Summer Camps for Pre-Schoolers in Massachusetts

Summer camps for pre-schoolers in Massachusetts are offered in a number of different settings. You'll want to look for camps that offer lots of age appropriate outdoor and enriching activities but you'll also want to feel secure about the safety measures camps take to protect your child who is still at a very vulnerable age. For most pre-school programs it is probably a good rule of thumb to remember that the quality of the programs offered and the safety that surrounds them really depends on the director and the staffing in place at summer vamps for pre-schoolers in Massachusetts. .

If you are looking for a summer camp experience geared to pre-schoolers you might begin your search with the Audubon Wildlife Refuge most convenient to you. While not all Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries have summer camp programs for pre-schoolers many do. In Sharon, MA for example you will find the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary. As you will discover at the Massachusetts Audubon's website at http://www.massaudubon.org , Moose Hill is the state's oldest operating wildlife sanctuary which means among other things that it has lots of experience both in its staff and in its scheduling. Kay Andberg, resident of nearby Foxboro, is the Summer Camp Director and, after raising three children of her own, has lots of know how when it comes to working with kids. In addition to Kay, the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary Summer Camp Program is led by environmental educators who direct a staff made up primarily of college students studying in the field of science or education. Counselors here receive a week or more of preparatory training to insure that programs are enriching and children are kept safe.

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary is made up of some 2,000 acres of diverse Massachusetts landscape making it one of the largest in the Audubon's collection of more than 30 sanctuaries in the state of Massachusetts. This large camp site makes it possible to enroll a maximum of some 100 campers each week. The camp runs from 9 a.m-3 p.m. each weekday but there are provisions for before and after camp sessions for parental convenience. The large camp grounds also means that are more than 20 miles of trails and many different types of habitats for well supervised children to use as a backdrop for their summer activities. The day at Moose Hill is divided between age appropriate hikes, crafts, games and exploration. It is not uncommon for the week to be broken up with a theme day or a guest visitor. Pre-school programs run throughout the summer ending the week of Aug.25-29. Week long themes for pre-schoolers include "Forest Animals", "Web of Life" and "Critter Construction". You will want to check the website or download camp brochure to get more specifics.

If you reside or will be spending the summer on Cape Cod, MA you may be looking for a little summer time structure for your pre-schooler that is still consistent with the fun of being on Cape Cod. For more than 80 years Cape Cod Sea Camps has been reaching out and responding to kids and parents with a traditional camp program on the Cape. While there are overnight options for older boys and girls at Cape Cod Sea Camps, younger campers of the pre-school variety are admitted only to the day camp.

The day program at Cape Cod Sea Camps is called Monomoy Day Camp and is located in Brewster, MA. The camp is coed and runs from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Children who come to Monomoy are between 4-17 and there are lots of them. The day camp program accommodates some 300 campers per week. Campers participate with other children of similar age in a full menu of camping activities. The schedule is kept simple with each day following basically the same pattern. Each day kids of the same age share in a group oriented game that helps them to get to know one another and feel part of the group. Campers get to pick an activity of their choice to do each day and another activity that they stick with all week. Finally all campers get a daily swimming session, after all this is Cape Cod. While there is a rather traditional schedule at Monomoy, there is no time for things to get dull as each week has its own special theme and accompanying visitors, trips and activities.

According to the Cape Cod Sea Camps website at http://www.capecodseacamps.com the price of a week's worth of camp at the Monomoy Day Camp is a whopping $575. The price does include transportation and lunch. If you have that kind of money you might not mind investing it early and finding a place for your pre-schooler in a camp that may become a summer tradition for many years to come.

You have to trust a camp program that is run by a place called the Enchanted Learning Center located north of Boston in the city of Amesbury. This summer the Enchanted Learning Center, a year round operation, is offering modified camp programs specifically geared to meet the interests and abilities of pre-schoolers. During the Week of July 21-25 there will be special three day program offered on Mon., Wed. and Fri just for little ones ages 3-5. The program is only a half day and runs from 10-noon. The hours will be filled with age appropriate stories and art projects and the cost is just $60.

For the 5-10 year old group a second type of summer camp experience is also available and is presented twice during the summer. You can sign on for the July camp meeting July 14-18 or the August 11-15 camp session. During both weeks campers will have their day filled with wonderful learning experiences that seem to be a very far cry from school and lots more like just plain fun. Young people enjoy science experiments, music, great classical stories and according to the camps website at http://www.theenchantedlearningcenter.com , some great "child directed art projects." If this sounds like a good mix for your 5 year old you will want to contact director Courtney Nguyen through the center's website.