YMCA of Greater Dayton

Join us at one of our 14 area day camp locations for a summer of fun, friends and memories. We offer specialty and teen camp as well as residential camp at YMCA Camp Kern.

Phone: (937) 223­-5201
Address: 14 Area Locations!

 
Dayton Metro Library

Dayton Metro Library’s Summer Challenge encourages reading and learning all summer! There are fun, FREE hands-on activities at all Branch Libraries and everyone in the family – youngest to oldest – can win great prizes. Parents, read to your little ones – you’ll both benefit! Get details and sign up at your Library.

Phone: (937) 463­-2665
Address: 215 E. Third St

 Camp Invention

Since 1990, Camp Invention has taken summer fun and transformed it from ordinary to extraordinary! Local educators lead a week of hands-on activities created especially for 1st-6th graders. Boys and girls will spend their time constructing and personalizing a DIY solar-powered cricket with a unique habitat and taking apart electronics to assemble something new. Lessons explore connections between science, technology, engineering and innovation.

Phone: (800) 968­-4332
Address: Multiple locations throughout the Dayton area!

 
Carillon Historical Park

Settler Survival Camp at Carillon Historical Park 9:00am-4:00pm
Experience the Miami Valley from an early settler’s perspective. Participate in everyday chores and activities that enabled settlers to survive on the wild frontier. Learn about and participate in candle dipping, hearth cooking, musket firing, heirloom gardening, wood working, blacksmithing, and historical games played by children in the 18th century.

Phone: (937) 293­-2841
Address:1000 Carillon Boulevard

 
Washington Township Recreation Center

Washington Township Recreation Center day camps are your child’s summer vacation destination! Offered for age 3 through grade eight; most offer off-site travel options, including Caravan camp, which travels 4x each week! Busy parents won’t want to miss our AM/PM extended care options. Save 5% online with promo code: CAMPFUN. Offer ends May 21.

Phone: (937) 433­-0130
Address:895 Miamisburg-Centerville Road

The First Tee of Greater Miami Valley

We’re excited to offer complimentary programs in partnership with City of Dayton Youth & Recreation Services this summer for kids ages 7-18. The First Tee Life Skills Experience is a curriculum teaching life skills seamlessly with golf skills. It’s divided into four certification levels, starting with PLAYer for new participants.

Phone: (513) 383­-6706
Address: 3116 W. Montgomery Road, Suite C 110, Maineville, Ohio 45039

 Miami Valley Family Care Center: the Early Learning Program of Catholic Social Service

Our Summer Program can transform your child’s summer from uninspiring to unforgettable. It’s hands-on, educational, adventurous, energetic, creative, and offers a full spectrum of activities from field trips to community guests. Seasoned staff provide individual attention and support as children explore, construct and learn their way through summer.

Phone: (937) 268­-0336
Address: VA Medical Center Campus, 4100 W. Third Street, Bldg. 401, Dayton OH 45428

The post 7 Dayton Summer Camps Your Kids Will Love appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

Residential camp a wonderful, growth-filled experience that provides your child with invaluable life lessons on how to be independent, responsible and make diverse friendships. So how do you go about choosing the right sleep-away camp?

First talk it over with your child and discuss his interests. Finding a camp with activities he will enjoy is important, but it’s also a great place to try something different. Encourage your child to try new experiences. Just because he likes soccer, doesn’t mean he might not enjoy learning a new skill, such as arts and crafts.

Next explore the options. Find out about programs each camp offers and ask questions. Sometimes parents find out whether there is quality instruction and enough time for their child to participate in the said activity, and stop there. Take time, however, to learn about other segments of the program too. What concepts or philosophy does the camp espouse? What will your child do through the course of a typical day? If the camp has a brochure, read it carefully, then match it to your agenda and the experience you want for your child.

To determine if your child is developmentally ready for residential camp, do a trial run. Send him to visit a relative for the weekend. How did he do? Did he sleep well? Was he able to care for himself (brush his teeth, take a bath, change his clothes)? Did he adjust to new or different foods? These and other questions will help you decide if your child is ready for the residential camp experience.

On the first day of camp, help your child get settled, then leave; don’t stick around too long. If you drive your child to camp, he may cling to you on the way up. Remember, this is something new, and it’s natural even for a veteran camper to be a little hesitant. Once there, however, many kids will shift from being clingy to feeling embarrassed in front of their friends, and parents are often slow to pick up on this.

Even before sending your child to camp, mail him a letter. This way he’ll have something to open when the mail arrives on the first day. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – a note saying you’re thinking of him and hoping he’s having a good time will do. If your child doesn’t write back during his stay, don’t take it personally. Camp is a full-time job for kids. Some may be inclined to share it all with their parents, others will get so caught up in the moment that promises to write are forgotten. If you don’t hear from him, it probably means he’s having a great time and enjoying his newfound freedom.

Whether your child goes to camp for one week or the whole summer, send a care package. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, just something to let him know you are thinking of him. Just be sure if you are sending food, you know what the rules are about food in cabins, as it could attract bugs and outdoor creatures.

Several weeks before camp, keep your child’s schedule open and stress-free. This will allow him plenty of time to relax and prepare for the big event. In short, plan major summer events like family vacations and camp with a break in between.

Avoid purchasing new clothes for camp. Chances are, they’ll get soiled, stained, or mildewed before they get home – if they even get home! Round up old clothes and shoes and save new items for after camp.

On the last day of camp, arrive on time, and come prepared with a few extra plastic bags. You may need them, especially if your child has wet clothes or muddy shoes that need to be transported.

On the ride home, listen to your child as he shares his experiences with you. And if you look really close you may find he’s grown a little. Not just in height, but in depth of character. Camp has a way of helping kids grow by boosting their self-esteem, increasing their sense of responsibility and helping them mature in their relationships with others.

The post Preparing Your Child for Residential Camp appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

With summer vacation finally here, children are getting more and more excited about camp. The registration forms have been signed and the fees have been paid. You and your child are preparing for his or her summer away. With the clock to camp ticking down, the American Camp Association (ACA) is here to help you organize and pack all the essentials for a fun-filled camp experience.

A day at camp can be filled with endless possibilities: swimming, hiking, playing sports – the list goes on and on. With all of these different activities (not to mention changes in weather), it is important to pack the right materials for your child. You may have questions regarding what you should or should not send to camp with your son or daughter. What’s too much? What’s too little? It’s a good idea for you and your camper to plan ahead and pack light! Your child will be living out of a duffel bag, trunk or suitcase for the duration of his or her camp experience. With limited space, packing light ensures that your camper keeps track of personal belongings and can handle his or her own luggage at camp.

Most camps will provide an in-depth packing list to campers and their parents. Carefully review this list to ensure your camper has everything needed for his or her summer. Among the essential items to remember are headgear to protect campers from the sun, as well as eye glasses, sunglasses and swimming goggles. Pack a variety of clothing including t-shirts, swim suits, shorts, jackets, long pants and raincoats for cooler or rainy days. Don’t forget bed and bath needs such as towels, toiletries and pillows. Check with the camp to see what kind of bedding is required, as some camps provide sheets, blankets, etc. Your camper may also require a sleeping bag for camp trips.

Appropriate footwear is one of the most crucial items to pack for your child before sending him or her to camp. Your camper may be hiking, spelunking, running or heading to the beach or pool while at camp, so be sure to consider what types of footwear he or she will need. ACA recommends families consider packing boots, tennis shoes, sandals and lots of socks. And remember that this footwear should be broken in before the start of camp, as sore feet can definitely hinder your camper’s experience.

Additional items to pack may include books and magazines, flashlights, batteries, Frisbees or other toys, a water bottle and writing materials. Many camps discourage campers from bringing electronic devices such as cell phones, mp3 players and tablets. Some camps do allow campers to bring cell phones, but insist that campers keep the device either in their cabin or another designated location such as the camp office. Be sure to check camp policies before sending these devices to camp with your child.

Remember to label everything you send to camp. Most camps will ask you to label each item, including clothing, personal items and toiletries, to ensure your camper’s belongings can be distinguished from those of his or her fellow campers.

ACA recommends that your family prepare for camp together. Decisions about camp, including what to pack, should be made by both you and your child. When your child participates in the decision-making process, he or she is more likely to have a positive experience at camp. The more ownership your camper has in these decisions, the easier the adjustment and transition to camp will be.

For individual and special questions, contact your camp director. Camp directors welcome the opportunity to assist you and your camper as you prepare for this exciting and life-changing experience.

For more expert advice on what to pack, visit ACA’s parent resource at www.CampParents.org.

The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization; 10,000 members strong, it is actively working with over 2,700 camps. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy and evidence-based education and professional development, and is the only national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.  

The post Packing for Camp appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

Homesickness is a natural part of youth development, especially for children who may be away from home for their first summer at camp. For years, studies have shown that most children, spending at least two weeks away from home at summer camp, experience some form of homesickness. While this situation is usually mild, some campers may feel distress that can hinder or even bring to an end an otherwise positive camp experience.

Fortunately, homesickness is something that campers can learn to cope with. The American Camp Association (ACA) offers the following advice on helping your child combat homesickness both before and after he or she has left for summer camp.

Foster excitement Positive camp preparation is vital. The best way to avoid homesickness at camp is to keep children excited about their camp experience from beginning to end. A child that participates in his or her camp decision-making process is likely to be more comfortable with the idea of spending time there. In addition, your attitude goes a long way. An optimistic parent will encourage his or her child to look forward to the camp experience. An anxious or nervous parent, on the other hand, will create similar feelings in his or her child; increasing the likelihood that child will develop homesickness.

Encourage independence ACA encourages parents to arrange for their children to have “practice time” being away from home, such as visiting friends or family overnight to allow them the experience of sleeping somewhere else. Additionally, resist the temptation to arrange a “pick-up deal” in case your child should want to leave after the camp session begins. While you may see this as a safety net, it actually encourages your child to leave rather than urging him or her to enjoy the experience.

Remain positive What about a child who is dealing with homesickness after he or she has already arrived at camp? Most camps designate time for campers to call home, and even those who have a “no call” rule will allow campers and parents to correspond through letters. When communicating with your child, encourage him or her to stay positive and busy at camp. Remind kids that camp offers fun, physical activities that can surely take their mind off of home. It also provides a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and try new things they wouldn’t have if not for camp.

Resist the guilt Above all, you should never feel guilty about encouraging your child to stay at camp. If you have lingering concerns about how your child is doing, don’t hesitate to reach out to camp staff to inquire about your child’s adjustment. The staff is trained to keep kids comfortable and involved, and a little extra attention from counselors may be all a child needs to feel more secure in their new environment.

Overcoming homesickness is one of the most powerful lessons a child can learn. Camp nurtures children’s independence and prepares them for the future. It can provide an amazing opportunity to experience personal growth. As a parent, it is up to you to foster this growth by encouraging your child to get the most of his or her
camp experience.

The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization; 10,000 members strong,
that actively works with over 2,700 camps. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth and adults. ACA provides advocacy and evidence-based education and professional development, and is the only national accrediting body for the organized camp experience.

The post Halting Homesickness at Camp appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.