Nearly three years to the day of Bennington resident Kiana Appleby’s drowning at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center, a court official knowledgeable about the resulting civil case arising have informed WOW that the parties have settled the civil lawsuit. [Story continues.]

Summer Camps: How to Pick the Winners
By Chris Barrett, Publisher/Managing Editor

So you’ve procrastinated and delayed.

Now the end of school looms and you need to make plans fast. But if you’re new to the world of summer camps, how can you tell the great ones from the mediocre ones? And how do you go about winnowing your list?

When to Start?

If you’re just beginning your search for summer camps now, you are likely in for some disappointment. Many parents begin making their summer camp schedules and reservations as early as March and many of the most popular camps filled up in early April. If you’ve started late this year, mark your 2009 calendar with a reminder to get your summer camp plans in order beginning in March.

Patchwork or Predictable?

The first major distinction among camps is timeframe. Some camps run all summer long – from the end of one school year to the beginning of the next – with only occasional short breaks, such as for Independence Day holiday. If your budget is an issue, your best bet may be to check with a YMCA or local recreational center run by your city or county for their summer-long program. Another great opportunity that is available all summer long (and even for shorter time periods) is the Westchase Community Association’s summer camp packages. Located at the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center, the camp features full or half-day opportunities that combine swimming, tennis and even field trips.

If your child craves regular change, a patchwork approach of summer camp opportunities will allow kids a different experience every few weeks. This approach, however, requires greater research, careful planning and an eye toward budgeting. The summer camp bill can rise very quickly.

Narrowing the Scope

While a camp’s schedule and proximity to a parent’s commute might make it seem more attractive than another, it’s wiser to include your child when picking the summer camps in which he’ll pass a good day of his waking hours. If you select a camp your child ultimately despises, the potential disruption will soon outweigh the initial advantages of the chosen camp’s schedule and proximity. Remember, it’s your child’s summer; be sure to let him in on the fun.

In selecting camps, first make a list of your child’s passions or interests. Odds are good that there are local camps that cater to all of them, whether they’re horseback riding, science, jewelry making, computers, art or a particular sport. Acquire brochures of flyers from possible camps, set a budget limit and ask your camper to help you set the schedule.

Be sure to speak with their friends’ parents as well. Not only will your children appreciate a friend in camp with them, having another working parent willing to share carpool duties may make the summer camp commute work better for everyone.

Schedules

Summer camp has to work around a number of schedules. If both parents’ work schedules provide for little flexibility, they’ll need a camp with aftercare. Check to see whether the camps that have caught your eye allow for early drop-off or late pick-up and what the additional fees will be.

The second person a camp’s schedule needs to work around is the camper. Be sure you understand a camp’s daily and weekly schedule before you sign up. Will it provide a good fit for your child? Does the camp provide a good balance of shade and rest to offset taxing activities in the Florida sun?  [Story continues.]
 

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