Backyard Camp for 1st, 2nd grade

amother

OP ↓

Fri, Jan 10 2025, 11:17 am

My HS aged daughter is interested in making a small backyard camp for younger elementary aged girls (1st, 2nd, 3rd grade). My initial reaction was that kids are not interested in attending a backyard camp at that age. Now that I see day camp prices, I am thinking that some parents may be looking for an alternative, cost-effective option. She was thinking to do scrapbooking, jewelry making, cake decorating, etc. She has a great personality and kids that age really enjoy spending time with her. If you have a child that age, would you consider sending to such a camp? If so, what would be some make-it-or-break-its? What hours would you need? What do you think a fair price would be? TIA for any suggestions/advice.

amother

Plum ↓

Fri, Jan 10 2025, 11:19 am

They’re a few backyard camps with that age group. Most of them are a bit bigger.

Some kids go for it more.

But you need to be in a neighborhood were kids are interested in it.

(There are even backyard camps for 7th graders my dd went to one last year and had a great time).

amother

↑ Plum

Fri, Jan 10 2025, 11:20 am

They’re a few backyard camps with that age group. Most of them are a bit bigger.

Some kids go for it more.
My kids went going into 1st.

(My teen dd will be working in a backyard camp that is huge for 1st and 2nd. Lots of parents send).

But you need to be in a neighborhood were kids are interested in it.

(There are even backyard camps for 7th graders my dd went to one last year and had a great time).

You will need an in ground pool with life guard to make it exciting.

amother

Green

Fri, Jan 10 2025, 11:20 am

I'm not in Lakewood, but I would want to know about swimming and trips. I'd want to know if it would be based indoors or outdoors. I'd want to know that she isn't taking too large of a group.
Just curious - what are the daycamp prices?

amother

Bisque

Fri, Jan 10 2025, 11:34 am

My kids went to both big camps and backyard ones. They consistently liked the small backyard ones. (The worst was the very large backyard day camp). They even enjoyed the low key backyard daycamp going into 4-6 grade that has only about a dozen kids.

The downsides of the backyard camps for me, as a working mother, were the hours, and if far, lack of transportation. I've heard this from many mothers, that their girls don't mind the backyard daycamps, but it doesn't work with their schedule. If your daughter can do longer hours, (maybe 8:45-4:15) and it's in an area with lots of working mothers, I think you can get a nice crowd.

keym

Fri, Jan 10 2025, 11:46 am

That age 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade, I know many who would be interested in backyard camps. A few things

1) you need to choose a good location because transportation is a big deal.

2) at least 2 trips over a 4 week trip- bowling, urban air type, etc

3) a real pool with lifeguards. Not just sprinklers.

4) if possible some of the big camp stuff. A theme, camp song, camp T-shirt (they can make it themselves one day), hotline,

amother

↑ OP

Fri, Jan 10 2025, 12:09 pm

Thanks for your replies! We don't own a pool so swimming is a huge obstacle. If she pays for a pool/lifeguard daily the cost will have to increase considerably or she would have to take a significant number of campers to cover the cost (which she doesn't want to do). Add to that the issue of transportation to the pool and it's not doable on a daily basis. Would anyone send if there isn't swimming daily? Are there girls who just want to have structured daily fun with a great counselor in a small group? Are there mothers who would keep their kids home because of the high cost of day camp but send to day camp if the cost/situation was right?

:)iknowit

Fri, Jan 10 2025, 12:33 pm

I’m not in Lakewood but would love something like that. The prices here are crazy. My daughter would be ok with swimming twice a week and sprinklers the other 2.
For me a deal breaker is lunches and snacks should be provided.
Other ideas that can be in the schedule can be gymnastics and/or exercise. Making a play/choir/dance would be fantastic.
Hatzlocha.

GLUE

Sat, Jan 11 2025, 8:33 pm

I know some backyard camps for that age got an above ground pool and put it in their yard with a Mechtia
Trips don't have to be fancy in one place I sent they took the girls to a sprinkler park once a week and other low cost places.

amother

Freesia

Sat, Jan 11 2025, 8:50 pm

GLUE wrote:

I would not send to a camp that has swimming without certified lifeguards.