Moms Talk: How Do You Choose the Right Summer Camp?

Moms Talk is a new feature on Eagan Patch that is part of a new initiative to reach out to moms and families. Eagan Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in the Eagan area.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council will take your questions, give advice and share solutions. Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local schools, pedestrian safety, nutrition, work-life balance and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.  

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. 

So, grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a question:

When should you start thinking about summer camps and how do you choose the right one for your child?

Darcy, mom to three boys, 12, 11 and 8:

It's never too early to think about summer camps for your children, especially since registration for many camps opens up in late winter/early spring and it will take a while to sift through the hundreds of choices. The Star Tribune publishes an annual list of summer camps, which can be a good place to start looking. The camps are listed by topic (music, theatre, science, sports, etc) so you can target options based on your child's interests.

Additionally, think outside the traditional camp box. Dakota County 4H offers day camps and resident camps and a 4H membership is not required. Many churches also offer a great camp experience to non-members and both options are great choices for children who'd like to go with a friend who is attending one of those camps. Another great way to find a camp for your child is to ask other parents, music or dance instructors, or surf the Internet for parent reviews of camp experiences.

Regardless of the type of camp, be sure to find out exactly what type of activities will be performed so your child isn't expecting swimming at a camp with no pool or lake.

Jenny, mom to a daughter that is almost five and a 2-year-old son:

"Summer camp" sounds so old, but my daughter is just turning five and here we are, sending her to a day camp this summer. We chose the YMCA Camp Sacajawea. They have a group specifically for 4 and 5-year-olds, so I felt like she wouldn't be overwhelmed with the big kids. It is a pretty long day for her, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., but I am willing to give her a chance; I think she is ready. I am also interested in hearing about the other camp options in the area!

Jessica, mom to two girls, ages 3 1/2 and 5, with another baby on the way:

If you're very particular about the camp you want to sign-up for, you should probably be signing up now. It seems completely crazy to me, but I signed my 5-year-old up for the first of her summer camps five weeks ago. She'll be attending Zoo Camp at the Minnesota Zoo, which she has done for the past two years and has loved it. I really don't think you can go wrong with Zoo Camp.

Last summer, she also did a week-long preschool soccer camp through Skyhawks Sports, which I felt was run very well. It was her first experience playing soccer and gave her a taste for it. (Skyhawks Sports offers over 400 youth sports camp in over 35 communities in the Twin Cities during the summer for kids ages 3-12. Contact Andrew Brown at 763.208.7745 or e-mail abrown@skyhawks.com for more information.) Although I haven't had any personal experience with YMCA camps, I've heard that they are wonderful as well.