Summer. It’s the season breathlessly-anticipated by kids, and quietly-dreaded by parents, thanks to the impossible work/parenting juggle that comes along with it. If you find yourself breaking into a cold sweat as the school year nears its end, Kidcam Summer Camps just might have the answer for you. “Kidcam was built for working parents,” says Mario J. Bazile, president of Kidcam Camp Franchises, LLC, a company with roots dating back to 1974. “With affordable rates, multiple camp locations, and the ability to pay week-to-week, families can build their summers around different experiences all for one registration price.”
It’s a model that seems to be working. Each summer, more than 3,000 happy campers, from preschoolers to 13-year-olds, head to Kidcam to enjoy summers filled with sports, animals, field trips, art, music, skill-building and comradery. The camps are staffed by teachers and students who undergo hours of training, such as Red Cross swim instruction. With 24 locations in Louisiana, Illinois and Alabama, Kidcam campers are never short on options.
Building a Better Summer Camp Experience
Bazile joined the Kidcam family at the age of 14, working summers first as a volunteer, then a junior camp counselor and eventually a camp director. By working and communicating directly with staff, parents and kids, Bazile feels he gained valuable insight into what works and what does not. “My staff and I understand summer camp better than anyone. We focus on the camp year-round and take what we do very seriously,” said Bazile. “We train and hire excellent employees and build a curriculum to be fresh and engaging each summer. We’ve partnered with first-rate facilities that offer golf, tennis and pools to provide even more diverse experiences.”
Leadership Through Example
It’s clear Bazile believes deeply in the Kidcam difference, and it’s not just talk. Under his direction, all 24 Kidcam camps have launched an initiative to gain official accreditation from the American Camping Association (ACA). The main purpose of the ACA-accreditation program is to educate camp owners and directors in the administration of camp operations, program quality, health and safety. Bazile believes it’s a step that will serve to set Kidcam apart from its competitors, and validate the excellent job the camp has done for the last 43 years. “This is a huge undertaking and it’s an all-or-nothing deal. If one of our camps fails to meet the ACA’s standards, we all fail,” Bazile says. “Earning accreditation will be solid proof of Kidcam’s accountability, credibility and commitment to the families we serve.”
Kidcam at Oak Mountain
Campers at Kidcam Oak Mountain enjoy Boating, Archery, Golfing, Petting Farm, Interactive Wildlife, Playgrounds, Sports Courts, Geocaching and Swimming every week. The theme this year is Wacky and Wild, so each week will also incorporate curriculum from the theme over the course of the summer for age-appropriate arts, science and games! The camp home base is located inside the Main Office building, and morning shuttles will run from both the 119 entrance at the Ranger Station, as well as the back entrance closer to 280 for convenient morning drop offs. Camp runs weekly from May 30 - Aug 4 from 7 am - 6 pm. See pictures from last year’s summer program on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KidcamBirmingham.
Editors Note: For more info about Kidcam @ Oak Mountain State Park, visit their listing in our Featured Summer Camps Guide 2017 HERE. Macaroni Kid readers get $10 off registration. Enter "MAC10" at checkout.
Content provided by Kidcam Summer Camps
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