Physical activity, social interaction, exploration of nature and hands-on learning were ranked as top priorities for parents enrolling children in summer camps, according to a study released today. The study also found three quarters of parents indicated they are very interested in their child attending a class or summer camp that offers hands-on learning. The survey of 497 parents in the Portland-metro area was conducted in September 2018 in collaboration with Regina Corso Consulting, a market research and insights firm.
“Parents often patch together their children’s summer experiences and ensuring they have a fun and well-rounded experience is a priority,” said Jeri Janowsky, Ph.D., executive director of Saturday Academy. “In conducting the survey, we sought to learn more about what local families value most when choosing extracurricular opportunities for their kids.”
The study also showed, when asked what types of classes or camps in which their children would be interested in participating, over one-quarter said science programs (27 percent), followed by the arts (19 percent), engineering (11 percent), and sports (10 percent).
Barriers to registration included affordability, with 39 percent of parents reporting summer camps are not affordable options for their families, while one-third said proximity to home or school is inconvenient (33 percent), or the class/camp schedules do not coordinate with work schedules (33 percent).
“Findings from our survey underscore parents’ desire to have their children physically active during the summer months. They also want them engaged in deep, hands-on learning opportunities, and summer provides the opportunity to do so while exploring the outdoors in our lovely summers,” Janowsky said. “Parents want their kids to have the opportunity to delve into subjects that supplement learning during the school year and keep kids’ curiosity piqued during the summer months.”
View or Download the 2018 Parent Survey Infograph
View or Download the 2018 Parent Survey Executive Summary