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.
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