SUMMER DREAMING

All this cold, wet weather makes it easy to forget that summer is just a few short months away. Kids, however, have begun conjuring up thoughts of sleeping in, staying up late and enjoying a two-month homework reprieve. While it is tempting to ponder warm weather and sunshine, working parent’s reveries come to a screeching halt when we ask ourselves, “Once school is out, what are am I going to do with the kids?”

Thank goodness there is an abundance of summer camps in the Bay Area that offer programs for kids of all ages and interests and family budgets of all sizes. There are academic camps offering lessons in biology, astronomy and journalism and art camps that focus on photography, music, and theater. There are also sports camps for children of all abilities and religious camps for just about every religion and denomination. Sign ups have already begun.

When deciding, there are a few questions you may want to keep in mind: How much can you afford? Do the hours and weeks available coincide with your schedule? What kind of activities will your child enjoy?

Before you make your final decision, consider visiting the camp, meeting the camp director and talking to other families who have attended.

The YMCA, www.ymca.net, runs the largest network of summer camps for kids in the country, offering classes in music, art, theater, swimming, computer skills, and more. They are usually reasonably priced and many offer some form of camp scholarship based on income.

Some camps can really drain the old pocket book, but Aim High Academy, www.aimhigh.org is not one. In fact, it’s free! Aim High provides academic classes for middle schoolers with activities and events that create opportunities for leadership development and community exploration. Locations include San Francisco, Oakland, Redwood City and East Palo Alto.

Kidizens, http://kidizenspaloalto.com in Palo Alto uses LEGOS to teach real-life strategies and civics in a social learning environment. This summer they are hosting the  “Young Mayors” camp. Students will be serving as mayors for the LEGO cities that they construct. Their city will be filled with LEGO people, each with their own opinions and needs. As the city grows, the ‘mayors’ must respond to both their citizens and events. The real mayor of Palo Alto, Sid Espinosa, will also visit. Their two-week sessions start June 20^th.

Galileo Learning, http://www.galileo-learning.com operates at campuses throughout the Bay Area, including Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, and Hillsborough. They offer hands-on art, science and outdoor activities.

Summer camps and summer school programs are a valuable intervention for academic and social enrichment and an invaluable resource for working parents. To explore more options online, go to, www.bayareakidfun.com, and click on ‘summer camps.’ Your community center or child’s school should also have information on summer programs, financial aid, as well as sign up forms, dates and times. Just ask. Happy camp hunting!

For more of Margaret’s columns, go to http://www.mercurynews.com/elementary-my-dears. She can also be reached at elementarydays@gmail.com.