Trust me, before you can say “April showers bring May flowers,” some of the best camps in our area will fill up. It’s only April, but it’s not silly to start thinking about summer now. The reality is there are lots of kids, many weeks to fill and only so many spots. Finding the right summer camp for your child can be overwhelming and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Try these:
• ActivityRocket.com is a one-stop resource for finding camps and deals personalized down to where you live, gender, interests and schedule. It’s a social site, too, in the sense you can share camps of interest with other parents.
• CampEasy.com offers a concierge service that helps you plan your child’s itinerary or even multiple kids’ schedules.
• The Certifikid app posts discounts daily on summer, school holiday and sleepaway camps.
• Consider campratingz.com as the TripAdvisor for kids camps
Trending this summer are innovative camps like iSchool in Reston. Kids age 8 and older can enjoy the Amazing Race Around the World or Kitchen Chemistry. The Rio Olympics are inspiring, too. For instance, the Fencing Sports Academy is hosting camps with beginner specials. Aspiring thespian? Go behind the scenes of the theater and learn set design and costuming at Arlington’s Encore Stage and Studio. These days there’s even something really cool for the curious and creative. Consider Crime Scene/CSI Training or laser cutting at the TechShop in Crystal City.
Finally, once you find a camp your child and their friends are interested in, don’t hesitate to contact the director before signing up. Sometimes you can negotiate a group deal and everyone saves!
Good luck!
Angie
Angie Goff from NBC4 and the TODAY Show Parenting Team
What are your plans for summer camp this year? Join the conversation at TODAY.com/ParentingTeam