DIY Summer Camp on a Budget

Summer camp is full of new experiences, outings and activities that will leave a lasting impression on your children well into next year’s school calendar. What do you do, though, if you can’t quite cough up the money for a week at camp? Or, if you’re like me, you’re a stay-at-home parent and think just maybe you could create your own ‘week at camp’ with other families and friends. Read on for my top five suggestions for things to do with the kids this summer as you seek to entertain the troops until school starts back up again.

DIY Summer Camp - Take a Hike at Big Hill Springs

DIY Summer Camp - Try Geocaching

Suggestion number one:   Introduce your children to geocaching in Calgary’s parks and natural areas.  There are several geocaching apps for the iPhone and android phones. I personally like the Groundspeak Inc. app, which syncs with your geocaching account created through geocaching.com.

Getting started is very easy once you create an account and each cache you find is stored on your mobile app to help you keep track of your history. Once you have an account and a mobile app, head out to the nearest natural area or park and, guaranteed, there will be a handful of geocaches to find nearby.

Start with the easy ones that are larger and work your way down in size as you get more experienced. And don’t forget to bring along small treasures or toys to leave in each cache if you want to trade for something that you’ll find inside.


My next four suggestions are all covered in my newest story for Calgary's Child Magazine including my top five favourite parks and natural areas to explore in Calgary.



To read the full story, follow this link to DIY ‘Summer Camp’ on a Budget - Try a Walk on the Wild Side in Calgary this Summer!

DIY Summer Camp - Find a new favourite park or natural area to explore