The best thing about sending your child to summer daycamp is having them come home, clearly exhausted, and yet only answer: "nothing" when you ask, "what did you do today?" .... said no parent ever! Can't blame the kids, of course (camp is busy, so it's hard to remember any one specific thing to talk about), but as parents, we want to know that camp is providing fun and educational experiences. This is why I was so grateful for the weekly newsletters we parents received from the Cranbrook Schools Summer Camps team when my son attended Cranbrook's Brookside Camp last summer.
The brightly-colored weekly newsletter arrived in our parent portal every week (and via an email reminder, thank goodness) with details on how the campers experienced drama, science, sports, art, music, swimming, and the weekly special topic. We also got a heads-up about special events coming up that week (watching the Cranbrook Schools Theater Camp's dress rehearsals; Super Hero Day; etc.) and the weekly theme and color. The thorough communication not only ensured my son was prepared each week, but also that I had a ton of conversation-starters that would quickly get him from answering "nothing" to talking animatedly about how he tested gravity, showing off his new knowledge of sign language, and doing our own at-home coffee filter art inspired by a camp project.
The Brookside Camp team also maintained an updated photo album throughout the summer (accessible only to parents), and it was fun shuffling through photographs with my son and spotting a few great pics of the memories he was making. We received a weekly menu as well (yup, a menu -- lunches and snacks are included in camp tuition, a wonderful reprieve after a school year of making lunches! The Cranbrook Schools Summer Camps is all about creating convenience for families: you can add on post-camp swim lessons for your child to get them swim instruction without having to go elsewhere; before- and after-care are available; and bussing is available from locations in Royal Oak, Birmingham, and nearby).
The best part was how my 6 year old bonded with his camp group and his counselors. To see your child getting and giving high-fives at the end of a day of being apart, and to hear him talk about the friendships formed, is so rewarding. Knowing that the camp is American Camp Association-accredited and that the staff receives in-depth training was also reassuring. Mom guilt can set in around being separated from your child on lovely summer days, but knowing what a great time my son was having at Brookside helped lighten that load a great deal.
Considering Brookside for your kiddo this summer? Find out more info online at: https://schools.cranbrook.edu/camps--cranbrook/day-camps/brookside-camp
This article is sponsored by Cranbrook Schools Summer Camps, but all opinions and experiences are my own. We appreciate our sponsors for keeping Macaroni Kid a free resource for local families!
