Director’s Corner
Summer Camp Blues
By Katie Becker
When it was time to go back to school this August, I’ll admit I breathed a sigh of relief, not just for the return of routine and order but also for the end of the summer juggling act. Piecing together childcare, navigating camps that are costly and chaotic, and coordinating family schedules can leave parents more worn down than rested by the end of the season.
I’m especially grateful to my mother-in-law, who generously stepped in to care for our son during the weeks when we weren’t traveling or he wasn’t at camp. Many families don’t have that kind of support (thank you, Grandma!), and I often find myself wondering how they manage.
In our community, the cost of living requires that most parents work as much as possible just to cover housing, transportation, and food, all while prices keep rising. That makes summer a particularly challenging time. Childcare options are limited, and the ones available are often high-priced or only part-time, leaving parents searching constantly for ways to fill the gaps.
When I was growing up, summers looked very different. We roamed the neighborhood, drifting from house to house, finding friends and making up our own games. If you went to camp, you were lucky, and it was probably a sleepaway experience. Today, the alternative often looks like paying thousands of dollars for a string of day camps, which means families are weighing distance, hours, cost, and whether the camp is more about fun or enrichment. I know I sound a little nostalgic, but I think I’ve earned the “back in my day” rhetoric.
Of course, times have changed. Long, unsupervised days aren’t considered safe anymore, and kids are expected to be in structured programs. That often leaves parents working from home while trying to keep kids entertained or stepping back from the workforce altogether to care for them. Neither feels like a sustainable solution.
Even when families can secure a camp spot, it’s not always easy. Many camps do a wonderful job with the resources they have, but challenges remain. They may be prohibitively expensive, only run for a few weeks, or be staffed by young counselors who are stretched thin. And because registration often fills up months in advance, missing a deadline can mean losing childcare and, for some, risking their jobs.
It’s hard to imagine a return to the free-range summers of the past, but it does leave me wondering if we can reimagine summer so that kids have access to full-day programs that are affordable, engaging, and safe, without leaving both children and parents completely drained by the end of it.
Parenting Matters doesn’t run a summer camp (yet), but we help parents directly, in their homes, whenever, wherever they feel comfortable. We also bring the joy of Musical Motion to parents, families, and their children across nine cities and 22 different locations in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. We are raising $125,000 to help more families like yours by finally gaining full ownership of our Bradenton headquarters and upgrading our technology through our Special Projects Campaign. So far, we’ve raised more than $90,000 thanks to matches from our best friends and community partners. Please join this campaign today. We only have about $35,000 to go! You have the power to bring relief to thousands of families.
About Katie Becker
Katie Becker joined Parenting Matters as the Executive Director in May of 2022 after being a long-time supporter and board member. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College, and has spent her career in the nonprofit sector, including the YMCA and United Way Suncoast. She has enjoyed honing her skills in fundraising, marketing, and strategic leadership to advance missions close to her heart. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania and has been a Florida resident for fifteen years. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with her family and pets, making art, and being active outdoors.