WORDS BY SARAH MCCOSHAM
Grands to the Rescue: Summer Camps & Programs Why you should consider paying for your grandchild’s summer experiences. their wish list. (Bonus: Their parents will thank you for getting the kids out of the house — and not contributing to household clutter!)
CAMP IS FUN FOR EVERYONE Is there anything better than summer evenings eating s'mores and telling stories around the campfire at camp? How about sharing in the adventure with your grandkids?
Toys, games, clothing and gear. As grandparents, it’s easy to go overboard with all the stuff! And frankly, most kids don’t need any more stuff. So, here’s a suggestion: Stop gifting “things” and start giving your grandchildren experiences. Paying for your grandchildren’s summer enrichment opportunities — think summer camps and classes — is a great way to give your grandkids invaluable experiences they’ll cherish forever, instead of stuff that will quickly get lost in the shuffle.
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Indy Grands Spring/Summer 2020
KIDS ARE EXPENSIVE It’s no secret that kids are expensive to raise — upwards of $230,000 each, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For many parents, providing anything beyond necessities can be difficult. However, as a grandparent, you’ve likely reached a level of financial stability you didn’t have 30 years ago. So, if your grandchild shows interest — and if it’s OK with their parents — you might consider funding all or part of your grandchild’s art classes, music lessons, sports enrollment or summer camps. These extras can provide life-long benefits for kids, and are much more valuable than that toy or video game on
Summer camps for grandparents and grandchildren are totally on trend in 2020, and have exploded in popularity among families looking to combine summer adventure for the kids with bonding opportunities with the grandparents. There are a ton of options available that vary in length, cost and focus. Some have an emphasis on nature, others focus on sports, but all are about strengthening the bond between grandparents and grandkids. While admittedly expensive, most camps are weeklong, all-inclusive experiences, with small group sizes and lots of different activities. (And compared to the cost of a few video games, these camps are much more valuable!)
Here are three Midwest “grand” adventure camps worth considering: Wolf Ridge Grandparent and Grandchild Grand Adventure wolf-ridge.org/camp/ grandparent-grandchild Located in the beautiful backwoods of Minnesota is Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. Their “Grand Summer Adventure” is an intergenerational camp program where grandparents and grandchildren can bond with the natural world — and each other. This program includes all the typical summer camp experiences, and is designed for grandparents with grandchildren ages 6-11.
Grandparent/ Grandchild Outdoor Adventure in Shawnee National Forest roadscholar.org/find-anadventure/14848/outdooradventure-in-shawnee-nationalforest-with-your-grandchild/ dates Explore the natural beauty of Shawnee National Forest in
