DIY Summer Camp
- rstinson10
- Apr 21
- 5 min read
June is when school is out but it's also a time when homeschool programs and other childrens extracurricular activities end. What are you going to do during the summer months?
Homeschoolers generally do not vacation during the summer months and full day summer camps are not for everyone. Here are some tips on making your own budget-friendly-fun over the summer break (or during any school break).
Look for Enrichment Based Summer Camps
Look for part time summer camps that offer activities. These are usually budget friendly options since they are part time. Then, you can use the rest of your day to do other fun activities during the summer. Pro tip: As homeschoolers, we keep track of our local school calendar so we can take advantage of these "al-a-carte" style children's programs during school breaks.
For example, we like the local art school that offers individual classes that are 2 hours long and an outdoors focused camp with fishing, biking through the forrest, archery or boating. The outdoor summer camp are full day activities, but they usually have a sign up for 3 or 4 days at a time. Michael's craft store also offers low cost craft times during the weekends and during summer break. Check their website under "Classes and events" to find information.
These enrichment activities are great opportunities to network and make new friends. If your child is playing well with another child, introduce yourself to the parent and exchange numbers. Plan a play-date for later in the summer. Here are some more tips for networking to grow your friendship circle.
Create a Schedule
Summer can be as busy and as relaxed as you want; however, we recommend keeping to a daily schedule or routine. Keeping to a daily routine will help your home run smoothly, since your children will know what to expect. If a child was in a full day summer school or summer camp situation, the program would have a routine to help the day run smoothly. Here are our tips on creating a schedule for your family.
Go on a Field Trip
There are many field trip and day trip opportunities available. Many are free or budget friendly. Click to see our article about field trip tips including some hidden gems to consider adding to your summer schedule.
Summer Homeschool
Our family does year round homeschooling. There are many advantages to this vs. following a September-June "school" calendar year. It adds structure to our day to have them do a math worksheet or reading a book during the summer. Summer camps and community events count toward their instruction time, if they fit within your curriculum. Doing homeschooling during the summer also allows you to have shorter school days and take breaks as needed throughout the year while still meeting the required instruction hours (for some states).
Playdates
Inviting friends over to your home to chat over coffee while the children play is a budget friendly way to socialize. It is fun for all ages from crawling babies to board game playing teens. It's also important for us parents to have fellowship as well. Here are our tips to make your home meetup fun and safe. If the weather is nice, the kids can play with the bikes, nerf guns and sprinklers ouside in the yard.
Go to a Community Event
Your local gym may have events that run during the summer, such as like making slime, a BBQ or other scheduled activities. Maybe go to farmers markets or there is a festival happening in your town, which are usually during the summer also.
Play With the Water!
Take advantage of the warm summer days when the weather is nice. We purchased a variety of sprinklers for our kids. Generally, true garden sprinklers are better quality than the ones that are toys. Tarp slip and slide, a water table, a kiddy pool, reusable water balloons have been favorites in our home. Also, you can elevate your water table by purchasing a hunting cleaning station. They are outdoor sinks that plug right into the hose. So much fun!
Buy and Learn to Play a New Board Game
There are many classics that we enjoy like "Uno", "Sorry", "Chess" and "Guess Who", but there are many titles that are less talked about or advertised that are also fun. Our kids currently have been playing "Hero's Quest" for several weeks, which requires: reading and basic math. It is a long game that our family leaves and returns to so we can play over several days. Games are great quality, screen free and structured entertainment. It is also a good source of quality family time. One way we learn how to play new games is by watching creators on Youtube. They offer suggestions about "roll and write" games or games that a great for traveling. They also explain how to play games.
Pick up a New hobby!
Diamond painting, crocheting, baking cupcakes, rollerblading and others are all great hobbies to try during the summer months. We are enjoying Pearler bead art.
Stock up on Toys and Activities.
Buy a science kit, a new set of blocks or that lego set your child has been wanting. Take advantage of buying second hand or thrift stores goods to make the purchase budget friendly. Having fun, screen free activities at home will make down times at home easier and give your kids a memorable childhood.
Serve in Your Community
Volunteering, helping a friend or doing a service project is important. There are many service oprotunities available. Two of our favorites are participating in meal trains and greeting card collection campaigns.
Card campaigns are an easy and fun way to spread kindness through the mail. You can find people to send to by joining online facebook card mailing groups. There are also sometimes news stories of terminally ill children who are collecting cards. You can also send one to a friend or family member to thank them for a gift, offer sympathy, get well soon, wish them happy fathers or send them a card "just because".
Meal trains are budget friendly ways to help someone after welcoming a new baby, recovering from surgery or grieving the loss of a loved one. Here are some tips if you plan on participating in one either as a giver or as the recipient.
Practice Self Care
Don't forget to budget in time as a parent to relax. Read a book, catch up on a show or meetup with friends.
Be a Homeschool Ally
Many homeschoolers have made sacrifices in order to homeschool. Please be respectful of this and their education choices by refraining from telling them that you "could never homeschool". Be a friend to homeschoolers if your children are playing well together at summer camp. Here is a list of other ways to help the school choice community.
If you are planning to homeschool in the fall, here are some tips to get started.
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