March is right around the corner, and that month is special for plenty of reasons, including:
- Spring begins in March.
- We move our clocks forward, letting more daylight into our lives.
- Basketball fans will get caught up in March Madness.
- Spring training games mark the beginning of 2016 Tribe fever.
- Horizon Education Centers release the list of field trips for summer camp.
We’ve got plenty of great day trips in mind for summer 2016, and there’s a simple way to let your child get first dibs on which ones to enjoy.
- Prepay for your child’s summer camp activity fee before April 15 by stopping at your center’s office:
- For one child—$150
- For two or more children—$300
- Please pay by check or money order.
- Then, when the list of field trips is announced in mid-March, your child or children will get first choice of these space-limited trips.
- We understand that sometimes your plans need to change, so this fee is fully refundable until June 3, 2016.
Consider using your tax refund to sign up.
Why Summer Camp is So Important
Summer camp is a structured environment designed to keep your child safe and feeling secure while providing the downtime needed to be creative, have fun, gain skills and build a circle of friends. It helps your child develop what psychologists call social intelligence, which has two parts: social awareness and social facility.
Social awareness is when your child is in tune with his or her own inner world, which includes thoughts and feelings. When someone is socially aware, he or she can feel empathy with others. Social facility refers to how someone uses social awareness to interact with others. And, according to this article, summer camp allows children to develop both sides of social intelligence. As they are introduced to new people and given a chance to practice socializing with them, they gain skills that can help them during the rest of their lives.
Here’s how New York Metro Parents describes the experience: “What makes it so exciting is that you’re doing it on your own, making friends with kids whose parents Mom and Dad don’t even know! Taking part in the traditions of chanting, singing, and clapping—an oral history that is handed down from child to child. There’s no parent telling you from the sideline what a great job you’re doing. Kids take ownership of the whole experience, and this shapes their identity and their character.”
And in this Internet-intensive world of 2016, it’s also a great way for your child to disconnect. “None of us thinks we can live without electronics. We’re all completely hooked. So it’s useful for kids to see and know that we can survive without electronics.”
Have Questions About the Prepayment Opportunity?
It’s hard to believe, but summer is just around the corner. We’d love to talk to you about your summer camp needs. Please let us know if you have questions about the benefits of prepaying for your child’s summer camp activity fees. It’s going to be a great summer!
