By Amy Crelly

On those mornings when you’re pulling on a scarf or slipping into your UGGs before herding the kids off to school, summer seems like a distant dream, but starting your camp planning early (think February or March) can really pay off:

1. You’ll save money.
Three words: early enrollment discounts.

2. You’ll save time.
There’s nothing like investing twenty minutes on a camp Web site, only to find out that the one session that fits your schedule is already full. Shopping early for camp programs means you get your pick of sessions, selection is a little faster and easier, and you can prepare for camp at your own pace.

3. You’ll stress less.
No matter what kind of fun you’re envisioning, it is way more fun to pick your program when you still have plenty of options and time to sort through them. Scrambling at the last minute? Not so relaxing.

4. It’s fun!
On those cold, rainy weekend mornings in late winter and early spring, sharing in your child’s summertime dreams can be pretty fun and exciting. Horseback riding, or kayak lessons? Picture your budding programmer’s first Flash animation short debuting on Backyard Movie Night… The right camp program, picked early and presented right, might even motivate kids who need an extra incentive to reach report card goals.

5. It’s easy!
Play a quick game of “20 Questions” (the Summer Camp edition) with your camper: Single-sex or co-ed? Day camp or overnight? Sports, arts, outdoors or tech-oriented? You’ll find a complete list of questions to help you identify your dream camp in our Online Exclusives. (To get there: Click "In this issue" at left.)