Camp Guide with The Curated Kid List
Summer is just around the corner (thank goodness!)-and summer camp sign-ups are in full swing! I’ve partnered with The Curated Kid on a Camp Guide to make summer a little easier! Check out this Guest Post from The Curated Kid for all the camp details!
Do you work outside the home full-time and need a full day of childcare? Or some new,
engaging, unexplored activities for your kids? Do you just need a break and some time
to yourself? We all want to keep our kids happy and busy—summer camps are the
answer. But there are thousands of camp options in the greater Nashville area, so how
do you sift through the noise and find camps your kids will love that also work with your
schedule and budget? It can be overwhelming!
The Curated Kid List is the secret weapon for local moms. This site was
created by two moms who were sick of the annual slog to find camps. We were tired
of endlessly Google-ing, searching posts on social media and having dozens of tabs
open to compare camp options. Sound familiar?
So, we’ve created a site where parents can see all the camp options in one place (with all
the pertinent information!), and use filters to narrow down the options based on budget,
camp weeks, location, age, activities, and much more.
Need more help? You can also use The Curated Kid List’s tools to compare up to four
camps side-by-side, or create a Favorites List that you can access later.
Need even more to love? We are partnering with lots of local businesses to
offer exclusive discounts just for Curated Kid members, so the membership pretty much
pays for itself. It’s such a time and stress saver! Right now, when you sign up for a new
membership, use code NASHVILLE to save 10%.
Think past the big-name camps
If the popular camp you had your eye on fills up before you can register, don’t panic. Big
camps aren’t the only options. Smaller camps tend to be locally owned (We love to shop
small!), have a lower camper to counselor ratio, and offer more unique activities. The
Curated Kid List has a theme filter you can use to narrow options by specific activity,
and they have over 50 tags to choose from! Art, board games, cheerleading, LEGO,
horseback riding, soccer, tennis…the list goes on.
Consider your overall schedule
Summer schedules get crazy! Half day camps and many full day camps end earlier than
work generally does, so you might need before and after care options. If you have
multiple kids in different camps, you don’t want to spend your afternoons racing across
town to avoid a late pickup fee! Add in summer vacations and summer sports, and
planning your camp schedule can be really complicated. The Curated Kid List has a
filter that allows you to select full day, half day, or overnight camp and even search by
specific week in the summer so that you don’t waste time looking at camps that don’t fit
your schedule. You can also filter by location, so you can search for camps close to
your home, office, or any other location that makes your schedule easier.
Watch out for hidden costs
Tuition is only the start for many camps. Often there is a registration fee, materials fees,
or additional fees for meals. It’s pretty annoying to get through the registration process
only to discover camp will cost more than listed due to those fees! I love that The
Curated Kid List notes fees for each listing and lets you filter camp options by budget.
Not all camps are for all kids
Kids need chances to explore interests, hobbies, sports, and activities to find the things
that become their passions. Camps offer fun, low-stakes chances for kids to try lots of
new activities and see what interests them. The continuity of going to a favorite camp
each summer is awesome, but sometimes we need to push our kids outside of their
comfort zones.
Of course, you know your kids best. An introverted, indoors- y kid probably wouldn’t
select a huge, all-outdoor camp as their first choice. But, one week of camp like that
could be the push they need to make new friends and embrace nature. If you’ve got a
sports junkie at home, mix it up with a cool science or art camp that encourages their creativity.
In my opinion, the best summer schedules mix the familiar, the new, the challenging, and the comfortable. Use The Curated Kid List’s filters to uncover new camps you may not already know about. Nashville has so much to offer in terms of summer camps and programs. No matter which options you choose, you’re sure to pick a winner, especially if you use The Curated Kid List to find and register for camps quickly and easily!
Spring Paper Goods Roundup
I just can’t resist cute paper goods! I even have a little “party closet” where I keep a stash of paper plates, napkins and entertaining pieces. While we rarely host parties, I do enjoy pulling out the fun plates and napkins for the kid’s breakfast. They just make mealtime a little happier.
I found these at a local shop in Charleston! I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites for spring and Easter.
I also scored big at Dollar General…you can just never have enough paper plates! :) And they look even cuter in this bunny basket!
Anyone else out there a hoarder collector of paper products?
March Nashville Happenings
Cheekwood in Bloom: Bell Fleurs
- March 9th through April 14th
- Cheekwood
- Cheekwood in Bloom kicks off on Saturday, March 9th with over 250,000 blooms, live entertainment, adult workshops and so much more! This year’s display honors French garden design.
- March 7th
- The Cosmetic Market (Green Hills location at 11 a.m. and Cool Springs location at 4 p.m.)
- Celebrate Jane Iredale’s 30th year in business with a hands-on makeup class! Learn makeup application tips and tricks with legendary makeup artist Shawn Towne. Reservations are $100 and can be made over the phone. Your ticket includes an eye shadow trio, blush, lip and cheek stain, mini lavender hydration spray, travel mascara, and a bouquet of flowers.
Throughout March, Sugar Drop is hosting cookie and cupcake decorating classes, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, cake decorating and lots more! See the calendar of events here.
- March 9th at 10 a.m.
- Belmont University
- Learn how to sew a classic sleeveless spring dress in one day during this creative workshop. You can choose between inseam or patch pockets, and the class is fun for beginners and experienced sewists alike. Students are asked to bring their own sewing machine and fabric, and a suggested material list is provided ahead of the workshop.
- March 10th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Southern Grist Brewing Co.
- Spend International Women’s Day perusing over 40 local vendors, including Kelly Scott Design Co., Three Sisters Bakery, Howdy Boy, and Moons + Junes Vintage.
- March 14th through 17th
- Various locations throughout Nashville
- The Music City Irish Fest offers live entertainment, dancing, authentic Irish food, and more. While some events are free to attend, others require an admission fee. To see the complete schedule of events, visit musiccityirishfest.com.
Andrew Jackson’s 257th Birthday
- March 15th beginning at 10 a.m.
- The Hermitage
- Enjoy half-priced Grounds Passes for the day at The Hermitage to celebrate Andrew Jackson’s birthday! The event will include children’s activities, gallery talks, the annual wreath-laying ceremony, and a keynote address.
- March 23rd at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30
- THE MARTIN CENTER FOR NASHVILLE BALLET, STUDIO A
- Carnival of the Animals takes you on a magical journey through the animal kingdom. Sure to delight ballet enthusiasts of all ages, the show includes fun choreography, costumes, and lively music.
- March 24th beginning at 1 p.m.
- Frist Museum
- Join the Frist Art Museum for a day of performances, art making, music, and more, celebrating the exhibitions Southern/Modern, Monuments and Myths: The America of Sculptors Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French, Carving a New Tradition: The Art of LaToya M. Hobbs, and The Power of Resilience.
- March 30th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Nashville Zoo
- Egg hunts, face painting, keeper talks and more zoo fun!
- March 29th and 30th
- Cheekwood
- Egg hunts, musical performances, food trucks, scavenger hunts and lots of spring festivities! Reserve your tickets here.
Bunny Baskets
I saw this adorable bunny basket and could not resist! I kind of want to leave it out year round!
And of course, it looks cute with a This is Nashville or This is Charleston book! Or both!
Find my other favorite Easter finds here!
Recent Reads
My year is off to a good start with recent reads! A majority of the books I read last year left me a little disappointed…however, these have captured my attention! Check them out if you’re in need of a good story!
Family, wartime, secrets, love and loss. Alice sets out to help her Babcia’s settle her dying wishes and overcome the past and solve family. I really enjoyed this WW2 story that toggles between the past and present! This story will grasp your heart.
Clementine- an overworked book publicist, who has just lost the most important person in her life, has an unexpected romance but discovers he lives seven years in the past!
I thought this was a unique storyline with likeable characters and went deeper {mental health, death} than your average rom-com kinda book!
The story takes place in my favorite city so I enjoyed reading about NYC!
Add this one to your TBR list!
Written by Nashville’s own Ann Patchett is nostalgic storytelling at its finest!
In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family’s orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking , they beg their mother to tell them the story of the famous actor, Peter Duke, whom she dated. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they knew!
While the story could be a bit slow at times, overall it was a cozy read that made me want to visit an orchard in Michigan and see the play, Our Town!!
Frozen River is not a book I would typically pick up upon first reading the synopsis + time period but I’m glad I did!!
Set in Maine, 1789…Frozen River follows the adventures of the town’s most trusted midwife-Martha Ballard! Martha finds herself entangled in the town’s most personal lives including a murder investigation!
Frozen River shares an often untold working woman’s perspective during that time period! Martha is such a likable main character! Frozen River is a mixture of mystery, romance and historical fiction weaved into one great story!
Next up on my list…