A 'one-stop shop' for finding summer camps
The Virginia Tech Summer Camps Registry allows caregivers to search and filter for local summer camps across the state that offer fun and safe programs for children and teens.
Every spring, thousands of parents at Virginia Tech go through the yearly trial of signing their children up for summer camps. The stakes are high, as caregivers need to ensure their children are safely supervised for the summer while they continue to go to work.
There are many summer camps to choose from throughout Virginia; but finding one for the right place, for the right span of time, that caters to the right age and interests of the camp-goer, can be like a needle in a haystack. And many spots can be gone in the time it takes to search.
Simplifying the search
In this race against time, the Early Childhood Education Initiatives’ (ECEI) Summer Camps Registry can be a lifeline.
“Finding summer camps can be a nightmare. The registry really helps put them all in one place, and shows what is out there that people may not know about,” said Brandy Morse, a parent herself who serves as an administrative and professional faculty representative on ECEI’s Advisory Working Group.
The searchable list can sort camps based on:
- Location, spanning from the New River Valley, to Roanoke, Northern Virginia, and even out of state
- Dates offered throughout the summer
- Length of day, whether it’s for the full day or half day
- Age range served, with camps taking children as young as 3 to 18
- Activity types, including camps centered on the arts, sports, STEM, and more
Caregivers can also see a list of summer camps only offered at Virginia Tech, such as those offered by the College of Science, University Libraries, and the School of Architecture.
“We’re working to represent summer camps in all parts of the state where there are Virginia Tech employees and students. And we encourage summer camp leaders to submit their camps for consideration,” said Kim Thomason, program manager for ECEI.
A unique resource
The ECEI team works with campus and local partners to develop resources for Virginia Tech caregivers, including an Advisory Working Group who discuss caregiving needs based on their own experiences.
“The summer camp registry started when a few of us were talking about how much information is out there and how people have to go to 100 places to get most of it. We said it would be a nice idea to have a one-stop shop for people to find camps that got them to the right place for registration,” said Morse.
The response to this unique tool has been overwhelmingly positive, and becomes more useful as the list grows.
“It also shows the existing gaps in our community, which could be helpful to camp planners as they continue to think through potential dates, populations, or interests to serve,” said Thomason.
Learn about more available resources at caregiving.vt.edu.
