It's hard to believe that the school year is weeks away from ending for another year! However, these early spring days are the perfect time to think about how your student will spend their summer vacation. There are lots of opportunities available for kids these days, and the best choices are those things that help keep their brains and their bodies active and ready for the next school year! Before you sign your student up for endless weeks of arts and crafts, or become tired of watching them crash in front of the television all day long, consider these summer vacation ideas that can keep your student's mind healthy and active, too.

School Sponsored Day Camps

Many school districts offer day programs for students. Some schools offer academic programs, ranging from remedial academic programs to accelerated learning seminars. Other programs focus on entertainment options that combine education activities and fun. Depending on the needs of your child and the offerings of your school district, consider allowing your child to participate this year. Most offerings are relatively inexpensive, many are staffed or run by certified teachers, and some offer extended hours of day care for parents, too. Contact your local school district for more information.

Volunteering

Does your child have a passion for animals? Are they caring and sensitive to others? Are they creative and artistic? Consider finding out more about ways your child may be able to spend some of their summer vacation hours donating their time and talents to others. Speak to local nursing homes to see if they have a visiting program that your child might participate in to bring joy to someone's day. Or, you may choose to have your child contact a local Veterans Administration office to donate creative, handmade cards to be sent overseas to soldiers. Depending on your time availability and your child's interests, there are many different volunteering options available for young people today.

Community College Programs

Local community colleges are the unsung heroes of the educational world, and your child may be able to go to college this summer, even if they're still in elementary school! As well as providing access to college level education for members of your community, community colleges are also often sponsors of programs to enrich children's lives. Contact your local community college to find out if they offer any summer programs for your child. Options may be varied, from cooking classes to drama productions to standardized test prep, and it's likely that your child will find a class that suits their tastes and needs.

Church and Community Groups

Many church and community groups offer various programs for students in the summer. Some community learning centers or small, local businesses may offer art classes or pottery classes. Other organizations such as Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts offer camp and leadership programs for their members. Local YMCA groups usually offer a number of programs for both boys and girls to enjoy. Some church youth groups even continue to run activities and camps in the summer months to keep children happy, busy and safe during vacation. Check your local community groups to see if there is something right for your child. Contact your local church, community group, or civic organization for more information.

A Final (Financial) Note about Summer Programs

Many parents do not even try to locate summer programs in their area due to the expense they fear they cannot afford, yet summer programs help to keep children's minds, social skills, and bodies healthy and active. Before rejecting the idea of summer programs completely, find out if the sponsoring organization provides scholarships, payment plans, multiple child discounts or a sliding scale fee based on family income. Also, some programs that run only mornings or afternoons or are only for a few days are considerably less expensive than those that run all day for the whole summer. Try contacting several different agencies or groups to determine if there is a local program that can meet your child's needs without crushing your budget. Some local organization such as churches, boys and girls clubs, and other civic organization may also be willing to sponsor your child. Don't give up a dream of summer fun before trying to contact these local agencies for help.