camp_guide.jpgMIAMI — Many students lose up to two months of math and reading skills every summer, according to the National Summer Learning Association, but the summer “brain drain” can be prevented with enriching summer camps that include an academic component.

For tips on choosing the best summer camp, how to keep your youngster engaged and learning during the summer, and much more, look for a copy of The Children’s Trust 2014 Summer Programs Guide, available starting April 15 at all Miami-Dade Winn-Dixie stores, at other select venues, and online at thechildrentrust.org

Find these colorful informative guides, while supplies last, in specially identified racks at your local Winn-Dixie store. Information can also be accessed by calling 211. With information in three languages – English, Spanish and Creole — the guides provide address, contact information and a short

description of hundreds of summer camps, both those funded by The Children’s Trust and others that are not. Camp locations are conveniently organized by zip codes. Program fees are listed and locations serving children with disabilities are identified.

Parents are encouraged to seek free and low-cost options early before they fill up. Once subsidized slots are taken, regular fees may apply.

In addition to camp listings, the guides contain the following articles of interest:

• Choosing the Best Camp: Practical tips to consider when choosing a summer camp. What questions should you ask? How do you assess quality teaching?  

• Art Smarts: Fun and affordable ways to keep kids entertained and engaged this summer, from art-infused activities to artsy venues to visit around the county. 

• Helping Hands: Chores teach kids responsibility, teamwork and other valuable skills. Tips to get them motivated, and how to avoid chore-related tension.

• Tough Talks: Discussing topics like peer pressure or drugs with your children and youth can be awkward – honesty and outside support are the key.

Summer is a great break from school, but shouldn’t be a break from learning. Find a camp with a commitment to a balanced dose of academic learning – reading, science, math – fitness and fun. Or locate a specially themed camp: sports, music, dance, art, theater, marine life, technology and more – to develop a particular interest in your child. All Children’s Trust-funded camps, clearly marked in the guides, provide a balance of learning and fun.

The Children’s Trust funds summer, after-school, and youth development programs in Miami-Dade County, and serves some 25,000 children at hundreds of sites around the county annually. All Trust programs and camps promote inclusivity, where children of all abilities participate in activities and learn from each other, according to a statement issued by the Trust.