By Tricia Berwick

Eating cool, drippy ice pops on the patio.  Long walks through the neighborhood after dinner.  Trips to the park or to the beach.   Frolicking in the backyard grass sans shoes.   In summertime, the weather is warm and the sun sets later which gives families a lot of time to spend together outdoors.  Hectic school schedules and activities are also on hiatus.  This allows for more freedom to play and chances to strengthen those family bonds.   Whether you’re grilling up burgers on the grill or heading out to play in the surf, summer is a great time for making memories and establishing traditions.

Some families look forward to the start of summer so much, they have a yearly ritual to ring in the beginning of the three-month vacation from homework and soccer practices.

Katie Zebick of Brick loves the tradition her sister has started with her family.  She thinks it’s such a clever idea, that she may even use it with her own brood.

“After my sister prepares breakfast on the last morning of school, she jumps into the pool with her clothes on,” says Zebick who is a mother of three.  “It is her way of celebrating the end of the school year.  Her kids get a kick out of it and think it’s a fun way to start off summer.”

After the backpacks and soccer cleats are put away, families switch gears for a more relaxed, slower pace.  They also look forward to visiting different places and relatives or participating in activities that they may not have had time for during the academic year.  For families living at the Jersey Shore there are numerous places to go to enjoy the best of what summer has to offer.

The Burns family of Point Pleasant feels very fortunate to live in this area of the country.

“We do not travel much in the summer because we just love being at the Jersey Shore,” says Nancy Burns.  “A perfect summer day for our family would be to wake up and have breakfast together, get an early start to the beach and spend the day there.  The boys love the water and boogie boarding!  After returning home for showers and dinner, we usually walk to Hoffman’s Ice Cream in Point Pleasant.”

The Woit family, also of Point Pleasant loves to take in the sights and sounds on the boardwalk.

“We love to eat an early dinner at home and then go up to the boardwalk,” says Woit.  “The kids love to ride the rides and play with their toys in the sand.  It tuckers them out, and then we can put them to bed for a restful night of sleep.  You can also picnic there and watch movies on selected nights.  We love the summer!”

While it’s always nice to pop the kids in the car and head off to a different destination, sometimes the best memories are made right at home.

The Trench family of Keyport, recently traded in their huge gas grill for an old-fashioned charcoal kind.   The family enjoys standing around the fire and roasting marshmallows together.  The kids also love being in the backyard and having some water fun.

“We don’t have a pool, so I love turning on the sprinkler and letting them run around enjoying the simplicity of it all,” says Trench, who also likes to attend fairs and go to the boardwalk during the summer months.  “I also have a small plastic pool and I sit back while they splash around in it.  They always end up making mud pies.”

If your budget is tight and you can’t afford to travel, just use your imagination to create fun activities for your children in the backyard.  On a hot and humid day, they might like to cool off with a family squirt gun battle.  Maybe your kids want to try camping, but you’re not sure if they are up for the full experience in the woods.  How about setting up a play tent and lanterns in the backyard and tell them ghost stories inside their very own tents?  Since the school year is always jam-packed with things to do, slow down the pace and have a family game night and a family movie night each week during the summer.  Let the kids choose what they would like, including snacks for both gatherings.  Sidewalk chalk is also an inexpensive creative outlet which can be used on your patio or driveway.

Wherever you decide to go or whatever you do at home, just remember to have fun with your kids.  Enjoy this break from packing lunches, laying out school clothes, and working on last-minute projects.  Enjoy an ice cream, let the kids stay up a little later, watch some fireworks.  And remember to share a giggle and a smile with your children.  September will be here soon enough!

It’s hard to believe that in a few short months, another school year will be completed.  Summer is just around the corner and that means it’s time to start researching day camps for your kids.   Instead of sitting of sitting on the couch, munching on snacks, and flipping on the television switch or the computer, your child will have stimulating activities with peers.  You won’t have to answer the daily question of, “Mom, what are doing today?   Are we doing anything fun?”  If you decide on a camp experience this summer, that question will be taken care of and you can feel at ease that your child will be busy and productive while having a good time.

According to the American Camp Association, (www.acacamps.org), camp encourages children to explore and learn in a nurturing environment.  It’s also a good opportunity for your child to try new activities and to have a better idea of what he or she is good at and feels comfortable doing.   Sending your child to camp is an excellent way for your child to learn how to be independent, too.

Another important reason to send your child to camp this summer is simply to enjoy the fresh air and to experience nature.  Your child will go on guided nature walks and learn to truly appreciate nature.  It’s always great to take a break from the everyday routine and to see something new.  During the school year, kids are always busy with homework and after-school activities.  However, summer is the perfect time to slow down, have some fun, and enjoy the warm weather.  Camp is a great way for your child to do all of these things with his peers.

Before deciding on a camp, it’s a good idea to gather as much information as possible before you commit to one.   A good technique to find out whether a camp would be a suitable fit for your child is to network with other parents.  Getting feedback from those who have already experienced the camp is one of the best ways to determine if the camp would be a good option.  When speaking to parents, be sure to ask questions about what a typical day is like, how competitive the activities are, what the camp-to-counselor ratio is and how the counselors are screened and trained.
 
 It’s also advisable to ask how counselors deal with difficulties that may arise.  For instance, how do they handle problems with discipline?  Do they call parents when there’s a problem?  It’s important to research the camp’s behavior policies before you sign on the dotted line.  Also, it’s not unreasonable to ask for references beforehand and to research the camp’s credentials.  Make sure to keep a checklist of your information to stay organized and focused while compiling research.

Another significant tip in the selection process is to determine what type of camp would work best for your child.  These days, there are many options to choose from, from traditional camps which feature nature and arts and crafts activities, as well as more specialized camps.  Does your child enjoying drawing pictures?  If so, an art camp would be appropriate.  If your child loves to shoot hoops, run the bases, and swim, a sports camp would be ideal. Or if your child likes dance, you could send her to a ballet camp.  Or perhaps even a camp which studies foreign languages or filmmaking.  Decide on a budget that your family can afford and then ask your child for input.

Point Pleasant Beach mother Joanna Madden, says she looks for a camp that can develop her children’s athletic abilities. 
“What’s important to me is how well the counselors can coach my kids, especially my older child,” says Madden.  “My nine-year-old is really involved with sports, so finding the right sports camp is a key factor for my family.  If there’s a camp that is designated for a specific skill, I would be more willing to travel.  I also want to make sure the camp has a down-to-earth atmosphere and allows the kids to be social with others.” Melissa Nagel, a mother of two, concurs with Madden and says that her kids, ages 5 and 3 have benefited from specialized camps in the past.
 
“The soccer camp we sent the kids to was small, with only three kids to a class which was great,” says the Point Pleasant mom.  “It was very specialized which helped them a lot.”
Other factors to consider are the cost and the location of the camp.  What is your family’s budget?  Sure, you would like your child to have a fun and rewarding summer camp experience, but it’s also important to determine what your family can reasonably afford.  What about location?  Is it better for the camp to be close to your job in case of an emergency, or should your child choose a local camp so he can socialize with kids from the neighborhood?  What about transportation to and from camp?  Will you be able to drive your child to camp or does the facility offer bus service?  Maybe you can coordinate a transportation schedule with another mom.  This way, one parent can take care of drop off and the other mom can be responsible for pickup.  It’s imperative to plan ahead and figure out the details before making a choice.

Once your family has decided on a particular camp, it’s important to register as early as possible.  Many times camps offer discounts if you commit before a certain date.  It’s also wise to book early if you have specific dates in mind that you would like your child to attend camp.
If you’re thinking about sending your child to camp this summer, start researching the Internet, visit some of the local camps and their staff, talk to other parents about their experiences, and ask your child what type of camp he or she would like to attend.   By working together as a team, you and your child will pick the best camp experience for the summer.