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Community Corner

Summer Camps and Fun At-Home Ideas

Whether your child is attending a summer camp or you have the kids at home, here are some ideas to get you through summer.

Summer break is right around the corner, and many parents have been planning for the break from school since January, when camps opened enrollment.

Some of the local camps are competitive to get into; Greenbelt Creative Kids Camp typically fills up fast. Thankfully there are so many summer camp options in our area that are based on the interest of the child; the hardest part is deciding which one to attend.

Art, Robotics and Science at Friends Community School

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My oldest son, L, goes to a wonderful program for high functioning autistic children with a focus on social skills. The adult-to-child ratio is low, they go on field trips, play games and—most importantly—they continue speech therapy and occupational therapy. Last year my younger son, Z, was overcome with jealousy that L was attending summer camp. This year he will also be enrolled in a local program, but which summer camp to choose? Should we try one type of camp one week and another type of camp another week?

While some parents need summer camps so that their children will be cared for while they are at work, other families choose not to participate in camps for financial and/or personal reasons. I personally love the down time, hanging around the house, going to the pool and doing projects that I never have time to do during the school year.

Here is our list of fun things to do this summer; hopefully you’ll be inspired to create your own “Fun at Home” too!

Sponge Tag

Nature Paint Swatch Scavenger Hunt

Learn magic tricks and plan a magic show for grandparents

Have a Lemonade Stand

Balloon Ping Pong Olympics

Build our house out of Legos

Nighttime Flash Light Tag

Ink Blob T-shirts

Frisbee Golf

Gretchen Schock is a mom, a writer and a yoga instructor. Check out her creative writings and crafty goodness on her blog, www.CocktailMom.com. Or come to a yoga class and be inspired!

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