Summer vacation has parents looking for affordable camps
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Summer vacation is in full swing for many kids now out of school, leaving many parents looking for ways to keep them busy without breaking the bank.
Lifestyle expert Donna Bozzo, also known as "The Lady with the Alligator Purse," shares some affordable and creative options for summer camp.
YMCA Camps
YMCA Metro Chicago offers many affordable specialty, half and full day camps at its 23 centers across the Chicago area. Swimming is included (free) and so are field trips giving kids the chance to explore nature and visit fun and educational places.
YMCA also offers free extended care for parents who need to get off to work early or pick up later, and they offer financial aid.
Prices vary by activity and location, but for example, at their Kelly Hall location, you can sign up for full day, full week camp (M-F 9am-5pm) for $145.
It's not babysitting. YMCA camps:
- Are American Camp Association accredited.
- Have professionally trained staff with over 40 hours of training including First Aid, CPR and AED.
- Are healthy child focused, meaning they are dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children.
- Offer fun field trips.
There is still a lot of space available. To sign up and for more information: www.ymcachicago.org
Adler Planetarium Summer Science Camp
Kids, Teens and Tweens are invited for STEM learning at the Adler Planetarium's Summer Camp (ages 3-14). Visit other worlds, do out-of-this-world science and play next to Lake Michigan this summer. Young space and technology enthusiasts alike will have the opportunity to spend part of their summer exploring space, using telescopes, building rockets, seeing immersive sky shows, programming robots, exploring exhibits, launching high altitude balloons, and more.
Prices vary according to age and program, but for example the Young Scientist Summer Program, a day, full week sessions for preschoolers costs $150 for Adler members and $175 for non-member.
For more information:
Adler Planetarium Summer Science Camp
Additional tips:
Check out your local church. They often times offer summer camps at reasonable prices. For example, Moody Church is offering a soccer camp with the Chicago Eagles for $50 for four days and a basketball camp for $40. Local park districts also offer reasonable summer camps.
Create your own camp at home or create a co-op with other parents and take turn hosting a home summer camp. It is super fun, creative and cooperative as the kids can work on the design together and chose the colors with field trips to the paint store to buy the supplies. Take turns brown-bagging it and taking the kids on the Metra to explore the museums as a group. Or you can create your own science lab at home with easy learning kits.
Estes Rockets. Fun and educational, they teach kids about everything from aerodynamics to Newton's third law of motion and beyond. Sparks interest in STEM.
Science Kits from Insect Lore.
For more information: TheLadyWithTheAlligatorPurse.com
