[koalajoy]

Hello again. Wrote on this forum back in April when we were first begining our relocation from CA to CT.. thought we'd be moving to Glastonbury, but instead are living in "condo alley" up on the Middletown/ Cromwell line. So far it's "okay" and suits our needs for commuting to Pratt & Whitney, etc. The next step is finding something for the kids to do for the rest of the summer. I have contacted the local YMCAs.. they range in price from about $160 per kid per week. Also have talked to "private" grandma, nanny-type caretakers and they charge about $15 per hour which is about $600 per week. Before I lock into anything for the month of August, thought I'd come on here and see what kind of options people have turned to for affordable summer day camps and the like... Our condo complex has a pool and the kids (two boys age 9 and 12) have plenty of things to keep themselves busy, but we thought it would be good for them to start mingling with kids their own age before school starts. Thanks for any ideas.

[wanderintonc]

You're probably my neighbors, lol. Are you in Middletown? If so, my kids love the Park and Rec camps. I think they only go a few more weeks, so you should call Park and Rec tomorrow if you want them to go. It's cheaper than Camp Ingersoll, but I think INgersoll might run longer? not sure.

Camps here stop mid- Aug and school isn't till the end, so you will have a couple weeks lag time. Probably going to the pool, and riding bikes outside, is a good way to meet other kids.

[koalajoy]

we are living on town colony road. which condo complex are you living in? ?? thanks for letting me know that there is lag-time before school starts. I called the YMCA yesterday for rates, etc but did not get the actual dates. I think they may end on the 23rd of August.

what times do the park and rec camps go until? I googled park and rec in Middletown and didn't come up with anything? do you have any phone numbers or address??? thanks!

[koalajoy]

i just talked to the people at the Middletown Parks and Rec and next week is the last week of camp and they are not taking any new people for the last week. I am tryign to get some information about the Portland CT rec dept but no answer. THis is a very very time consuming process calling all of these places and trying to talk to teenage workers, volunteers, etc. A lot of the info is not posted on line. It's very frustrating. That's why I came onto the forum in hopes or getting some answers from those who are experienced in what I am looking for.

[JayCT]

It is late to be getting kids in camps. Most camps end in July and then parents have to worry about what to do for the next three or four weeks until school starts. It is always a problem for working parents. I am not sure why nothing is offered. I have been told that it is because many camps rely on college kids and they go back to school early, but that is not entirely true. Anyway, I do not have anything to offer. If you just want to keep them occupied, you could check Middlesex Community College. They offer course during the day for kids in August. My son is starting one next week at Manchester. Jay

[koalajoy]

i will check into Manchester College, thanks.

for anyone else that is interested, I have done some research and this is what I have found.. thought I would share.


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East Hartford YMCA.. still has camps going on but not sure the end date of their programs.
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there are summer camps put on by the Middletown Park and Rec dept. has a couple of soccer, baseball and basketball camps available up thru August 29th. some only go tiil noontime and others go til 3 in the afternoon.

all of the information about the Middletown Parks and REc division is in a 40 page booklet that you can download from PDF format.. it has a ton of information about Middletown.

http://www.cityofmiddletown.com/ParksRec/SpringSummerbrochure08.pdf (broken link)
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Rocky Hill has the summerscape program available from 830 to 400 for the first two weeks in August. Info for this can be found in a pdf brochure at the following link .

http://www.rhparkrec.org/brochure/summer-08-web.pdf

[ginrock77]

Not sure if the camps you mentioned above are part of Skyhawks Sports Camp (sometimes they are offered through rec departments). They have some camps through middle of August in Glastonbury, Rocky Hill, Cromwell, Newington and Portland. Go directly to their site at Skyhawks Youth Sports Camps and Programs

Also you could try Camp Eaglefeather in Rocky Hill, The Children's Museum in West Hartford, and The Audubon Society in Glastonbury. They're probably booked up, but might have a cancellation. Good luck!

[JayCT]

Koolajoy - Check Middlesex community College which is right there in Middletown. Much closer than Manchester. Also, we have friends that have sent their kids to Skyhawks here in Glastonbury and they love it. It is hard to get into though since they limit the amount of kids that go. Good luck, Jay