My daughter goes to a fairly pricey camp. It’s worth it to us because she goes all summer and they have really good daily offerings, so she doesn’t get bored. There’s one nicer camp in the area but it’s 2k more per year (6k vs 4k). This is background to say I don’t want to move camps.
They offer 5 field trips per summer for her age group. As of a couple of weeks ago, they were all full. Camp days when your group goes on field trips without you really suck. I’m pissed because every kid should get the same opportunity to go on field trips. This is the second year this has happened. Last year I was able to get her into one out of five, and this year none.
Part of it is on me because my camp registration didn’t work and I was slow on fixing it and I should have remembered the field trip issue. But, then it would be someone else’s kid left out and that’s not really better on the whole.
My husband can keep her home those days (he’s still recovering medically but we paid for this camp back in January when we thought he’d be better by now, he is getting there but still has many medical appointments plus he doesn’t have the stamina to give her what I’d consider a healthy summer with plenty of outdoor time etc).
I’ve had annoyances with this camp before so I’d like some perspective. Is it normal for camp field trips to fill up? Would you say something, considering it’s not super likely that the director can fix it? How would you word the email or in person convo if so?
It’s not nice to exclude children like this so I’m leaning towards saying something. My kid has another option (though she would prefer the trip!) but not all will.
So they have a camp and there are options for field trips, but the field trips have a cap that is lower than the camp attendance? That seems like really poor planning on the part of the camp.
I would probably write and ask why the camp isn't able to plan and support field trips that include the full list of attendees?
similar to ssmjlm, I am confused. Our summer camp does weekly field trips and it is part of the cost of camp. All kids go.
When I was a kid at a fancy overnight camp for the entirety of the summer, we would also do group trips. So for a week of our 7 weeks at camp we would go to Cape Cod for example. Things like that. Again, it is part of the cost of the camp and everyone went.
This seems like a terrible way to run this camp. All kids should go.
Post by dcrunnergirl52 on Jun 24, 2024 7:55:26 GMT -5
That's awful that they do field trip but some kids don't get to go. I agree with pp that this is a terrible way to run the camp.
At my kids' sleepaway camp, they run like 5 field trips per week. Each kid goes on one field trip. Kids may not get to on their first choice field trip but everyone gets to go. I think totally excluding some kids is unacceptable.
Post by thebreakfastclub on Jun 24, 2024 8:07:32 GMT -5
I've never heard of this trip within a camp set up, where everyone isn't going on the day trip. I'm sure they'll say it's because of staffing, but they could instead ensure that each child is guaranteed one day trip as part of the camp, then it's not such a big deal on the days you're left behind. Or choose day trips where everyone can go.
I'd give feedback in that context since you're not leaving the camp and you're a paying customer of the camp. I'd just keep my kid home those days.
How many kids are staying at the camp when the others are going on the field trips? What are the field trips? Are there still fun activities happening at the camp when the other kids are gone on the field trips?
I'd complain about the "camp days suck" part when it's a field trip day. I get that maybe they can't take all of the kids on the field trips, but the kids that have to stay behind should be given the opportunity to have special activities that they normally wouldn't be able to do because of the number of kids that are usually there.
Post by wanderingback on Jun 24, 2024 8:31:52 GMT -5
I’m not up to date with what’s normal for camp these days but that does not seem good.
If there are staffing or cost issues then everyone should get to on 1 or 2 trips, not the same person gets to go on 5 trips cause their parents signed them up quickly and they have extra money.
This is terrible! If they aren't going to have enough spots for all kids, they need to make it like every kid can sign up for two or something like that. When my kids were in day camp, there was a weekly field trip that everyone who wanted to went on. It did cost extra, but at least they could go. I would definitely be upset.
That is super annoying. Years ago my oldest went to a camp with weekly field trips that cost extra. But anyone who wanted to pay the extra fee could go. I'm pretty sure that the camp shut down on those days, so basically the camp fee was for 4 days/week, with an option to purchase a 5th day/field trip.
I would have been super annoyed if the field trips had a lower cap than the camp itself.
Having said that, this seems to be the MO for your camp, and it sounds like they've been operating this way for years. You are certainly welcome to say something, but I would not expect them to change a long standing policy on your behalf.
In terms of how to phrase it, maybe start with "We were disappointed to learn that all field trips for the summer were filled by the time our registration was processed. Can you help me understand why the trips can't accommodate all the kids who would like to go? Is there any way that we could get Kiddo on a wait list for any of the trips?"
There may be a bigger reason that you aren't aware of (for example, they had a significant number of parents opting out due to cost or lack of interest/asking for their kid to be allowed to just have a regular camp day. So they are limited by their ability to split the staff into two groups and still stay within safe ratios for supervision)
We have been to three different camps, and all field trips were for all kids (and no extra cost beyond the camp fee). They are the very best part of camp! They typically divide by age group so the 6/7s go Monday, the 8/9 go Tuesday, etc. Each camp goes on a field trip once a week on a set day.
We have never been to a camp that did field trips this way. Either all kids get to go on all field trips, or each kid gets to go on the same number of field trips.
For this year, I’d focus on asking to enhance the experience back at camp for kids who don’t get to go on the field trip. Finding some way to make it special — watch a movie, do a special craft, eat special food…make it suck less for the kids who don’t get to go for whatever reason.
It’s not normal. Everyone goes on the field trip for our camps.
I would complain and say every camp you’ve ever heard of includes all kids. That they are being exclusive and that there were problems with your registration so that’s why you couldn’t get her signed up.
No way, that would be a deal breaker for me in a camp. I don't want to jump through all the registration hoops, pay $100/day, AND still have my kid be upset because I didn't win the super extra hard Hunger Games for field trip spots.
Post by purplepenguin7 on Jun 24, 2024 9:33:36 GMT -5
I don't think this is normal, and would probably not go back to this camp. I might say something about the registration issue but I wouldn't expect them to change their policy going forward.
If there is a valid reason why they can't have ALL the kids go, then it seems like they need to break it up - by age, perhaps. Or each kid can go on (let's say) 3 trips so that all families have a chance to sign up for a field trip. It shouldn't purely be "first come first served" if everyone is paying the same amount (but I do understand the field trips are extra).
Post by mcppalmbeach on Jun 24, 2024 9:51:10 GMT -5
I’m so curious where these field trips are to?!
I don’t think this is normal. Here there are some camps (ymca and municipal camps) that are lower costs and they do “normal” field trips like the splash park, movies, zoo. Etc. and I think I’ve heard that they will also do like a Disney world day (we live three hours away) for an additional cost so I can see that. But otherwise o think they should come up with something more equitable for sure.
How many kids are staying at the camp when the others are going on the field trips? What are the field trips? Are there still fun activities happening at the camp when the other kids are gone on the field trips?
I'd complain about the "camp days suck" part when it's a field trip day. I get that maybe they can't take all of the kids on the field trips, but the kids that have to stay behind should be given the opportunity to have special activities that they normally wouldn't be able to do because of the number of kids that are usually there.
The field trips are broken down into age groups. So like the 6-7 year old group and the 7-8 year old group go to a trampoline park. The few kids who stay behind are immersed into another group. So it doesn’t suck because the camp day sucks, it sucks because 90% of your friends and your counselors are gone and you’re with strange kids for the day essentially.
Ah yeah, I can see how the change of friends/counselors would be hard for kids even if they are still doing fun stuff. I'd definitely talk to the camp directors and see if any changes could be made to at least allow more kids to attend the events or less disruption for those that can't.
tikipurplepenguin7 this camp has a special activity daily except field trip days such as renting a mega water slide or having a magician come, has both an indoor and outdoor pool so she can swim every day (and we get a lot of summer storms here in the mid-Atlantic), and a bunch of her friends go. I’d love to leave in a huff but it’s either downgrade to a less fun camp or spend 2k more. My hands feel sort of tied. But I do want to point out that the policy is exclusionary and unkind.
tikipurplepenguin7 this camp has a special activity daily except field trip days such as renting a mega water slide or having a magician come, has both an indoor and outdoor pool so she can swim every day (and we get a lot of summer storms here in the mid-Atlantic), and a bunch of her friends go. I’d love to leave in a huff but it’s either downgrade to a less fun camp or spend 2k more. My hands feel sort of tied. But I do want to point out that the policy is exclusionary and unkind.
ah I did misunderstand and thought your current camp was the more expensive of the options. I might be skewed because I live in the land of day camps with tons of options to chose from. Also, I didn't mean to leave in a huff but more to just not re-enroll next year. It doesn't sound like a good option to me, but I get that it's tricky if all of her friends go there.
I would say something. It’s not normal to have to register separately for field trips within camp weeks. Our camps include field trips and I LOVE it. I don’t know where he goes exactly, but I feel happy knowing he is going somewhere - movies, museums, trampoline parks, aquarium, etc.
I think it would be meaningful to reach out to the director and say you are long-time campers and have a suggestion for improvement re: field trips. Include everyone and roll it into the cost of tuition.
How many kids are staying at the camp when the others are going on the field trips? What are the field trips? Are there still fun activities happening at the camp when the other kids are gone on the field trips?
I'd complain about the "camp days suck" part when it's a field trip day. I get that maybe they can't take all of the kids on the field trips, but the kids that have to stay behind should be given the opportunity to have special activities that they normally wouldn't be able to do because of the number of kids that are usually there.
The field trips are broken down into age groups. So like the 6-7 year old group and the 7-8 year old group go to a trampoline park. The few kids who stay behind are immersed into another group. So it doesn’t suck because the camp day sucks, it sucks because 90% of your friends and your counselors are gone and you’re with strange kids for the day essentially.
But like…there’s no limit to how many kids you can take to the trampoline park? Why not just open it up to any kid who wants to go?
The field trips are broken down into age groups. So like the 6-7 year old group and the 7-8 year old group go to a trampoline park. The few kids who stay behind are immersed into another group. So it doesn’t suck because the camp day sucks, it sucks because 90% of your friends and your counselors are gone and you’re with strange kids for the day essentially.
But like…there’s no limit to how many kids you can take to the trampoline park? Why not just open it up to any kid who wants to go?