One of the local Goddard Schools also distributed a Summer 2012 Calendar. The weekly themes they will be using are:
Dive Into Summer!
Into the Deep
Farming and Gardening Adventures
A Camping We Will Go!
Over the Bridge
Into the Woods
Incredible Insects
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Ravenous Reptiles
Going Wild
Rockin Geology
Fun in the Sun!
Each day lists something for the day, but many are generic like "special snack" or "make a splash." Some days focus on crafts: tie dye day, candle making, build a bridge, make a bird house, make a volcano, make a pet rock and plant a seed.
Other days are dress-up or costumes: wear sunglasses, dress like a pirate, dress like a farmer, pajama day, wear a bug shirt, and wear beach gear.
There are also field trips or outdoor activities: ice cream truck visit, storyteller visit, movie day, hike over a bridge, visit a park, bug hunt, visit fish hatchery, visit science museum, theater trip, McDonald's lunch, costume party, music visit, visit horse farm, and cave visit.
Active days seem to be: Volley ball contest, panning for gold, skipping rocks, soak up the sun, surf's up, ride the waves and nature walk.
What I love about calendars like these is that you can use ideas from them to create your own theme weeks and activities. For instance, I like the theme week "Into the Woods." I would probably do this with a nature hike with a scavenger hunt to collect objects like leaves and rocks. Each kid would get their own plastic bag to collect "treasures." I would probably have the second day going to the library to get tree books and do leaf rubbings and identify the trees and rocks.
If the week is busy, we'd go to our local park. If we have time, I'd drive to a local state park, pick up a park map and hike a trial. We'd use the map and practice map and compass skills while we're there. I'm sure fallen leaves are fine to take, but check the park's policy on rocks or any other items.
I love the theme of a "Bridge" week. We have a couple local covered bridges, so visiting them would be fun. There are also many covered bridges in Bucks County and I'd love to do a driving tour one day to see them, but that would take us a full day. Plus we could get some non-fiction books from the library on types of bridges. This would be great early in summer, because as we travel we could be on the lookout for types of bridges, take photos of them and create a little mini photo album with all the photos. The best part is that the kids would be learning about engineering without realizing it!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Weekly Themes
For ideas for weekly themes for your summer activities, here is a list of what our local YMCA offers for their camps:
Little Picasso Camp
Jr. Chef's Camp
Dance Camp
Football Camp
Science Adventure Camp
Basketball Camp
Zoo Keeper Camp
Field Hockey Camp
History Camp
Tennis Camp
Wrestling Camp
Drama Camp
Golf Camp
Adventure Camp/Extreme Camp
- this is a trip to a local camp with hiking, tubing and archery
Little Princess Camp
Advanced Art Camp
Soccer Camp
Little Pirates Camp
Science Camp
Lacrosse Camp
Volleyball Camp
Track & Field Camp
Gymnastics Camp
Beauty Camp
The cost of the camps range from $70 for those that are probably just taught at the school to $195 for Extreme Camp where they take the kids to an operating camp. The ones that offer field trips to things like the zoo, a science center or art studio, the cost is $112.
Most of the camps are 3 hours in either the afternoon or morning. But the Little Picasso Camp is $80 for 1 1/2 hours on-site.
Little Picasso Camp
Jr. Chef's Camp
Dance Camp
Football Camp
Science Adventure Camp
Basketball Camp
Zoo Keeper Camp
Field Hockey Camp
History Camp
Tennis Camp
Wrestling Camp
Drama Camp
Golf Camp
Adventure Camp/Extreme Camp
- this is a trip to a local camp with hiking, tubing and archery
Little Princess Camp
Advanced Art Camp
Soccer Camp
Little Pirates Camp
Science Camp
Lacrosse Camp
Volleyball Camp
Track & Field Camp
Gymnastics Camp
Beauty Camp
The cost of the camps range from $70 for those that are probably just taught at the school to $195 for Extreme Camp where they take the kids to an operating camp. The ones that offer field trips to things like the zoo, a science center or art studio, the cost is $112.
Most of the camps are 3 hours in either the afternoon or morning. But the Little Picasso Camp is $80 for 1 1/2 hours on-site.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Budgeting Summer Activities
So, in my last post I talked about budgeting your summer activities. Here are some examples I'm using for myself this summer.
Our local YMCA has a one week (5 day) baseball camp in July. It's from 9 to noon each day and costs $87. For my three kids, that would be $261. Instead of sending the kids to this, we might have our own baseball "camp" at home (and I get to pick which week we do it).
I need to add that none of my kids have played T-ball or Little League, so for us, we need to buy all the equipment to do this. Many families might have some of these things at home already.
For about $24 I can get a dozen kid-friendly baseballs. Plus $14 for a wooden bat. For $12 each I can get three mitts for $36. That's $74. (If money is an issue for you, ask friends and relatives what their kids may have outgrown or what you can borrow. Many times people are more than happy to clean out their garage and give away items they no longer use.)
I might borrow the neighbor kids to make this more fun and take them all to one of the local parks with a baseball field for two days. Another two days we might just toss and field balls in the yard. (Moms, if you need a little down time, take a book along and after baseball and a snack and drink, let the kids play on the playground equipment while you relax.)
If your husband works, pick a day when he can take the kids out and toss baseballs so the kids can show him what they learned. Maybe he'll have more tips for them. (You guessed it, Moms, this also gives you a break because with running bases and fielding, you'll need it!)
Check your local library for books about learning baseball, novels with a baseball theme, biographies about famous baseball players, and movies about baseball (already I'm thinking about The Bad News Bears and Field of Dreams). Request items up to two weeks before your baseball week so you're ready. Plus, when the kids see all the supplies and items together waiting, it gets them excited for the "event."
We could top off the week with a family trip to the nearby Reading Phillies, where for $9 for reserved seats we can watch a minor league game and see professionals using the baseball skills we learned at home. (That's a total of $45 for tickets; parking is free).
The final cost for our baseball camp is $193, which is $68 less than the Y camp. Plus, we have equipment we can use again, the kids read some new books for the summer reading program, and we had the experience of a minor league baseball game and quality family time.
I find the budgeting useful because, even though the local minor league games aren't too expensive, by the time you add in driving and food it can seem that way. The budget shows that if the food at the game costs about $68 you're at least breaking even.
And, anytime you're buying tickets to an activity or event check for package deals. Reading Phillies has a deal that for $23 per person you can get your ticket and an all-you-can-eat buffet meal. If your family wants more than one hot dog and you're willing to count it as a meal out, it might be worth the money.
Our local YMCA has a one week (5 day) baseball camp in July. It's from 9 to noon each day and costs $87. For my three kids, that would be $261. Instead of sending the kids to this, we might have our own baseball "camp" at home (and I get to pick which week we do it).
I need to add that none of my kids have played T-ball or Little League, so for us, we need to buy all the equipment to do this. Many families might have some of these things at home already.
For about $24 I can get a dozen kid-friendly baseballs. Plus $14 for a wooden bat. For $12 each I can get three mitts for $36. That's $74. (If money is an issue for you, ask friends and relatives what their kids may have outgrown or what you can borrow. Many times people are more than happy to clean out their garage and give away items they no longer use.)
I might borrow the neighbor kids to make this more fun and take them all to one of the local parks with a baseball field for two days. Another two days we might just toss and field balls in the yard. (Moms, if you need a little down time, take a book along and after baseball and a snack and drink, let the kids play on the playground equipment while you relax.)
If your husband works, pick a day when he can take the kids out and toss baseballs so the kids can show him what they learned. Maybe he'll have more tips for them. (You guessed it, Moms, this also gives you a break because with running bases and fielding, you'll need it!)
Check your local library for books about learning baseball, novels with a baseball theme, biographies about famous baseball players, and movies about baseball (already I'm thinking about The Bad News Bears and Field of Dreams). Request items up to two weeks before your baseball week so you're ready. Plus, when the kids see all the supplies and items together waiting, it gets them excited for the "event."
We could top off the week with a family trip to the nearby Reading Phillies, where for $9 for reserved seats we can watch a minor league game and see professionals using the baseball skills we learned at home. (That's a total of $45 for tickets; parking is free).
The final cost for our baseball camp is $193, which is $68 less than the Y camp. Plus, we have equipment we can use again, the kids read some new books for the summer reading program, and we had the experience of a minor league baseball game and quality family time.
I find the budgeting useful because, even though the local minor league games aren't too expensive, by the time you add in driving and food it can seem that way. The budget shows that if the food at the game costs about $68 you're at least breaking even.
And, anytime you're buying tickets to an activity or event check for package deals. Reading Phillies has a deal that for $23 per person you can get your ticket and an all-you-can-eat buffet meal. If your family wants more than one hot dog and you're willing to count it as a meal out, it might be worth the money.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Summer Countdown
I've started my planning by starting a folder of all the summer program and camp information I've picked up and the kids have brought home from school.
Watch for early registration discounts! The kids are already signed up for a science camp because there was an early registration discount and a multiple child discount. So, that's one full week of summer planned.
I'm not sure if I'll sign them up for any more camp programs, but I save all the papers so I can see prices and theme/activity ideas.
For budgeting, see how much it would cost to send all your kids to camp for one week. Then, check the hours they'd be in camp. You can use an average of this cost to set your own budget for activities. I'll post more on this next time.
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