Summer Camp and Summer Jobs...

We’re about 2 months away from mayhem — we mean summertime. And while it’s lovely to take a family vacation and get some quality time in with the kiddos, there are still A LOT of weeks that need to be filled with activities so you can get work done, whether your kids are young or teenagers.

While many camps open registration months before your kids even have their last day of school, it’s not too late to make plans. But remember: the longer you wait, the harder it will be to find something that works for you. One approach we will always encourage you to do is rely on your community— it’s amazing what solutions you can find if you lean on other families (and allow them to lean on you.)

For those of you with big kids (or little ones who are too young for camp), we’ve got you covered, too. You don’t need to panic about what those long, hot summer days will bring.

Just don’t stress too much, think outside the box, and get those summer plans in place!

Enjoy!

 This week in The CARRY™ ALL, we’re talking about:

• 🏕️ How to Find Summer Camps that Work for Your Family 

• 💰 How to Pay for Summer Camp 

• 🤔 What to Do When Your Kids Are Too Little (or Too Big!) for Camp

THE BIG 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

1️⃣  🏕️ How to Find Summer Camps that Work for Your Family

While many summer camps open registration in January (and fill up in the blink of an eye), there are still plenty of options for your children. You just might need to get a little creative and keep your ear to the ground. The YMCA is a great place to start — it runs camps throughout the country, and since it has so many options, there are often still summer openings right now. Another option is to check Facebook for local summer camp groups. Moms in your city are likely sharing what they’re finding as they research camps — you’ll be able to learn which ones still have openings and which are close to filled up. Still coming up empty? Check out ActivityHero to find open summer camps (and holiday camps as well) in your location.

2️⃣ 💰 How to Pay for Summer Camp

Believe it or not, there are ways to lessen the sting of that summer camp invoice. In fact, there is likely a camp for every budget. Always ask your camp director for scholarship options/and — some camps may even provide some sort of assistance to campers who apply for such scholarships. The key? Apply earlier rather than later, since many camps have already depleted their scholarship funds by the time summer rolls around. 

The American Camp Association is also a great resource. They believe that every child should benefit from camp, and they provide scholarship dollars to ACA-accredited camps for qualifying families. Another strong option is to look to your church or synagogue, or your local YMCA, which might have a fund to support campers.

Finally, Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) allows you to set aside pre-tax money to pay for (qualifying) childcare expenses, which can save you money on taxes. You can contribute up to $5,000 per year (or $2,500 if married filing separately), and the funds can be used for expenses like daycare, babysitting, and summer camps. 

3️⃣ 🤔 What to Do When Your Kids Are Too Little (or Too Big!) for Camp

Yes, most camps are only available to children entering kindergarten or older, so you’re likely scrambling for summer options for your littles so you can actually get some work done. This is where we love thinking outside the box: Talk to other moms in your community! Consider a nanny or sitter-share with another family to lessen the financial burden and to give your kids some companions for the summer. You can swap whose house hosts every week. 

Got older kids? This is the perfect time for them to step up and help with childcare in your neighborhood. A high schooler is a great candidate for a summer nanny position. Are they not into babysitting? Working at the local recreation center, being a camp counselor, a referee, or even handling big projects around the house (hello garage that needs organizing!) can be a great way for them to pass the time and make some cash. What you don’t want is them sitting around the house all summer, eating snacks and complaining that they’re bored. 🙄

P.S. If you have summer camp ideas for our community of mamas, please share in the comment section at the very bottom of The CARRY™ ALL ❤️. We’ll share them in next week’s edition!

📰 IN THE NEWS  

🎆 Win for Working Parents!

Last Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law SB199, the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025. This law means that:

• Female employees will receive 8 weeks of paid parental leave

• Male employees will receive 2 weeks of paid parental leave

• Adoptive parents will be eligible for paid leave, dependent on the circumstances

This law ensures that new parents won’t have to choose between their families and their jobs. Read more about it here!

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT 🤎

for working moms with older children

• Feeling the need to make some great memories with your teens? When they no longer sit on your lap or come to you with all their problems, it can be difficult to find ways to bond with your bigger kids. But it’s not impossible. We love this list of ideas to get some quality time with your teens this summer, like building something together, or planning a pizza and game night. Our founder, Paula, loves finding a TV show or podcast to watch/listen with her teens.

• While your teens are too old for summer camp, it doesn’t mean that they can’t have some fun. Instead of having them stare at you all summer long as they lounge on the couch in the AC, have them work through this bucket list of activities that they’re bound to love. It touches on everything from having a water balloon fight to trying pottery to learning to cook an entire meal by themselves. Which ones do you think your older kids will love? Let us know in the comments below!