The Wonderful World of Day Camp
Summer fun plus all the comforts of home…
What’s not to love?

By Cathy Ashby


Thousands of Greater Sacramento kiddos will head to camp this summer, but not all of them will be packing bags and sewing labels into their clothes. In fact, the majority of campers will be day campers or commuter campers, enjoying the benefits of camp by day and the comforts of home by sundown.

Why Day Camp?
Families choose day camps over sleep-away programs for a variety of reasons. Many young children just aren’t ready yet to spend a long time away from home. They may suffer from separation anxiety or homesickness. Or, they may still need help from mom or dad when it comes to everyday things like getting themselves up and dressed, choosing healthy meals, or calming down for a good night’s sleep.


Money-Saving Tip
Some forms of summer camp are considered daycare by the IRS.
Consult your financial adviser or tax planner to find out if a portion of your 2009 summer camp expenses can be reimbursed through a flexible spending account or applied toward a tax credit or deduction.

Sometimes day camp is a better option financially for families, since day programs are usually less expensive than their sleep-away counterparts, while still offering plenty of the same benefits all camps offer, including fitness, fun and friends.

With the variety of programming options available—rock climbing, swimming, computer game design, arts, crafts, horse camps, music, dance, and more—campers can schedule their summers so they experience different themes or activities every week or even, for the very adventurous, every day. This flexibility allows curious campers to try new things without fear; if they don’t enjoy a particular activity, chances are, they’ll be on to something new before they can say, “Let’s play a different game.”

Community Encounters
Day camps also allow children to make lots of new friends. Unlike residential camps, where your camper’s new best friends might live in far-flung places, day camp friends are usually from nearby neighborhoods. With school re-districting legislation and private school enrollment at all time highs, children who live in the same neighborhood don’t necessarily know each other! Community programs and day camps allow campers to meet and mingle with other local kids who share similar interests. They may live close enough that their friendship can continue growing and thriving – even if they attend different schools during the school year.

Plenty of campers who enjoy overnight camp also attend day camps. Many families mix the two to give kids more variety, or structure, during the summer months. These parents want their kids to be entertained and educated during the summer months, but they don’t want to send them packing for weeks on end. A blend of sleep-away and day camp programs offers the best of both worlds.

Cathy Ashby is a former camp director and camp counselor.