March break camps

March break programs and camps afford children the opportunity to keep minds sharp during "spring break," of course, but they are also a great chance to explore areas of interest or fascination that are under-served during the school year. Consider a science camp or a debating camp, for example. These are often put on by outstanding organizations including museums and zoos and help keep kids away from the video screens, keeping minds and bodies active.

It's increasingly important for parents to give their children an edge when it comes to academics or other pursuits (think of indoor soccer camps or other sports camps that are also very popular this time of the year). Spring break can be a time when kids feel the late doldrums of winter and, left to their own devices, will spend time in front of the TV or other passive entertainment. March break day camps offer an ideal way to break things up, encouraging kids to grow and to push themselves, possibly in new directions. Camps such as acting camps give kids activities out of the house, extending what might be an extracurricular interest, to encounter a new group of friends and a new circle of contacts.

Here's a closer look at some other March break programs and activities:

Arts programs for kids, available after school and during holiday breaks, give kids a chance to indulge their artistic side. Overemphasis on left-brain activity is part of our culture, but kids and teens need to develop their creative lives. Many observers trumpet the value of arts programs during school break as a means of encouraging more nuanced personal growth.   

Special needs after school and March break programs can offer parents a respite from attending to kids and teens with learning and physical challenges. These are a wonderful service available from camps and program operators. They also allow kids and teens and opportunity to meet others in the community who may be facing similar challenges.

Health and fitness holiday programs are a very positive way of getting kids out of the house during spring break or other off-school time. These day camps and programs offer education in nutrition, and gather kids and teens together who are facing the same challenges. Time at this type of kids' camp can have a lasting positive impact on young lives.

March break day camps are more prevalent than overnight camps but you will also find overnight camps listed above. Whether you are trying out this idea for the first time or looking for something different from the spring break camp you have attended before, this is an ideal way to encourage personal, intellectual and emotional growth that may have a lasting positive impact.

Camps listed above are open year-round or offer programs during school breaks.