Free week of summer camp!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by

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
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.

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Evaluate Your Summer Camp Experience

Posted on August 16, 2011 by

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.

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Late Summer Camp Options

Posted on August 16, 2011 by

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.

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Tax Credits for Summer Day Camp? You Might Qualify!

Posted on August 16, 2011 by

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:

 

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Special camp discounts

Posted on July 6, 2011 by

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.

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Summer Music Camps

Posted on June 5, 2011 by

Summer is a great time for your child to have a week filled with musical fun. Many, many camps incorporate some sort of music into their regular day. But some children can really enjoy (and benefit from) a week that is primarily about music. “School of Rock” type camps are becoming more and more popular for school-aged children and up, and can be a great time to experiment with playing in a band.

For middle school and high school students, music camp may even be required for school participation in band, orchestra or choir. Such a week of strong focus can really result in a boost in skill, advancement in theory understanding and increased confidence playing alone and in different ensembles.

There are many, many types of music camps. Here’s a sample of music camps (and specialized camp sessions) from SignUpForCamp.com. Many more camps of all types are listed on the website, so make sure to browse there too. For additional ideas, particularly for older children and teens, check with your local schools and music schools. This article about some prominent music camps may give you some ideas of what to look for.

School of Rock, Fort Washington and Berwyn, PA
Summer Performance Camp focuses on improving performance and musical skills by covering music theory, instrumental and rehearsal techniques and performance practice. It’s a great way to learn a lot in a short amount of time but is meant for students who, at a minimum, are able to play basic chords and rhythms. Grades 6th-12th.

Summer Spree at Community Art Center: Rock and Roll Summer, Wallingford, PA
This program is an introduction to rock band performance, open to musically-inclined students ages 10-17 who are interested in developing multi-instrumental skills. Some previous experience is necessary and the goal is for each student to work toward performing one song on every instrument (vocal, guitar, bass and drums).

Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music, Philadelphia, PA
Music instruction in keyboard, percussion, voice, dance and recorders with weekly camper performances. In the afternoons there are chess tournaments, Scrabble, swimming, cultural trips and recreational activities. Sliding fee scale and scholarships available. Ages 5-13 years.

United Friends Summer Camp: Born to Drum, Quakertown, PA
Got a kid who loves music? Let them embrace their “inner Ringo” at Drum Camp. From Tito Puente to Ringo Starr, learn to play at the beat of your own drum. Campers will create their own percussion instruments and take several walking field trips to explore the hidden music all around them. There’s also a performance by guest African Drummers. Ages 4-9.

Search for more music camps at Sign Up For Camp.

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Free Summer Camp at ESF

Posted on March 24, 2011 by

Win a free week of summer camp at ESF.

All parents with accounts at Sign Up For Camp are automatically entered into a drawing to win a free week of camp at ESF.  You can receive an additional entry each time you tell a friend about Sign Up for Camp and they sign up for the newsletter.

Signing up is easy!

Sign Up For Camp is easy and free. The site provides free information on camp registrations, discounts, and offers a handy camp calendar you can share with friends. You can sign up for just the newsletter, or jump in and create a free parent account to participate in the drawing!  Then you too can tell a friend and get more chances to win.

Dates and prizes:

The winner will be chosen on April 30th.   For more details see the Official Rules.

ESF Summer Camps 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.

 

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Old-School Art

Posted on July 26, 2010 by

It seems that today’s form of art is flooded with visual media and computer animation, and hey there’s nothing wrong with that. However, a lot of kids are losing touch with what some may call “old-school art” or the typical drawing and painting art that has been used for centuries, in caves and hyroglyphics and medieval paintings. To rejuvinate this old art and to have kids develop their motor skills and sense of creativity, send them to a basic painting camp or drawing camp and they’re sure to have a ton of fun.

There are tons of art camps in the greater Philadelphia area that accomodate kids of all ages and offer full and half day programs. Everyday Artists Camp holds creative art camps for ages 3-13 and has kids painting on anything from a canvas to a coffee cup to a miniature dog statue. These camps run from $125-195 based on the subject nature and camp duration.

Darlington Arts Center’s Summer Arts Camps hosts painting and drawing camps that are specifically focused on cultural topics. Your child would be recreating art in the spirit of the pilgrims, the Southwest Indians, the 60s and other memorable eras and peoples. This is a great way for your child to learn and appreciate different cultures while creating unique art.

Moore College of Art and Design also offers a high quality artistic experience for grades 1-12 where boy san dgirls can attend morning or afternoon sessions and learn the essentials of art. Kids will advance their skills and take classes Monday through Thursday for a month for this camp, making the camp a little more pricey at around $590 per session.

No matter where you send your child, they’re sure to enjoy the simple arts no matter what age or skill level!

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Appreciating Nature- Environmental Camps for Your Child

Posted on July 8, 2010 by

In today’s day and age, it seems that everyone is “going green.” This means that we are learning to appreciate nature, our environment, and the world we live in by making things more eco-friendly. In order for the “going green” trend to succeed in the future, the message of bettering our earth needs to reach the next generation, in other worlds your children. By sending kids to nature or environmental camps, they are not only spending time outdoors, but learning to love the earth they live on!

Environmental awareness camps, or specialized nature camps are a subcategory of the typical outdoor adventure camp. Although environmental camps may lack the adventurous appeal of an outdoor adventure camp or white-water rafting camp, there is a lot of knowledge and discovery involved in the nature camps that prove to be just as valuable and just as fun!

Camps like Briar Bush have kids go on hikes in the wilderness and encounter real animals in order to appreciate the beauty and delicate nature of their existance. They also use scientific games to “trick” kids into learning about their surroundings and making new discoveries.

 Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association’s Nature & Environmental Summer Day Camp also promotes the idea of appreciating nature for kids of all ages. Children get to explore the 860-acre reserve in search of new life and the little miracles of nature, whether it be a birds nest, a new plant, or a intricate spider-web.

If your kid is looking for adventure, but in a more laid-back and informative way, environmental camps will quench your child’s thirst for discovery without having to deal with the dangers of truly exploring the frontier.

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Much Variety found in Basketball Camps in the Philadelphia Area

Posted on July 6, 2010 by

There are an abundance of basketball camps in the Philadelphia region. Luckily, this great number of camps allows you to find the appropriate camp for any age, skill level, gender, price, or duration that you are looking for.

In general, a lot of the more affordable camps in the area are geared toward younger children, trying to stimulate their interest in the fun and engaging sport of basketball. Camps such as Grace Community Church offer camps for both boys and girls in grades 1-5 where they can play basketball for only $60 per week! Similarly, Betterball Camps and St. Edmonds Boys Basketball Camp offer full and partial day camps for reasonable prices (about $160-180 per week) while still catering to the needs of younger children.

If your child is older or more advanced on the courts, there are also plenty of options of camps to send your child to. These camps tend to be a little more pricey, since they hope to challenge and really teach your child the advanced techniques of the game. Philly Point Guard Camp is an excellent choice to send your child to, and with its many locations in the Philadelphia area, it is easy to find the most convenient camp for you and your child! The camp runs about 295 per week as a full day session, offering programs for both boys and girls ages 6-18. These sessions appropriately group campers based on skill.

There are also the Lehigh University Basketball Camps that offer both regular and elite camps for both boys and girls that run all day. Elite camps are geared toward high school players who are serious about the game, and thus these camps run very expensive, around $175 per day.

Golden Rams camps also host basketball camps for older players (Grades 8-12) in day and overnight camps, ranging in price (235-545) based the different sessions.

There are many more basketball camps in the Philadelphia area that may offer your child what they are looking for, like an all girls basketball camp at Moorestown Girls Basketball Academy. But, in general what you’ll find with all the variety of camps is that the perfect basketball camp is out there to suit your and your child’s needs.

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