While kids typically burst into summer with lots of energy, most parents can tell you it doesn’t take long for summer boredom to set in. The Y’s Summer Day Camp can help banish that boredom and create lasting memories.

Besides keeping kids active and engaged over the summer, camps provide important opportunities to make friends, learn new skills and have fun.

Here are six reasons kids should go to camp:

1. Learn life skills
   Camp is a community away from home and school. This gives our kids a chance to learn to work with a new crew. Y camps teach children to communicate, to work together as part of a team and to be leaders. 
2. Practice Healthy habits
   Research shows kids gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. Y summer day camps keep kids active with physical activities throughout the day, opportunities to get out and explore nature, and swimming field trips weekly. Healthy snacks are provided daily and offer opportunities for lessons about making healthy food choices outside of camp.
3. Ease the summer slide
   Without access to out-of-school learning activities, kids can slide behind academically over the summer. Studies show that students can lose 25 to 30 percent of their school learning over the summer without enrichment or reading programs. Y day camps keep kids learning all summer long. Regular enrichment and reading are part of the fun daily schedules, led by trained youth development professionals. 
4. Discover their potential 
   Camp provides opportunities for youth to step out of their comfort zone and exposes them to new activities and experiences. Activities and field trips give campers at the Y the opportunity to try different things and discover new hobbies. Through a variety of experiences, children build confidence and have a greater chance of finding something in which they can excel.
5. Unplug from technology
   Kids can forget about their tablets, phones and video games, and find new passions at the Y’s summer day camps: science, community, nature, sports and fitness, culture, healthy cooking, traditions and more.
6. Build friendships
   Y Camps provide children with the core values of a strong, moral individual by teaching them about honesty, caring, respect and responsibility. Parents frequently report that after camp, their children are more kind, understand the importance of giving and are more equipped to stand up for what they know is right. The best friendships are built on these values.

There’s still time to sign up! Go for a week, or stay for the whole summer. For more information and to register for the Y’s camps, visit KansasCityYMCA.org/Camp.