Moms Talk: Find the Best Summer Camp

It's getting to be that time when you start planning your summer. What do you recommend in the way of summer camps? Are there specific day camps or sports camps your children attend? What factors into that decision?

Jenny Wescoat
My kids attend Camp Motion at Christ Community Church. It's right across the street from Ronnie's on Lindbergh. The camp has three focus areas: cheerleading, sports and art. The cost is only $60 for the week, which makes it a great deal for an all-day camp.

My kids have had so much fun at the camp that when I pick them up, they are shocked that it's already time to go home and eat dinner. The camp has the kids in their focus area in the mornings and then in the afternoons they play big group games and have entertainers like Jugglin' Jeff and Serengeti Steve. It's a pretty awesome camp. 

That's the only camp my kids go to, though we have done various Vacation Bible School programs. I like to leave lots of summer for other activities and outings, and especially a long vacation! 

Jennifer AuBuchon
Over the years, we have attended various camps based on the interests of my kids at the time.  Ones that I'd highly recommend are the camps through the Gifted Resource Council and the art camps at Laumeier Sculpture Park.  Outside of that, we mostly do the sports camps through the Mehlville School District and Vacation Bible Schools. We, like Jenny, try to leave plenty of time for other fun summer outings and activities!

Lisa May
We participate in our church's Vacation Bible School, which is one week long. This year, my oldest will be a volunteer, while the youngest two are students.

My son attended the Cub Scout camp at Bee Tree last summer. He really enjoyed it and he will probably participate this year. 

What made us allow our son to participate in the fishing camp? The cost and location are big reasons. The weeklong away camp was not something we were able to do, but he still wanted the Cub Scout experience. This camp is only four evenings.  

We try to leave lots of free time in the summer. So much of the children's time is structured during the school year. We feel summer should be a great time for relaxing and fun.

Samantha Goswami

With my husband and I working full time I start to put these plans in place in January. This year the kids will be with a nanny during the day and will have several activities planned such as the zoo, magic house, science center and just playing outside. The best part is that the kids can sleep in late and just have a good relaxed vacation. They will possibly do half-day camps, magic, cooking or chess. Skating, swimming and biking will also be part of the plans. 

The library has several activities that they will also participate in and on some days they calls their friends over for play dates.  The kids work with the nanny to come up with a schedule. Most of the time they try an eat at home so they can eat healthy and they eat fast food once a week for lunch.

Summer will be here before we know it!