On Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Desert Ridge Marketplace, Arizona Parenting Magazine will host its 11th annual Camp & Summer Expo. This must-attend family event is a wonderful opportunity for both parents and kids to meet with camps of all types and make their summer plans before camps across the Valley-and state-fill up.
"Summer will be here before you know it, and it's important for local families to start preparing for what their kids will do once school is out," says Kimberly Fischer, associate publisher of Arizona Parenting. "The Camp & Summer Expo is a one-stop-shop where parents and caregivers can learn about summer camps from near and far while kids are entertained with fun activities. Whatever type of camp experience your child is looking for, this will be the place to find it."
The Annual Camp & Summer Expo will feature camps of all stripes-from close-to-home day camps to out-of-town overnight camps and everything in between. Some of the specialty camps include fine arts, STEM, education, sports, camps for children with special needs, and more. There are even out-of-state camps and camps for older kids as well.
At the event, while parents are meeting representatives from dozens of camps, kids will be able to enjoy and participate in a variety of camp experiences, such as: zip lining, rock climbing, Euro bungee, tie dye t-shirts, camp crafts and much more.
According to the American Camp Association (ACA), the camp experience can be a positive influence in a child's development.
"We need to advocate for our young people. We should promote opportunities for kids - give them camp experiences that serve as an antidote for the world's challenges. We need to recognize this is not a series of frivolous activities. We often think if it looks like fun it must be unimportant, but 'fun' is a young person's 'work' - to learn, to grow, to be productive, creative, and happy. If they don't do that work, they won't turn into healthy adults," according to the ACA. "Now more than ever, kids need camp."
Arizona Parenting Magazine's 11th Annual Camp & Summer Expo will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 25 at Desert Ridge Marketplace, behind AMC Theatres. Event attendance is free; wristbands for kids to join in the fun activities are $3 a piece. To learn more about the camps that will be at the event, visit www.azparenting.com/camp-expo.
