Your Guide To Summer Camp Planning in Southwest Minneapolis & Edina
As the school bell rings, you suddenly realize that thing you've been fearing since the Tuesday after Labor Day is staring you straight in the eyes. The thing that's kept you up at night tossing and turning, sweating the inevitability of its definitive arrival. The only thing more terrifying than 2 weeks off for Christmas break - summer vacation is upon you. The kids couldn't be more thrilled to burst through the door with their backpack full of useless paper and stash of broken crayons and dried up glue sticks. What the heck are we going to do with these kids for the next 3 months? (This photo from the first day of summer break last year...)
Living in the Southwest Minneapolis & Edina area, we are so fortunate to have an amazing breadth of variety in summer programs for our kids. Being 9 years into this whole parenting gig, I feel I have established some street credibility in my summer planning skills. I'm by no means an expert, but I've made enough mistakes to know a thing or two (trial and error seems to be the go-to method of summer planning, amiright?). I'm here to provide you with a crash course in summer planning and a cheatsheet of my tried and true favorite local summer camps.
Summer planning shouldn't be as hard as it is. When I step back and think about why it's hard, I find that it usually comes back to my own lack of setting expectations and boundaries for our summer. Since my kids have been 'of age' for camps, I have found the end of the summer signifies the end of me spending days on the road carting kids from one camp to the next while juggling nap times, meal times and sports. I don't often end the summer thinking back to how rewarding it was, how balanced I felt or how we accomplished everything we set out to on our non-existent summer bucket list. So why then do we do it to ourselves? Why come February are we sweating over our keyboards waiting for the clock to strike 8am so we can register our kids for every camp available to them? The pressure to have your kids registered and regimented in a summer packed full of activities is high, but are any of us really asking ourselves what it is we want to do?
Therein lies suggestion number one for your summer planning. What do you want to do this summer? In other words, what do you want your summer to be like? Are you looking for lazy summer days? Flexibility? Are you juggling jobs that require full-time child care? Are you looking to travel? Whatever it is you are looking for, write it down as the first step in your summer planning, a summer mission statement so to speak. Before you sign up for anything, revisit your mission statement and be sure your latest camp you discovered that you absolutely, 100%, can. not. miss., must be registered by 8am or else...is really in line with what you wanted your summer to be like. Pose the question to your kids as well - what do they want their summer to be like? Their answers may surprise you.
You've taken the time to think about summer with your kids and what you all want to get out of it, now it's time for suggestion number 2: strategize. Your summer mission statement states that you want flexibility - the kids are requesting more time with friends to hang out and be...well, kids!
How does that translate though when it comes to the calendar? Print out a monthly calendar and get a grasp on the number of weeks you are looking at. If you stated you wanted your summer flexible, what does that mean for scheduled weeks each month? Is that 1, week-long camp each month? Is it every other week? Put a number on how many camps you need/want for the summer. Be realistic with your numbers and revisit your mission statement to be sure your quantity is still in line with your mission. While you're looking at the calendar, black out the weeks you know you'll be traveling. Nothing worse than a lost deposit on a double booked summer camp (yep, I've done that too).
Suggestion number 3 for summer planning: create a summer bucket list. I love doing this with my kids and it actually gets me excited about the less regimented days ahead. As Minnesotans, we insure certain rights of passage are met during our kids' summers: a day spent at Valley Fair, taking in the horse races at Canterbury Downs, an outdoor Twins game at Target Field, a hot September day spent meandering through the Great Minnesota Get Together.
But what other local favorites do you love sharing with your kids? My summer bucket list always includes a kayak ride down Minnehaha Creek, paddle boarding around Lake of the Isles, the Open Water Swim Club at Lake Nokomis, many visits to wander around the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Think about what those things are that make summer summer and make a point of crossing each one off the list - reserve days for doing just that!
Slowly, we are honing in on the number of camps we need in order to fulfill our summer mission statement. Before we start committing our weeks away, consider any passes you'll purchase. Our own Edina Aquatic Center is the hub of summer socialization (and getting some updates this summer!) Are you planning to purchase a pass for the summer? If so, how many visits will it take you to make the upfront cost worthwhile? Make a note of it for your calendar.
What other annual passes do you have or plan to capitalize on this summer? Vertical Endeavors for the climber in your life (and on sale for 1 hour only on February 26th!), your Minnesota Zoo membership or all those times you thought you'd get to The Works Museum but haven't yet - make a point of taking advantage of those 'free' ways to play.
We've written our summer mission statement, printed out our calendar for a strategic attack, blocked out weeks for travel, bucket list items and annual passes - it's camp time! Truth be told, summer just isn't summer without a few of our favorite camps on the calendar. They add a bit of structure to a lackadaisical summer and give caretakers a little break from the soundtrack of sibling squabbles stuck on repeat. Below I'm sharing a list of our top local summer camps that are kid tested, mom approved.
Camp Kici Yapi
Every year without fail, this full-day, week-long day camp ranks top of my kids' list. With transportation included and sound sleepers returning each day, you can feel confident watching your camper board the bus each morning. Older kids should consider volunteering and can earn service hours for those whose school requires it. Consider going multiple times in a summer, the fun never gets old. Registration is open!
See Kitty Sew
This in-home sewing studio offers the most fabulous camps for kids through teens and adults interested in sewing. From the very beginner to the most advanced sewers, everyone can improve and have fun learning this lifelong skill. Check out the I <3 My Pet Camp where you'll create tote bags, pillows and more with custom printed fabric featuring your own pet's photo. The best part, no last-minute scrambling - supplies are all included! Registration opens February 27th.
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd's Summer Musical Theater Camp
You have likely heard of this camp if you live in the area because of its incredible value. It runs 2 weeks from 9am-3pm and costs a total of $250! They also offer optional extended care for those who need it. The camp offers instruction in singing, dancing, drumming, juggling and prop making - all in a creative, artistic and challenging environment. The performances at the end of camp make for quite a show. Registration is open!
MN Landscape Arboretum Summer Camps
If you are willing to put on the miles, the Arboretum offers some really amazing camps for kids. My daughter especially loved the Lego Art & Architecture Camp. The Arboretum offers 3 & 4 day camps and if you have younger kids you intend on bringing along, pack a lunch and plan to make an afternoon of it. There is so much adventuring to do. Coordinate with another family for ease of carpooling or to play with while you wait. Registration is open!
Mount Olivet Summer Youth Programs
Mount Olivet is another summer destination offering a ton of variety in kids - teen programming. A favorite for my younger daughter has been Camp Cheer taught by a local mother/daughter duo. Registration comes in at $30 which includes a t-shirt, poms and crafts - the value can not be beat. Registration is open!
Southwest Super Summer
Southwest Super Summer is the hub of Southwest Minneapolis summer fun. Camps this summer will be held at Southwest High School (now that the renovation is complete) and if you drive by at any given time during a summer weekday, you'll see quintessential summer in the city fun going on. They offer morning and afternoon programming as well as supervised lunch time for those needing full-day childcare. Programs range from fishing, cooking and tumbling to Minecraft, theater, horses and everything in between. Registration opens March 6th!
Summer at Blake
Not unlike Southwest Super Summer, The Blake School offers an incredible variety of summer programs. From computer programming to survival skills and archery - your kids can design their dream day camps by piecing together morning and afternoon sessions. Like Southwest Super Summer, The Blake School works as a great alternative to summer childcare. Registration is open!
Leonardo's Basement
Leonardo's Basement remains one of the coolest destinations in Minneapolis for my kids. With a focus on art, engineering, science and technology - kids, teens and adults go to Leonardo's Basement to build and create. If you haven't read the story of how Leonardo's Basement came to be, check it out and support these awesome kids and parents making strides for our community. Registration is open!
Stages Theater
Stages Theater offers a variety of themed camps for your drama loving small children up through age 17. Camps focus on acting, but also singing and dancing too. The performances at the end of the camp in the large theater make for quite a show. You'll be amazed what these instructors can pull together in a week. Registration is open!
Edina Parks & Rec Playground Program
If you are looking for an inexpensive, flexible option for breaking up some of those long summer days, consider registering for a youth playground program. Through Edina Parks & Rec, you can sign up for one of their drop-off playground programs. With a staff to participant ratio of 1:10, kids are guided through a variety of activities, games, sports and crafts while developing new friendships and burning off some serious energy. Sign ups are for 2 days a week, 3 hours at a time for 7 weeks of the summer. At $55, this one is a no brainer! Show up when it works for you. Registration for Edina residents is open! Non-resident registration opens February 21st.
Platinum Dance Center
Platinum Dance Center was Edina's vote for Best Dance Studio in the 2017 Readers Choice Awards and is the go-to studio for many Minneapolis & Edina dance families. Since the dance season runs the full school year, summer can be a great time to give your kids a taste of dance without having to commit to a full year. Registration is open!
In short, there's more to summer planning than just signing up - take into consideration the pace and commitment level that works for your family. When you're ready, take advantage of the amazing programs our community works hard to make possible for our kids. I can't think of a better place to do summer than right here at home.