Summer Camps in the Snow

Yes, as parents, we have to think a few seasons ahead! If you want your kids and teens to go to summer camp, you have to start booking the camps this winter if not before. There are lots of questions that you will need to answer and the American Camp Association has a great website to get you started.

While you will need to do your due diligence on the camps you select, you will also need to think about your Family Budget for summer camps. If your kids are like mine, they will want to attend every expensive camp possible. This is a great opportunity to talk to your kids about budgeting. Discuss with them how much is allocated to summer camps. Explain how that impacts their choices, for example, they can go to 6 different week long day camps or 1 summer long sleep away camp. Let them help in the final selection of camp(s).

If they want to attend an additional camp above the budget, consider having them pay for it themselves or at least contribute to the cost, or ask a grandparent to give the camp experience instead of a gift for a birthday or holiday.

For the first time, my daughter and I attended a local “Camp Fair” where representatives from all types of camps where on hand with their glossy brochures, videos and applications. For example, she was interested in an academic type camp (Imagine that! And she’s a teen!) We talked to a director from the Summer Study Programs that offers very interesting academic camps at Penn State, U of Colorado, U of Vermont, and Paris. Be ready to spend time and money for this type of camp: from 3 to 6 weeks and the tuition can be hefty too. This would use up her entire camp budget!

One last reminder, if you have a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (established to pay for certain expenses to care for dependents who live with you while you are at work), you may be able to apply some of the cost of your day camps to the account (since the day camp acts like your nanny while you are at work). There are lots of rules around these accounts (i.e. both spouses need to work or attend full-time school, dependent children under the age of 13, etc) so you should check with your employee benefits handbook and your accountant. Lately the Child and Dependent Care Credits have been more attractive than the Dependent Care FSA for most taxpayers. And as we know, the tax code is a moving target so it’s just worthwhile asking if this can benefit your situation. Reminder: Check with your accountant or financial advisor!

In the meantime, “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!”