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Many parents joke that they are going to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for college, but what about for overnight camps?  What are the costs and is it worth the benefit?  We help send our kids to college because we know that this investment will help them secure better-paying jobs and a brighter future.  For a camping experience, however, is it worth it?

For some of us, camp was one of the most cherished growth experiences in our childhood and we feel the gift of camp is one that we will bestow upon our kids no matter what the cost.  For those of us who did not grow up as campers, we have to decide what all the buzz is about and make a determination if we can afford it or not.

As a former camper, counselor and teen tour leader, I believe that camp is a priceless gift that you can give your child (of course, as long as you find the right fit).  Camp experiences pay off in all sorts of “emotional intelligence” dividends:  self-esteem; self-reliance; self-awareness; empathy; the ability to listen, cooperate and share; self-control; the ability to wait in line (delayed gratification).  Research shows that developing these skills leads to greater success in school and deeper and healthier relationships.  And these early, positive growth experiences are fairly good indicators about our success as adults.  So, now that you are convinced that camp is all it is cracked up to be, how much does it cost and how are you going to pay for it?

Types of camps.  There are two types of camps:  agency camps and private camps.  There is a pretty big price differential between the two.  If cost is a concern, agency camps – like YMCA, JCC – make camping much more affordable.  They can do this because they are subsidized by agencies, therefore making your summer tuition less.  You can expect to pay about $500 – 650 a week.
Private camps are not subsidized, so the camper is paying for all of the costs to run a camp:  insurance, staff, equipment, capital improvements.  In the Midwest, you can expect to pay between $750 – $1000 a week for a private camp.  In Missouri and Southern Illinois, private camps are a little cheaper because they do not offer the extensive water sports, like sailing and water-skiing, like camps in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan).
Discounts.  There are other ways to save, as well.  At most camps, early enrollment discounts are offered.  So, if you do your homework early enough, you can take advantage of this discount.  In addition, if you are trying to provide a camping experience for more than one child, be sure to ask for a sibling discount (assuming that one camp can suit the needs of all of your children).  Lastly, if you are looking at camps on the East or West Coast, be sure to ask for a “Midwesterner’s discount.” Our camps in the Midwest are traditionally less expensive (if you can believe that after looking at the costs of camps).

Extras.  When budgeting for camp, you should also ask the program director about extra costs such as optional activities, spending money, special clothing and equipment, or trip insurance.  A camp may offer horseback riding, but is there an additional cost for participating in this activity?  When your son or daughter goes to the camp store, do they have an open-ended account or is there a set amount?  If it is open-ended, you will be the one responsible for that bill at the end of the summer so you should have a conversation with your child about proper spending.  If there are out-of-camp trips, you should find out whether or not those are included with your tuition.
Scholarships.  Almost every camp – private or agency – offers some amount of need-based “camperships.”  Jewish Federations, church groups and YMCAs give out scholarships for camp.  Many private camps have foundations to send needy kids to camp which, besides being a good thing for those kids, help to diversify their population.   Most camp directors are altruistic, giving individuals that would like to see every child in a camp.  Some camps even give “scholarships for life.”  So, once a child qualifies, they are promised that scholarship for however long they attend that camp.  For older kids, there are programs like Summer Search (www.summersearch.org) whose aim it is to send at-risk youth to leadership development programs like wilderness trips.
Camp is a wonderfully enriching gift you can give your child.  If you want to send your child, there is probably a camp out there to welcome them.  Happy camping!

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Los Angeles is rich with a host of summer camp opportunities for your child. An increasing trend among Los Angeles families is to send their kids to several summer camps over the course of the summer, compared to the traditional way of picking a single camp alone.

A confluence of factors — principally, kids’ diverse interests plus an increasing array of available specialty camps and flexible enrollment packages offered by Los Angeles area camps — has fueled this trend. And for your son or daughter, it’s a pretty good deal!

By attending a variety of summer camps rather than just one, your child can enjoy many different experiences which would otherwise be unavailable to him or her. And there’s definitely no shortage among available camps in Los Angeles!

A recent online search revealed the following types of summer camps (among others) in metropolitan Los Angeles alone: Surf camps, beach camps, science camps, technology camps, music camps, acting camps, Jewish camps, cooking camps, space camps, horseback riding camps, academic camps, rock star camps, nature camps, entrepreneurship camps and traditional camps.

And remember, this is just a partial list!

If you’re considering a Los Angeles summer camp for your child this summer — or if you’re considering more than one — here’s how to find out what’s available.

A great place to start is by asking your friends for recommendations. Assuming they’ve got kids of their own, your friends can usually direct you to some of the more popular Los Angeles summer camps.

The internet is also a wonderful resource, because it offers numerous camp-specific Web sites that allow you to filter your camp search by geography, camp type, and other criteria to suit your needs.

For example, LASummerCamps.com and LASurfCamps.com are just some of the places to start.

Here’s hoping your child enjoys many safe and fun camp experiences this year. With so many available opportunities, there is surely a multitude of Los Angeles summer camp options designed to suit your needs!

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All these are served with the best coffee you have ever tasted or if you prefer, a cup of tea or a glass of fresh juice, Holiday breaks in St Albans, Our hotels provide with large and huge Family Rooms in St Albans that you can stay very safe and secure, We can also provide Special Offers in St Albans Hotels offers you a variety of lodging options, One of them would be a large Cottages in St Albans Hotels, for four people, perfect for families or groups of friends, Enjoy your stay for the vacations and Christmas Celebrations in St Albans Hertfordshire.

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Summer camp enrollment season is here. But the economy stinks and camp’s not cheap. If you’re looking to save few bucks on camp this year – or, even better, to send your kids to camp for FREE – here’s a great way to do it: Barter.

Well, maybe not entirely free. But pretty darn close.  You can send your child to summer camp without outlaying any cash whatsoever. And you don’t need to run up your credit cards, either!

Just in case you’re unfamiliar with the term, “bartering” is just a fancy word for “trading.” So, in this context, we are talking about your trading goods and services in exchange for camp time.

In exchange for providing goods or services, you can send your child to camp for no cash outlay. Camps are as interested in saving money as much as you are, so it’s a pretty good deal for both of you.

If you can find something the camp needs or considers worthwhile, you’re in great shape. Here are some creative ways people like you have traded goods and services to send their kids to summer camp in the past: 

A single dad owned a Public Relations firm. He wanted to send his kid to camp. The camp needed promotional services, so they traded PR services for camp sessions.

 Maybe you’re a nurse and you’d like to send your kids to camp. Many camps need nurses. Why not contact the camp to offer your services in exchange for letting your child attend camp? Don’t be surprised if the camp directer jumps at your offer immediately!

Sometimes a camp may even initiate the contact with you to propose a trade. A camp in New England needed graphic design services for their brochure redesign. They searched their prospect list and found a graphic artist. The camp director contacted the graphic designer and proposed a trade: the camp would provide summer camp sessions for the graphic artist’s son if the artist would redesign the camp’s brochure. The graphic artist was elated with the offer. It was a win-win for both parties — just how bartering is supposed to be — since it was a fair trade and neither party had to “pay” a single dime.

One final important point. Even though bartering involves the best of both worlds (with both parties getting valuable goods or services without paying cash), there may be tax implications. For example, our understanding is that the IRS generally considers the fair market value of what you “sell” via barter taxable income. Since we are not qualified to give tax advice, you should not take this information as such. Instead, consult your tax adviser before taking action based on the information provided in this article.

What’s the best way for your child to be safe, have fun and beat the summer heat? Sign them up for a water sports or aquatic camp!

Summertime and aquatic activities go hand-in-hand. According to Theresa Torrone, a volunteer for the American Camp Association (ACA), “Water sports camps are one of the fastest growing segments of the specialty camp field within the summer camp industry as a whole. There’s a water sports camp for kids and teens everywhere.”

Also known as aquatics sports camps, water sports camps generally offer surfing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, boogie boarding, body surfing, parasailing, swimming, inner-tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, boating and related activities.

What if your child doesn’t have previous experience with these activities? Torrone says not to worry. “Most water sports camps accept kids from every aquatic background, so your child can participate and enjoy the activities safely and have fun no matter what.”

To cover your bets, however, Torrone says to “always check with the camp director first just to be sure.”

Sometimes parents think a water sports camp is out of the question if they don’t live close to the ocean. But Torrone says your kids can still get the full benefit of attending a water sports camp no matter where you live.

“Some of the premier water sports camps in the country use lakes, reservoirs and pools as their primary activity base. The ocean is fun, but it’s definitely not essential to enjoying a premier aquatic camp experience.

“For example, jet skiing, wakeboarding and fishing camps often take place at lakes or rivers. They don’t require a beach or ocean for kids to have fun.”

When asked about surfing camps, Torrone said, “I suppose if you want to learn to surf, or attend a surf camp, you’ll need to find a water sports camp at the beach. But even if you don’t live by the beach, you can go to an overnight surf camp. There are a number of them across the country.”

To find a list of water sports camps, Torrone suggests contacting the American Camp ACA. “The ACA’s a great resource. Whether you’re looking for a surf camp, jet skiing camp, wakeboarding camp, or just a swimming camp, the ACA can provide you with a list of accredited programs all over the country.”

Torrone says you can also look on the Internet. “If you want a surf camp,  SurfCampSearch.com, a free online surf camp directory. If you want an all around aquatic sports camp experience, including surfing, try Aloha Beach Camp in Los Angeles. And last I checked, ussportscamps.com and localsportscamps.com also have comprehensive listings of water sports camps everywhere so you can find a great program.”

Whatever camp you choose, it’s always wise to involve your child in the decision-making process. “If your child is involved in picking the water sports camp they’ll eventually attend,” she said, “they’re going to end up loving it that much more.”

Coastal vacation scam artists take people’s money with promises of phony vacations. Many of these offers use words like “cheap Hawaiian vacation” to lure travelers.

Most people dream of taking a coastal vacation. They may hope for a cheap Hawaiian vacation package or dream of a coastal vacation resort weekend.

But many coastal vacation scams disguise themselves as legitimate offers. Police report an increase in coastal vacation scams in recent years.

The Internet spawned a new breed of coastal vacation scam artist wanting to cheat honest consumers out of their money. Anyone who types in cheap Hawaiian vacation package into a “Google” search engine will find over one million his.

The Federal Trade Commission reported 3,600 consumers scammed in 2002, amounting to $3.5 million. How can consumers tell the difference between a coastal vacation scam and an honest cheap vacation package?

1. Many people operating coastal vacation scams will ask for a credit card or other financial information early in the conversation. Many of these so-called vacation companies want consumers to give their financial information online for a “cheap Hawaiian vacation.”

The desire by the company to receive financial information before the consumer feel comfortable doing so should indicate a red flag and a possible coastal vacation scam.

Many cases of identity fraud started with coastal vacation scams. Consumers receive their bank or credit card statements and find that in addition to their “cheap Hawaiian vacation,” charges of cash advances and purchases of high-dollar merchandise.

Consumers who fall prey to identity fraud should contact their local law enforcement immediately about the coastal vacation scam.

2. The company operating coastal vacation scams will offer the consumer very little details about the planned trip. The person on the other line, on the phone or on the Internet, will offer constant assurances the hotel in the cheap Hawaiian vacation package features Oceanside views, luxuries rooms and private balconies—very broad descriptions.

The “seller” of the coastal vacation scam may claim they stayed there many times but cannot give specifics.

The company asks the consumer not to contact the hotel or resort directly about the vacation package, another sign of a coastal vacation scam.

If the consumer cannot confirm the reservations with the hotel directly, the consumer should look elsewhere for a cheap Hawaiian vacation. Consumers should get the details and take charge of their coastal vacation and not fall prey to coastal vacation scams.

3. Coastal vacation scam artists use word like “free” or “vacation offer.” Often these so-called “offers” include a daylong presentation before families can use their free tickets–a common coastal vacation scam technique.

If consumers cannot see the islands on their cheap Hawaiian vacation and must sit through lengthy presentations, the vacation may not seem so “cheap.”

4. The Better Business Bureau and other government agencies maintain lists of coastal vacation scams. Smart consumers check these lists and report any contact by these coastal vacation scam artists.

One of the more popular ruses offers a cheap Hawaiian vacation or a cheap family vacation package.

Fear of a coastal vacation scam should not keep consumers from seeking out great vacation deals, like a cheap Hawaiian vacation.

Many companies offer legitimate family vacation packages and an honest travel incentive program that saves families even more money on their vacation costs. Coastal vacation scams should not discourage travelers.

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