For some, summer break means vacation, fun, and relaxing while there is no school. But for working parents, especially for a two-income household where there is no parent at home during the day, the thought of childcare during the summer can be sweat-inducing.
Working parents have five non-negotiable summer camp requirements in order to make their summer as enjoyable and frictionless as possible: convenient location with reliable and safe transportation, extended hours, consistency, healthy snacks and lunches, and some after-work integration of parents.
Summer Camp Location & Bussing
While the average American worker travels about 25 minutes to work, commuting times in New Jersey are some of the longest in the country: 14.9% of the New Jersey commuting workforce travels for more than one hour! So adding an extra 20 minute trip to summer camp in the opposite direction for drop-off and pick-up is more than just a hassle.
For families who use bussing during the school year, this safe and reliable transportation to and from the camp is a must-have criteria as it often gives parents enough time for their own commute.
Extended Hours
A summer camp from 10am to 3pm is hardly going to be an option for parents who work the standard 9-5 hours. Before and aftercare needs to be at least from 8:30am to 5:30pm.
Our summer camp offers before care starting at 7am, and our aftercare ends at 6pm.
Consistency
While week-long specialty camps (such as karate, horseback riding, Girl Scouts, etc.) offer kids a great variety of fun activities over the summer, juggling different camp locations, schedules, and requirements is not an option if you are working. Instead, choosing a camp that offers different tracks or activities and has day trips will enable your kids to have fun while it minimizes the organizational effort involved.
Healthy Lunches And Snacks
There is nothing harder than facing the dreaded “What’s for lunch?” question in the middle of the morning rush. Preparing healthy and yummy lunches that stay fresh and appetizing until lunchtime is one of the major stress factors in any working parent’s day.
Choosing a summer camp that not only offers freshly prepared meals every day, but also yummy snacks, saves a few precious minutes in the morning and and causes parents to feel more confident in the quality of their children’s camp experience.
After-Hour Shows For Parents
Parents crave special quality time with their children, and missing out on all the summer fun due to working responsibilities can be hard.
Watch-Me-Swim days, dance recitals, and theater performances show the parents what their kids were able to accomplish over the summer and give a glimpse into their kids’ everyday camp life.
If all these events happen during the work day, a working parent can really miss out.
What are your must-have criteria for a summer camp? Anything we missed? Sound off in the comments.
