The Sherah Step-by-Step Guide to Summer Camp Planning

(plus our annual planning template!)

It’s January. There's ice on the ground. You're begging your kids to put on pants and a heavier coat. Yet, it’s time to plan and register for summer camps. It’s insane. 

Like everything else as a parent these days, our culture seems to make it harder for us with earlier camp registration every year.

We all have different strategies to tackle our to-do list. Some plan early. Some start late and take what’s left. Some don’t plan at all and wing it. It’s just a matter of what feels good for you. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eTuZ6KO5Pg

For our planners out there and especially those with multiple kids, ages, and interests, we're here for you. At Sherah, our mission is to help keep families running more smoothly with less stress.

So here are our 10 steps to easier planning, plus when you join Sherah you get our planning template free!

Let Us Do It All For You

10 Steps to Easier Summer Camp Planning

1. Pick your planning device - Some have their annual spreadsheet or Google doc. Some have their trusted paper journal so they can physically see each week throughout the summer. Sherah provides an awesome spreadsheet template to our members that helps them plan out their summer by the week or by kid - whichever you prefer. 

   
   

2. Review last year’s summer schedule - Think back to last summer and try to remember what you and the kids liked. What did you wish was different? How have your kids, their interests, and your family’s needs changed? Has anything with work or budget changed?

   
   

3. Know your goals for this year - After thinking back, be clear on your goals for this year. Maybe you need more coverage so you can focus more at work. Maybe you need less coverage because the kids are growing up. Want your kids to try a new sport? Know what’s right for your family and don’t be swayed by the mom text chatter.

   
   

4. Write down a few options for each week - Jot down a few options for each kid for each week. It could be a repeat of what they did that week last year. Then check to see if it’s being offered again that week. It could be a suggestion for a new camp that someone else mentioned that their kid is attending. It could also be that you are taking a vacation and don’t need coverage. Start to plan out your options at a high level. 

   
   

5. Dig in and look up each camp - Go to the website for each camp you’re considering, both the repeats and the new ones, and confirm this year’s details. Write down what weeks they’re available and add the weeks that work for you to your document.

   
   

6. Time to start making decisions - Cutting it down to exactly what you want your summer to look like can be hard especially if you tend to get anxious with decision making. Start by looking at the weeks where there is a clear winner. Then take the alternates for that week and either delete them or see if they fit well in another week that doesn’t have a clear winner. Don’t forget that if you book multiple kids in the same camp, it will make life easier. sometimes you can get a multi-kid discount!

   
   

7. Take a step back - Now that you’ve culled down the list, it’s time to step back. Go back to your goals for this summer. Did you achieve them? More together time? More coverage so you can focus at work? Stay within a budget? Make tweaks where needed. 

   
   

8. Review (or don’t) with others - We all differ on how much we want to take others’ opinions into consideration. If you have a partner or spouse, maybe they like to be included. Kids always like to be asked, but do you really want their opinions? Another thing to consider is sharing your schedule with the parents of your kids’ friends. See if their kids want to join your kids to make carpooling easier.

   
   

9. Time to register! - Now it’s time to click all the links, fill out your kids’ names, gender, DOB, allergies and your credit card a thousand times. Be careful because this is where you can get tired, start moving too quickly, and suddenly you’ve signed up your preschooler for the 6th grader’s advanced robotics camp.

   
   

10. Add to your calendars - Add all the camps to the right people’s calendars with the drop off time and location, pick up time and location, and whether you need to pack a snack or lunch. Include as much as you can in the calendar invite. You will thank yourself later. 

    
    

Managing your expectations as a busy parent

Remember to manage your expectations during this process. Things are going to go wrong. You’re not going to get your kid into that amazing new camp. You’re going to miss a deadline. Someone is going to hate a camp that you paid a fortune for. Your kid is going to cry if their best friend isn’t there. Do your best and let it go!

We know at Sherah that even with these tips, it’s still not easy. But we hope you find it easier and less stressful. We also hope you realize that you’re not alone in this journey.

Delegate camps (and so much more) to Sherah

Too busy to take it on this year? Sherah can help you with summer camp planning and registration, plus all of your other tasks. We’re here to take your entire to-do list off your plate so you have more time and energy for more important things in life.

Join today and get our Summer Camp planning spreadsheet template exclusively for Sherah members!

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