 5pm, with an extended day option.   There’s also a punch card  for their half-day program (9:00-1:30) for a bit less ($325).  Once you have the punch card you can drop-in any day without advanced notice.    Note:  There’s  a punch card discount of 10% through May 30th.

One Martial Arts Day Camp
At this camp in San Francisco you can sign up by the day, half-day or week ($375).   You do need to register in advance to allow proper staffing, so this isn’t one you can drop-in at the very last minute.  Camp runs from 7:30am – 6pm for no additional charge.

Andy Harader Tennis
This camp in Palo Alto, for kids 7-16,  has a daily rate of $70 available.  You can register in advance on their website to let them know the dates you are planning to attend.  This sounds like a perfect option if you have another full week of tennis camp and want to add on a few more days for extra practice. Camp is half-day only, 9am – 12pm.

Marin Horizon Summer Day Camp
Marin Horizon has themed weeks of camp for preschoolers through 3rd grade.  They have a 4-day per week option, but no single day options.  This might be a great choice on a week you head out for vacation on a Friday or come back on a Monday.   Half-day options for preschoolers are available too.  Camp runs from 9:00am – 3:00pm, with extended care available.

Steve and Kate’s Camp
With 19 Northern CA locations, Steve and Kate’s sets the bar for maximum flexibility.  They’ve been going strong since 1980 and have the logistics down pat.  You can buy any number of days ($75 per day) and use them anytime at any location. Unused days are fully refunded automatically. Alternatively, the “20-Day Bundle”  is just enough to get in the groove and is  a great deal at $1200 ($60 per day).  But the best value of all is the All Summer Membership at $2100.  (This is less than $50 per day, if you take full advantage.)   Camps are open from 7:30am – 6pm and include all lunches, snacks and drinks.  (And the food sounds fantastic BTW.)

Delaware Valley Flexible Camps

Kids on 12th at the Philadelphia Kids Club
This camp for kids ages 3-12 years has both half-day and full-day daily-rate options.  The early bird discount of  $40 (half-day) and $60 (full-day) is still in effect if paid in full by 5/31, but goes up to $52/$67 after that.  You do need to pre-register your camper for specific days.   Full days run from 8:30am- 4pm with an extended day option.

Camp AIM-Performing and Visual Arts (Arts in Motion)
This is a very flexible camp in Cherry Hill, NJ, offering everything from hip hop to ceramics.  They offer a good 10 week discount ($2000 for the summer), a classic weekly schedule,  a T/W/Th option,  as well as a daily rate of $70 and single classes for $14 per hour.    They also have a great 50% sibling discount.  Standard full-day camp runs from 8:30am – 5pm.

Club La Maison
Club La Maison in Wayne, PA, is  swim camp plus much more for children ages 3-10 years old. They offer a traditional 5 day week, plus T/Th or M/W/F options. Half-days or extended care are also available.

Ellison Explorers and Little Explorers
Ellison has themed camps for age 2 through 6th grade.  Due to popular demand they now offer 2 and 3 day per week options.  A full day is 9am -3pm (weekly cost $175) with extended care from 7:30am, and until 5:30pm, for no additional charge.