Outsourcing summer

This is the time of year when many parents worry about whether they’ve chosen the right summer activities for their children.

But there is no longer any excuse for leaving it to chance because as the NY Post points out, there are professional summer planners.

“I have an evaluation process that I share with my clients called the ‘4 P’s.’ Basically it’s the place, the people, the program and the policies,” says Jill Tipograph.

Tipograph specializes in helping parents select just the right summer camp, which is important, because the kids need a challenging outdoor experience as part of their Ivy League application.

“In terms of programming, you need to understand if your child does better in a structured setting where things are set for them or if they get to elect activities and have more decision making,” she explained.

No sense in sending a kid who sleeps till nine to a camp where they blow reveille at 6!

The cost of a summer planner for your teenager, according to The Post is about $300 an hour. It’s too late to hire one now – but if you start planning in October you should be ready by next summer.

You’ll also need a packing consultant for your child’s camp trunk, and for about $250 an hour you can hire someone like Dayna Brandoff who points out on her website that she was born to pack.

“From the time I was 9 years old, I would create an inventory for my sleepaway camp trunk. I realize that there are people out there who would pay me to do that for them,” Brandoff said.

Yes. She reports that some of her clients want to pack everything the child needs to accurately recreate their own bedroom in their air-conditioned wilderness cabins. I certainly hope the wildlife doesn’t make too much noise.