DEMAND FOR KIDS’ AT AN

ALL-TIME

Plus: Last-Minute Day Camp and

BY LAUREL HOLLAND

With the close of the 2022-2023 school year a mere five weeks away, corner in the Wood River Valley. But for Valley parents, the scramble summer day camp has been well underway since March.

Much to the chagrin of many working parents in Blaine County, a large portion and most affordable –– children’s day camps in the area have filled entirely, among Community YMCA’s Nature Explorers Camp, the entirety of the BCRD’s Summer and Big Wood School’s Camp Bigwood. Parents like local realtor Erika Rixon, and 7, have turned to a hybrid arrangement of soccer clinics, day camps and a babysitter/tutor friends to diffuse the cost of childcare during the work week.

“There are so many options for kids in the Valley in the summertime, and it’s “But in recent years, given the limited staffing and resources a lot of local camps there’s been an increased frenzy surrounding summer camp registrations in March

Why is this happening?

“It’s a combination of things,” Rixon explained. “In part, it’s due to the influx the Wood River Valley in the wake of Covid-19 and the increased demand for activities. But it’s also due to stricter reservation and payment policies that Covid.”

One example Rixon cited was Sun Valley Resort’s summer day camp, which 5 to August 24. While the Resort still offers a substantial discount to employees $65 per child per day versus the advertised daily rate of $150 –– prior to Covid, child was $45. Moreover, parents were only charged for the days their children Today, not only does the Resort require parents to lock in their kids’ camp –– nearly three months before the sessions commence –– but once enrollment held financially responsible for all registered dates, regardless of their child’s event of illness.

This is perhaps one of the many reasons the wildly popular BCRD summer more sought-after in recent years. The camps, which run 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Monday weeks between between June 14 and August 25, are particularly accommodating and at a fraction of the price: $1,683 for the full 10-week session –– or $33.66 Valley’s $65 daily rate –– with need-based scholarships available for those who But this year, due to record-high demand, the BCRD was forced to control in waves and restricted the first round of registration to returning campers only. age bracket of the entire summer session had filled before the second round be opened to first-time campers.

“We never want to turn away campers,” a representative for the organization “Unfortunately, our current staffing situation limits how many campers we can this summer,” she added, noting a staff-wide push to expand the program to accommodate ers in the future.

Despite all the talk of astronomical registration numbers and full or wait-list-only parent looking for day camps and enrichment programs for your littles this summer, fantastic options and open slots available, a handful of which are highlighted though; space is limited and summer is just around the bend!