Philadelphia Summer Camps

A lucky family will win a free week at ESF Summer Camp.

Join Sign Up For Camp’s free email newsletter for a chance to win! Or write a camp review or share your camp calendar for more ways to win.

Deadline: Enter by April 30, 2012.

Prizes: One winner will be randomly selected. The winner will receive a free week at any ESF summer camp. For more details see the Official Rules.

ESF Summer Camps offer a unique assortment of customized camps that appeal to children of all ages with varied interests. We have filled our camps with the perfect blend of education, sports, and fun. ESF Summer Camps have 9 locations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland.

Choosing summer camps can seem like a second job.  With all the researching, comparing and coordinating, many parents put in serious hours to find the right camps for their children.  Once the camps are completed, it makes sense to track and evaluate the experience.  Recording that information can help you when the next season of summer camps rolls around.  Other parents often rely on personal recommendations and word of mouth comments when choosing summer camps.  And parental feedback is an invaluable resource for camp directors and staff.  It’s worth it all around to take the steps to monitor and report on your family’s summer camp experience.

- Keep a journal of your child’s thoughts and feeling about each camp.  Not only will this help you to evaluate the camp, but it will also illuminate your child’s interests as they grow and change over the years, making it easier to find those perfect camps each summer. Also note the quality of your own interactions with the camp: was it easy to get accurate information, to enroll, to converse with staff when necessary, etc.

- Post reviews of the camps where other parents can find the information.  The summer camps website Sign Up for Camp, www.signupforcamp.com, houses a review section where your insights will reach hundreds of parents.

- Fill out any feedback forms that the camp distributes.  If forms aren’t available, call or email the director with a few specific points about the camp’s strengths and weaknesses from your child’s and your own perspective.  Often times people just go happily about their business when they are satisfied – so make a point to give positive feedback as well as to discuss any concerns.

As August begins we feel the end of summer nearing and a new school year on the horizon.  But some parents will need to fill a week or two into September for preschoolers or children in private schools who may not start back to school right after Labor Day.  Although many summer camps are coming to the year’s end, there are a handful of organizations that run sessions through early September, such as Lavner Camps and Programs, http://www.lavnercampsandprograms.com/, and Painted Dreams Horse Farm, http://www.painteddreamshorsefarm.com/.

Search for camps with late summer sessions at Sign Up for Camp, www.signupforcamp.com, to find options in your area.

Under some circumstances, sending your child to summer day camp might qualify you for a tax credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses.

Here are some of the key bits of information you need to know:

• Children who attend the camp must be under 13 years of age.
• Both parents must be working, or looking for work (with some rare exceptions).
• The credit is not for the full cost of the camp care, but ranges from 20-35% of the cost depending upon your income.
• There is a maximum yearly dollar amount of $3000 for one child, or $6000 for two or more children.
• Only day camps qualify, not overnight camps.
• You must file a form 1040 or 1040A (not a 1040EZ) and additional forms (at least Form 2441) are also required.
• You must identify the care provider (camp) on the forms, including name, address and taxpayer identification number.
• If you are married, you must be filing a joint tax return, not separate returns.

Please keep in mind that we know a fair bit about summer camps, but are NOT tax experts.   There are additional restrictions to this tax credit, so read  IRS publication 503 carefully and/or consult your tax advisor before claiming the tax credit.

Reference Links:

• IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses

• IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2010-01:  Summertime Child Care Expenses May Qualify for a Tax Credit

• Take a Tax Break for Summer Camp.  msn.com

You can save money and send your child to a great camp with these discounts:

Lango Philly CCS, Philadelpha, PA
Expand your child’s learning with summer language classes at Lango Philly with a five-class card in July and August for $40 ($80 value).  Purchase by July 13 on DealOn.

Curious Jane Camp, Springside (Philadelphia, PA) and Shipley (Bryn Mawr, PA)
Curious Jane still has spaces for July 11 – 31 at Springside and August 1 – 19 at Shipley! Discounts: $25-off per week for both multi-week and friends-and-family enrollment.
Curious Jane is for girls 8-11 and CJ Junior is for girls 5-7 – with great ‘themes’ like Toy Design, Life Science, DIY Fashion, Story Arts and Robotics.

Saginaw Day Camp, Oxford, PA
Children or grandchildren of active or retired personnel or employees of the U.S. Military, or any fire or police department receive a discount of $50 per week
Saginaw Day Camp provides a wide variety of activities including a comprehensive athletics program, instructional and recreational swimming, an adventure course and zip-line, ATVS, arts & crafts, Laser Tag, Go-Karts and much more.

Mercersburg Summer Programs, Mercersburg, PA
10% discount off on Mercersburg Adventure Camp Session 1(June 26-July 8), Teen Adventure Camp Session 1(June 26-July 8), Teen Adventure Camp Session 2(July 10-July 22), Mercersburg Summer Theatre Workshop((July 3-15), and our Young Writers Camp (July 3 – 15). Cannot be combined with other discounts and can only be used for new enrollments.
Nestled in the mountains of south-central Pennsylvania, our beautiful campus provides the perfect setting for a wide range of opportunities for learning, personal growth and, most importantly, fun.