Planning for the Summer

I am sick and tired of writing about winter. It’s time to move forward people. Green lawns, sweltering afternoons, cool swimming pools: that’s right, let’s talk about summer! And summer is not complete for either kids or moms without summer camp.

Picking the right summer camp is essential for many Trumbull families. Some working parents replace their normal daycare with summer camps. Other moms want their child to socialize outside of the house. Plus, being able to get to the grocery store in peace is hard to pass up.

Price and quality of program are important to Sandra DeFillipis when she picks a summer camp for her first grade son, Matthew. She wants to know: “How many children are grouped with one counselor; if people are certified in CPR and are lifeguard trained if swimming is involved; and does the camp run on rainy days?”

DeFillipis will likely be signing up for Camp Tepee through the Lakewood Trumbull YMCA because it is a “true camp experience.” Last year, “they were grouped together in ‘tribes’,” DeFillipis explains. “They had swimming – free swim and swimming lessons, arts and crafts, fishing, boating and much more.”

Alicia Kolber never thought about sending her son Kyle to summer camp before he became a Boy Scout, but this year she is “thinking about sending him to Boy Scout camp at Old Mine Park.” This year’s themes include Wild West and Mad Scientist. There are two sessions running July 18 -29.

The town of Trumbull is offering some reasonable day camps. Their four camps include Junior Camp for 4-5 year olds, day camp for 6-12 year olds, teen camp, and a Special Needs fun camp.

“Both my granddaughters go to Trumbull Recreation camps,” says Mary Markham, town director. “The little one doesn’t like to miss Junior Camp because that is her social life in the summer.”

With the exception of the Special Needs fun camp, all Trumbull day camps include some time at the Trumbull pools. And Markham explains that “all counselors are CPR and First Aid certified.”

Markham advices Trumbull parents to register early for Trumbull camps. Residents can mail in their forms and checks, or stop into the Recreation Department in the Annex building after April 4. Fees for the Junior Camp will be around $100 for four weeks; 6-12 camp is $100 for eight weeks, and the Teen Camp is $75 for eight weeks.

Some summer programs can cost several hundreds of dollars, sometimes close to $1,000 for the whole summer. Trumbull camps just could be the answer to families looking for some summer fun.

Markham agrees. “Parents aren’t going to find a better program for the money," she said.

Another option is the . For more information about its programs, call 203-452-4421 or log onto http://trumbullnaturecenter.org/programs/flyers/2011/spring-summer.pdf.