MSNBC has this report today: Summer camps hit by slumping economy.

A snippet:

As headlines about a struggling economy pour in, parents worried about their wallets are waiting longer to register their children for summer camp and more are asking for financial aid.

Day camp directors said parents are making decisions a month or two later than usual as they determine their summer finances, said Peter Surgenor, the national president of the American Camp Association.

Similarly, YMCA resident and day camps started to see a slowdown in registrations in March …

I know a lot of kids go to either residential or day-camp summer camp because their parents have to work. I was a parent who put my daughter in two weeks of day camp at the Monroe Family YMCA and, on another occasion, signed her up for theater camp at River Raisin Centre for the Arts for the specific purpose of giving the child something to do on a summer day rather than stay home by herself while we were at work.

And a lot of local students participate in sports, music or dance camps specifically to keep up their skills during the summer.

But as you’re looking at the summer calendar, discuss with the family which of those summer camp experiences are priority and which ones could be set aside if the household budget is tight.

You also might want to consider this option: Perhaps the children could spend time with grandma, aunt, cousin or another relative who would welcome the company for a few days or couple of weeks - especially if there are children the same age in that home or nearby they can play or hang out with.

Make sure you discuss financial arrangements ahead of time with your host as far as helping with groceries or paying for a zoo pass. But this could be a win-win situation all around, especially when there are limited times during the school year when the children are able to visit those relatives.

But if your goal is just to keep the kids busy and active while they are home, then stop by your city or township’s recreation office to pick up the schedules and information for family concerts in the park, nature hikes, tot lots, swimming pool times and youth sports leagues. Many of those activities are free or very low cost. The Monroe County Library System has a summer reading program.

You’ll also find family-friendly events posted at the MonroeTalks calendar under search categories “children’s events” and “Monroe County Parent”.