Summer camp is something most kids look forward to, which means it’s something most families have to plan for - in advance.
It turns out, the sooner you plan, the more you can save when trying to find the perfect camp that suites your child.
YMCA Buffalo Niagara has 22 locations that offer 95 programs throughout Western New York.
To help families budget and get their kids prepared for the summer, the Y is offering an early bird promotion running through February 28th - for day campers and resident over night campers.
“I think it’s important for parents to think ahead even during the winter, it helps them learn about what we have to offer, but when it comes to out camp, Camp Weona, kids are here for a week, sometimes even more and that takes planning for the whole family," Executive Director Scott Weigley shared.
Weona is one of two resident overnight camps the YMCA offers. Kids can enjoy everything from outdoor to indoor activities, character building and lifeskill coaching - most important, they can meet life-long friends.
“One of the benefits, I think, of parents registering their kids early is that kids can make friends early on. They can bond with each other before they have a chance to even get here,” Weigley continued.
But if overnight camp isn’t for your child, the YMCA has a variety of other day camp options as well, sampler camps as well.
Last year, association wide, the YMCA Buffalo Niagara served 2,000 campers a week, a number they hope will continue to grow.
Similar to resident campers, day campers engage in a variety of activities - from indoor to outdoor. The only difference? They go home at the end of the day.
For those families and kids who are still exploring both options, Weona offers a sampler camp, so campers can ease into the transition from one to another.
“Kids come in and go to the day camp of their choice for three days and then they come to one of our resident camps for 3 nights, it’s the best of both worlds for our campers, and often times for reluctant parents as well,” Weigley explained.
But when it comes to saving and budgeting, how does that factor in?
Until February 28th, the YMCA is running an early bird special to encourage parents to register their kids - sooner than later.
Deposits for day campers are $10 instead of $20 or $30 and $50 for resident campers instead of $75.
Their goal? To inspire families to plan ahead in order to ensure their child has somewhere to go, that’s a safe, fun, interactive environment.
For more information on Camp Weona and the variety of other locations and summer camp programs, visit the YMCA’s website.
