Dodge ball, popsicle-stick crafts and other summer camp staples have a hidden agenda. Under the direction of a well-trained staff, summer camp crafts and activities extend and supplement the lessons from work sheets, standardized tests and assignments that dominate education during the school year.
As such, even when the school year ends, the opportunity to learn never goes on vacation. From physical education to environmental science, summer day camps can broaden and expand academic lessons plans, according to Peter Surgenor, volunteer president of the American Camp Association, a national accreditation camp program and online resource for parents.
''Summer camp is an opportunity to exercise intellectual abilities in different settings,'' Surgenor says.
Camps with a diverse menu of indoor and outdoor activities provide opportunities for children to develop communication skills, problem-solving abilities, leadership training and expertise in other nontraditional educational programs that are steadily shrinking in many public and private schools due to budget cutbacks and time constraints.
''As music, art and physical education are slowly disappearing from the public school curriculum, camps really can provide an important experience in those areas,'' Surgenor says.
What's more, summer camps can also provide school-age children with lifelong lessons about the importance of exercise, nutrition and emotional health, says Jeremy Jordan, assistant professor in the Sports Administration Department at the University of Miami.
In addition to organized team sports, summer camps offer additional exposure to archery, golf, hiking, boating, yoga, tai-chi, golf and tennis. These sports, which can be later pursued individually or with a family, help children to develop a life-long interest in recreational activities and healthy living habits.
''Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the U.S.'' Jordan says. ``Camps are an opportunity to expose kids to traditional and nontraditional sports.''
Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation's camp menu includes Fit-to-Play and Fun for Life summer camps, 10-week programs that stress physical fitness, nutrition and healthy habits.
The county also offers a wide variety of specialty sports camps with instruction in sailing, tennis, golf and soccer at different facilities throughout the county, according to George Parrado, Assistant Director of Recreation for Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department. These specialized programs are often taught by sports pros and range from four to eight weeks.
Likewise, in the private sector, local theater companies, art galleries and museums also offer specialized instructions in drama, art or music in a summer camp format.
''Parents should look for a camp that will stimulate the child physically, mentally and emotionally,'' says Sara Green, education manager for Miami Seaquarium, which offers a summer day camp for children in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
As an educator, Green recommends that parents look for clues in the books, television programs and activities that engage students during the school year when determining where they should spend the summer.
A child with an interest in magic, for example, might enjoy a magic camp. Likewise, a student who enjoys watching the Animal Planet on television might enjoy the program at a place like the Seaquarium or Jungle Island, where interaction with animals is part of the program.
While some students thrive at specialty camps, younger children are easily bored by camps with a single theme or limited range of activities.
Camps like Camp Regesh at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center provide a mix of general activities (swimming, sports and crafts), with ''specialty hours'' in which campers select training in specific areas, such as gymnastics, dance, basketball or music.
Lessons can be delivered in subtle ways, such as through the camp environment and daily routines, notes Surgenor of the American Camp Association.
For example, a long bus ride/field trip can provide an opportunity for kids to develop team work skills, with exercises in communication, planning and decision-making. Daily camp announcements, plays and awards programs offer opportunities for leadership training, esteem building and public speaking.
Even a rainy day can yield hidden rewards if a camp staff uses the opportunity to teach kids the need for flexibility, alternative planning and creativity.
Surgenor has visited camps in which camp directors deliberately use rainy days to show campers the value of having a Plan B. Activities are rerouted to covered areas and the rain becomes a part of the lesson plan. Others camps invite campers to stand in the rain and appreciate the environment before changing clothes.
''Kids learn that the rain is not something that throws off activities,'' Surgenor says.
As anyone who has priced camps knows, sending a kid off for the summer can be expensive. However, either formally or informally, most private and public camps offer a variety of financial aid, including full or partial tuition scholarships.
Some camps have standardized financial aid forms and other camps extend assistance based on a simple letter of request.
Keep in mind: It pays to ask because not every camp advertises the availability of scholarships.
Other financial perks include lower fees for early registration, sibling discounts and special rates for residents.
Museums, parks and other attractions also offer camp discounts to families with year-round membership passes.
