How Summer Camps Can Make Your Co-Parenting Schedule a Lot Less Hectic

: 19 March 2024

Navigating the intricacies of a co-parenting schedule can be like walking a tightrope, as it requires delicate balance and coordination between both parties involved.

And when you’re already dealing with the demands of shared custody arrangements, the transition to the summer months, when the kids are out of school, presents an additional set of challenges for co-parents.

But amidst these challenges lies an often-overlooked solution in the form of summer camps.

In the context of co-parenting, summer camps offer far more than just a fun-filled adventure for children; they also serve as a powerful tool for easing the complexities of co-parenting, especially when it comes to scheduling.

By providing structured activities and enriching experiences, summer camps foster independence and growth in children while also offering relief for parents trying to juggle a changing co-parenting schedule.

So, if you’re looking for co-parenting tips on scheduling, or want to send your kids to summer camps in California this summer, then you’re going to want to keep reading.

Because in this article, we’re going to explore how summer camps can make your co-parenting schedule less hectic, the dos and don’ts for scheduling summer camps as co-parents, and provide a list of some of the best summer camps in California.

How Can Summer Camps Make a Co-Parenting Schedule Less Hectic?

Summer camps offer numerous advantages that can significantly alleviate the hectic nature of your co-parenting schedule.

Aside from the obvious benefit of having someone to take care of your kids while you’re working, summer camps also provide structured time away, promote consistency, and help foster independence and shared responsibility.

That being said, here’s how summer camps can make your co-parenting schedule, and co-parenting in general, a lot less stressful:

Structured Time Away

Summer camps provide structured periods of time during which children are engaged in activities, which allows co-parents to plan their schedules more effectively.

And because these camps take place during designated dates, parents can coordinate their commitments with greater ease, reducing the potential for conflict or the need for any last-minute adjustments.

Consistency and Routine

Summer camps provide a consistent routine for children, which is great in the context of co-parenting, as a successful co-parenting relationship relies heavily on both parties being consistent.

Moreover, knowing that your kids will be occupied during specific weeks or months allows you to establish a more predictable and consistent schedule, reducing uncertainty and scheduling disputes.

Shared Responsibility

Sending children to summer camps can distribute the responsibility of childcare more evenly between co-parents.

Rather than relying solely on one parent to care for your children during the summer break, for instance, both you and your co-parent can share the responsibility by enrolling them in camps, thereby lightening the load for both of you.

Opportunities for Communication

Coordinating summer camp schedules requires effective communication between co-parents.

This presents an opportunity for parents to engage in productive dialogue about their children's interests, preferences, and schedules.

And by working together to select appropriate camps and coordinate logistics, co-parents can strengthen their communication and collaboration skills.

Promotion of Independence

Summer camps encourage children to develop independence, resilience, and social skills.

As children engage in activities and form friendships at camp, they become more self-sufficient, which can ease the burden on co-parents and reduce the need for constant supervision during the summer months, depending on how old they are.

Dos and Don’ts for Co-Parents Scheduling Summer Camps

As with all aspects of the co-parenting relationship, scheduling summer camps for your kids can be fraught with disagreements.

With that in mind, if you want to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship when scheduling summer camps for your kids, there are some things you want to avoid doing, and some best practices to follow.

So, if you want to navigate the process of scheduling summer camps for your children more effectively, promoting cooperation, communication, and positive outcomes for your entire family, here’s what you should do, and what you shouldn’t:

What You Should Do

Communicate Openly: You should communicate openly and regularly with your co-parent about summer camp options, dates, costs, and any other relevant details. Effective communication is crucial for successful co-parenting and ensuring that both parents are on the same page.

Consider Your Children's Interests: Make a point of considering your children's interests, preferences, and needs when selecting summer camps. You can even involve them in the decision-making process if possible, considering their hobbies, talents, and favorite activities.

Plan Ahead: It’s also important to plan ahead and start researching summer camp options well in advance. Popular camps often fill up quickly, so it's important to begin the planning process early to secure spots and avoid any last-minute stress.

Be Flexible: You should remain flexible and willing to compromise when coordinating summer camp schedules with your co-parent. Flexibility is key in all co-parenting arrangements, especially when navigating conflicting schedules and preferences.

Share Financial Responsibilities: Make sure to discuss and share the financial responsibilities associated with summer camps in a fair way. This includes agreeing upon a budget and determining how expenses will be divided between both co-parents, considering each parent's financial situation.

What You Shouldn’t Do

Exclude Your Co-Parent: Don't ever exclude your co-parent from the decision-making process when selecting summer camps for your children. Both you and your co-parent should have an equal say in determining which camps are suitable and align with your children's interests and schedules.

Wait Until the Last Minute: Whatever you do, do not wait until the last minute to plan and schedule summer camps. Waiting too long can result in limited availability, and increased stress for both parents, so make sure to start the planning process early to ensure a smoother experience.

Overbook Your Children: It’s also important to avoid overbooking your children with too many summer camps or activities. While children need to stay engaged and active during the summer break, overscheduling can lead to burnout and fatigue, so if you can, try to strike a balance between structured activities and free time for relaxation, leisure, and family bonding.

Ignore Your Children's Input: When selecting summer camps, don't ignore your children's input and preferences. Take the time to listen to their interests and involve them in the decision-making process whenever possible. This will help to ensure they have a positive and enjoyable summer camp experience.

Neglect Communication: Don't neglect communication with your co-parent regarding summer camp plans and updates. Make sure to keep each other informed about any changes, developments, or concerns related to the summer camps in question, and work together to address any issues.

Summer Camps in California

Now that we’ve explored how summer camps can make your co-parenting schedule less stressful, and the dos and don’ts of scheduling summer camps as co-parents, we wanted to help you make your decision by offering a list of some of the best summer camps in California.

But keep in mind that these programs vary tremendously in cost, especially the most popular ones, and they tend to fill up very quickly, as they all have limited spaces available.

Also, many of these camps are only a week long, so depending on your co-parenting schedule, you may need to book multiple camps.

In any case, now that spring is here, if you want to send your kids to camp this summer, you should probably start planning things out as soon as you can.

With that in mind, here are some of the best summer camps in California:

Sonoma County Family YMCA – The price of this camp varies, depending on the week and the number of days your child attends. For example, three days a week averages about $180/week.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley – Camp prices will vary, and financial assistance is available. Registration opens on Monday, April 1st, 2024.
City of San Rafael Summer Camps – The city of San Rafael is offering various summer camps this year, including volleyball and multi-sport camps, camps focused on the visual arts, and even a camp for aspiring disc jockeys.
City of Santa Rosa Summer Camps – The city of Santa Rosa will be providing a variety of summer camp options this year, including camps for art, dance, and drama, boating and sailing, science and engineering, sports and fitness, and more.
Sonoma County Summer Camps – Registration is now open for Sonoma County’s 2024 Discovery Camp or Junior Lifeguard Camp, both held at the beautiful Spring Lake Regional Park. Families in need can apply for “camperships” from the Sonoma County Parks Foundation, which will cover 75% of the cost of registration.
Farm Camp California – Allow your child to experience life on a real working farm in Sonoma County, located on 500 acres of rolling coastal foothills, just 1.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Campers will have the freedom to choose their own activities every day while playing an integral role in caring for the animals and garden to help provide food for the camp.
Humane Society Animal Adventure Camps – Does your child love animals? Give them a fun and educational camp experience that offers fun and games, arts and crafts, presentations from animal experts, and the opportunity to interact with a variety of animals. Camps run throughout June and July and cost $375 per week.
Legends Camps – Offers innovative baseball and softball summer camps across multiple regions and counties in California, including East Bay, South Bay, Marin, Peninsula, Sonoma County, and Orange County.
KinderCare – Provides day camps and childcare programs for kindergarten through 6th grade children, both for before- and after-care or during school breaks, like summer vacation. They also offer optional enrichment programs to teach kids about things like music, phonics, and cooking.
Sur La Table – Does your kid love to cook? Sur La Table offers hands-on baking and cooking camps from May through September for kids and teens ages 7-17.
Art Explorers – This fun and engaging camp offers half-day and full-day options for children ages 5-13, allowing them to explore various art styles and mediums, including watercolor, acrylics, pastels, clay sculpting, paper-mache, printmaking, origami, and more.
Charles M. Schulz Museum Summer Camps – Voted Sonoma County’s number one summer camp for kids in 2023, Schulz Museum Summer Camps are a series of themed camps that explore the art and life of Charles M. Schulz, creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. Kids will learn how to draw cartoons and take part in other fun activities. The camps are open to children ages 5-14 and offer half-day and full-day options.
Art & Soul Music School – Registration is now open for these art, music, and dance-themed spring and summer camps, which offer half-day and full-day options for children ages 4-10.
Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation Camp Tule – This outdoor adventure camp takes place in the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed. The camp, which encourages kids to nurture their creativity and spend time exploring and playing in nature, is open to children ages 6-12.
Cloverleaf Ranch – Aside from teaching horsemanship skills, this ranch facilitates a variety of activities at its summer camps, including soccer, tennis, swimming, football, hiking, arts and crafts, archery, and riflery. Offers a day camp program for ages 4-12, as well as one-week and two-week overnight programs for ages 7-17.

Need help navigating the co-parenting relationship during the summer holidays? Contact us today to find out if Compassionate Divorce is right for you.