| Hi read, How are you? How is the start of March going? Ready for spring break? I am!
Working mama with active 13 and 10 year old boys here. As you can imagine, I've done many summers with camp and I've got tips to help you figure out the summer camp thing for your kids.
Set a budget. Summer camps all summer long can get expensive. So, start with a budget. Know how flexible you are with that budget.
Know your own dates for the summer. Have major deadlines this summer? Don't schedule a half-day camp that week or a camp where there is a lot of parent involvement (e.g., final day of show & tell). Put your deadlines on the calendar now.
Put reminders on your calendar. Put dates on your calendar for sign-ups to guarantee you get into the camps your kids most care about. Add anything like having a physical on your calendar/to-do list too so that you don't miss any deadlines.
Stay organized. Before I start signing up for camps, I create a spreadsheet. I indicate on the spreadsheet when the boys are actually registered for camp. Keep all camp stuff (responses, info, etc.) in a folder that you and your significant other can easily access. This might look at a bit different if you're co-parenting.
Figure out their goals/priorities. I know I've shared several tips on the actual registration process, but it helps to know what kids want. I usually start with understanding my kids' priorities and goals for the summer (e.g., fun, learning a new skill, etc.). That dramatically influences which camps I sign them up for and which ones they're no longer interested in.
Sign up for the most popular camps first. There are always going to be camps that are more popular with kids. Make sure you sign up for those first to guarantee that you have them in your rotation for summer.
Know the rules for registering. My boys went to a half-day summer camp for years. Registration was simple and easy. The sister full-day camp. Those rules were tough, albeit simple. Registrations were based on the time stamp from the Post Office. Yep, you read that right. The registration forms were mailed in after being stamped by the Post Office clerk. Many camps have kids on a waitlist the summer before. You get the idea. Do some homework so you know how signing up actually works. Ask your mom friends about their suggestions and advice for camps their kids have previously attended.
Be strategic with what you sign up for. My boys have attended a half-day outdoor sports camp with many ball sports and swimming. We sign up for several weeks in the summer. They come home absolutely exhausted at 1ish. I quickly prepare lunch and then they are mellow for the rest of the day. It's a smaller expense with a big bang for my buck. And they absolutely LOVE it!
Get family and/or friends involved. Would grandparents or an aunt/uncle be interested in doing a cousin camp? Can you trade off days/weeks with a friend in the neighborhood with kids the same age?
Reach out to camps your kids have enjoyed after they age out. Kids age out of some camps, so see if those camps have counselors (your child might even be paid!) We're working on this for a camp my 13YO has aged out of but absolutely loved. He really wants to be a counselor there!
What's your game plan for getting ready for summer camp? I want to know your tips too!
Be well,
Suzanne
PS Don't forget to grab labels for the new clothes and items for your kids. My favorites are TagMates from Mabel's Labels (affiliate link). Keep your kids' clothes and items out of the school lost & found! | 
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