It’s yet another part of parenthood that takes practically every mom and dad by surprise: summer camp signups. The registrations open early, the deadlines come quick, and the research it takes to navigate the system is an anxiety-inducing, decision-making storm.
Type-A parents will start their search in January; type-B parents will grab something last minute come April. Locally, the free, out-of-school program database Blueprint4 is there for both.
Program manager Abbey Barrow says the platform—searchable by location, interest area, special needs, cost, date and age range, scholarship availability, and more—is the perfect launching pad for your summer camp groundwork. Barrow chatted with SLM about the top things that local parents should know as they choose the right program for their kiddos.
What are the primary factors I should consider while starting the summer camp search?
Cost: First and foremost, Barrow says, narrow your options by building your budget. Many times, she explains, programs that offer scholarships, financial assistance, or sliding-scale tuition have earlier deadlines, more intensive application needs, and more competition. “It’s something every family deals with, trying to make your budget work,” she says. “The earlier you figure out your range, you can figure out what supports you might need in order to make those experiences possible for your kids.”
Location: The next criteria, especially if you have multiple kids, Barrow says, is where the camp is based. “Especially if parents are working or have other commitments, you can’t be driving all over town every single day, dropping kids off at multiple places,” she adds. “So I think being able to find something that fits into your daily routine and is achievable for you to get kids there or find transportation that can get your kiddos where they need to go is probably the next kind of very practical thing to think about.”
Interest Area: Barrow emphasizes the importance of talking to your kids and finding out what they would be excited to do. Allowing them to have a say in their summer plan leads to less morning-of battles and a more fruitful experience overall. “Find out what sparks their interests. What are the things that they haven’t been able to do during the school year, but might like to explore and learn about during the summer?” Barrow says. “We know that, for kids, sometimes it’s difficult to get them out and about and engaging in things. It’s summer. Sometimes we want to relax. We want to watch TV or be on our iPads. We want kids to have those experiences and to be really excited about going to camp. So whether they want to try a little bit of everything, whether they’re really passionate about sports or arts or music, dance, academics, any of those things, there are camps that can help fit their interests and open up doors for them that they didn’t even know existed.”
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When should I start preparing for applications?
Most camps open registrations in January, but you’ll still be able to find options through spring. “January is kind of a time when you’re going to want to hit the ground running and start looking to kind of make those decisions,” Barrow says. “However, that being said, there are camps that are still opened in February, March, April, and May. So if you do miss out on one or it wasn’t able to happen for you this year, I don’t want parents to be discouraged. There are many other options and waitlists are a great option, too.”
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. “I think trying to get a few different irons in the fire as early as possible is the key to success for families, so you’re applying to a couple that you’re interested in.”
Once again, don’t forget about the scholarships. “We hope that Blueprint4 can be a great tool for families as you’re beginning this process, especially in finding financial flexibility,” Barrow says. “We are uploading camps every single day, adding them to our site, and we’ll continue to add more as more camps open up and get their details finalized. So keep checking back if you haven’t found the perfect fit for you!”
Once I’ve narrowed my top picks, what should I ask the program providers?
Get scholarship and registration requirements. “Unfortunately, it’s bit of a headache, frankly, to navigate that process and talk to different providers, especially if you’re registering for multiple camps to fill the full summer,” Barrow says. “Some require documentation; some don’t. Some folks are able to get that program that lasts eight weeks across the summer. Other folks are kind of piecemealing together childcare, vacations, family stays. And each organization will have a different scholarship and registration process.”
Ask development-readiness questions to ensure your kid will have a smooth experience. “It’s really a great conversation for you to have with the camp provider: How do I know what my kid is ready for? Is this an experience that we think would be a good fit at this time?” Barrow adds.
Find out who the adults in the room will be. “Who will be running the program and managing things?” Barrow suggests asking. “Tell me about your ratios and how many staff members there will be to kids. Tell me about the qualifications of your staff. We want folks to be CPR- and First Aid-trained—just think of of all the bumps and scrapes and things that happen during camp process.”
Figure out if you’re comfortable with teen staffers. “Some programs are staffed entirely by older adults, but some have a lot of teen staff, which I think can be great because a lot of younger kids look up to those teens and have so much fun with them,” Barrow says. “But we also know that they are children themselves if they’re under 18, and so you just want to make sure that you know the program managers, the adults in the room, and feel like you have trust in them and their ability to support your kid.”
If your child has special needs, allergies, or other considerations, have that specific conversation with staff members and with your kids. “If the kiddo has an EpiPen or other medical accommodations, that can sometimes be a different conversation about how to make sure that they get the supports they need,” Barrow says. “Are there trained medical staff who can dispense medications? Sometimes, there’s liability issues with programs and medications.”
When is a child ready for camp, and how can I ease the transition?
Most full-day camps in this region only serve youth who have completed kindergarten, but half-day options exist for pre-K enrichment. “It’s not as much age determination, in a lot of cases. It’s more that camps oftentimes want kids who have had a structured school setting, have been able to go somewhere all day long, and therefore might be able to adapt a little bit easier to camp life,” Barrow says. “But I do recommend that families explore programs for the younger kiddos too, and get their kids involved if they can, not only because that gives caregivers a little bit of a break, but it starts kind of preparing kids for those processes.”
Parents often have more camp anxiety than kids. “I think a lot of it is just navigating your own feelings about it and separating where your kid is at versus your care and concern for them and wanting them to be happy and healthy and near you,” Barrow says. “I definitely encourage parents to take that step and talk to their kids and push themselves and push their kids to do something a little bit new and a little bit out of their comfort zone in the summer, because I think that that’s an incredible opportunity for kids to grow, to be challenged in new ways, to find new experiences and new passions. There’s nothing greater than seeing a kid’s face light up when they find something that they love to do.”
A common age for a child’s first short-term (weekend or half-day) overnight camp is 7 or 8. Upper-elementary school students often take the longer week or multi-week leap, and middle and high schoolers often enjoy summer-long college prep or junior counselor experiences. “It can be hard, especially if it’s a kid’s first time away from home or if it’s a parent’s first time away from their kid,” Barrow says. “But camps are really well-equipped to deal with the social-emotional needs of kids.”
There are many different steps you can take leading up to the process, so your kid knows what to expect. “Make sure they know what the timeline is going to be, what the experience might be like, the challenges that might come up—all of those discussions help kids relax into the experience,” Barrow says.
How can I match a camp’s focus with my child’s personality or needs?
There will be some trial and error. “As a parent, you have to be willing to take a little bit of a risk and see what works and see what doesn’t,” Barrow says. “I’ve been really surprised by the kids who come into camp day one and are not feeling it or are really nervous and scared, and then, two weeks later, they’re having the time of their lives. On the flip side, I’ve seen kids be like, Mmm, that wasn’t the best; that wasn’t what I wanted. And that’s OK. So I think just kind of embracing and accepting that it will be a little bit of just trying things out, seeing what your kid likes and doesn’t like, and then using that information to build the summers upon it.”
Talk to your kid about what they really like doing in school, or talk to their teachers about their strengths and needs. “What are the things that maybe they’re struggling with a little bit in school and can use some extra support on during the summer months? We know that learning loss is a really big issue for kids, so are there ways that you could keep them engaged and learning and growing during the summer instead of regressing?”
Search Blueprint4’s database with the filter on for kids with special needs or for gifted students. “If you’re looking for a program that serves kids with special needs, you really want to only look at programs that have the staffing and capacity to do that,” she says. “You will have to talk to the program itself about the needs of your kid, if they have an IEP, whatever the case may be. You’ll just want to discuss that in depth and be honest with program providers; we don’t want to hide things or beat around the bush because you really want them to assess if that’s going to be a safe, fun, great environment for your kid, or if they could recommend some other programs that would be.”
What scheduling strategies do you recommend while juggling multiple summertime considerations—for instance, overlapping camps, vacation, childcare needs, and multiple children?
Write it out. “What helps me personally is just getting a physical calendar in front of me and trying to look at those weeks and plan it out in advance. And then maybe that turns into a family calendar that you keep in your kitchen, or maybe it’s a digital one that you share with your spouse and grandparents and other folks who will be doing transportation,” Barrow says.
Start that calendar early. “As early as January, so that you start to get a sense of where your needs are, and then when you do get things booked, you’re able to fill it in and cross off this week,” Barrow says. “A little bit of color-coding and organization works for me.”
Aim for one program for all your kids. “Sometimes, that is a huge headache if you have a younger kid and an older kid who cannot go to the same program or do not have the same interest,” Barrow says. “So you’re going to multiple pickups and drop-offs, and that can be a lot. But there are programs that do serve a wide range of ages, so I think, sometimes there’s relief for parents if you’re able to go onto Blueprint4 and search the entire age range of your kids and see if there’s a program that could accommodate them.”
What are some hidden gems?
“Although there are so many wonderful programs in the metro, here’s a few that are really unique or under the radar,” Barrow says.
- Circus Harmony: “If you have a kiddo who loves sports, gymnastics, dance, or performing, it’s a really cool way to engage their interests and challenge them with something totally new. Plus, campers get to perform for the audience at the City Museum.”
- Endangered Wolf Center: “This one takes place in Eureka, so it can be hard to get to for some families, but it’s a really incredible experience for nature-, STEM-, and animal-loving kiddos.”
- Municipal Parks and Recreation summer programs: “Most parks and rec departments host their own summer camps—and often winter/spring break programs. They are usually pretty reasonably priced, holistic days camps with discounts for residents. However, some municipalities fill up fast, so check out their registration date in advance.”
- Central Print: “A unique opportunity for young artists to create with a new medium and learn about printing. I think it’s especially cool to have them away from screens. Last year, camps focused on nature and art.”
- Shakespeare Festival: “Especially for older kids and teens who love acting, drama, and the technical side of theatre … or kids who need to get out of their comfort zone a bit. Students get to perform on the big stage in the Glen.”
- Recreation Council: “Not a camp, but an incredible resource for parents of kids with special needs. Their staff will help you find the right program for your kid, and they even have vouchers to help pay for camp.”
- Upper Limits: “Great for adventurous kids or athletes who want a new type of challenge. Available for all skill levels, and has multiple metro locations.”
- Sherwood Forest: “Awesome overnight camp that supports youth for multiple years. Designed to help youth access nature camps who otherwise might not have the chance.”
- Novel Neighbor: “For kiddos who love reading and arts. [They have] fun theme weeks each year.”
- Programs at local colleges for kids and college-prep programs for teens: “Maryville, UMSL, WashU, SLU, and Lindenwood all have camps, clinics, and opportunities for kids to get on campus.”
- Your local library. “I think parents sometimes forget or overlook it, but a lot of times, St. Louis Public Libraries and St. Louis County Libraries have really great free enrichment programming for youth during the summer and during the school year.”
