YMCA Summer Day Camp

My kiddo has done the YMCA summer day camp for a couple years now.
It’s a nice way to get my childcare needs met for the summer (hello 7am to 6pm hours, thank you!). And she gets to do all kinds of fun stuff.
She’s not always excited about how the staff talk to the kids (yelling and rudeness often are reported), but she has friends there with her so she deals. They do go on lots of outings and have lots of activities, arts and crafts, singing, etc.
She has learned a plethora of annoying camp songs. Much to my dismay.
It’s a reasonable summer alternative, and they have options all over town for most ages of children. They also do sliding fee for lower income families, and give a sibling discount.

School’s out for the summer! Now the real challenge begins.
For kids, the summer promises no homework, lots of playtime with friends, sleeping in and campfires with s’mores. If you are a parent that works, the reality is a scramble to find quality programs for your kids at a reasonable price to keep the tots safe and entertained during the day.
For the first time this year, we’ve gone to the Y-​M-​C-​A, sing it with me now, Y-​M-​C-​A.
The YMCA offers a variety of day camps through local elementary schools throughout the Portland metro area. This summer we’ve done the Adventure Day Camp at our primary school as well as soccer Sports Camp at another local school. Both camps are for kids entering grades 1 — 5. The Adventure Day Camp is a full day program and each week has a theme and a related field trip. Sports Camps are half day, but you can pay extra to extend to a full day as well. For the soccer camp, the field trip took them downtown to watch the Timbers practice at PGE Park. They had a behind-​the-​scenes tour, met the team and got autographs.
My kids have been really happy with both camps, except for the whole waking up early thing. I make them do homework during the summer too, ’cause I’m a mean mom. But they do get lots of s’mores!