Summer is finally in full swing. For many parents, it's a great time of year because they don't have to worry about homework being turned in or if the kids have enough money in their lunch accounts. Even the morning "rush hour" is easier because no one has to catch the bus.

After a few days, the novelty of the lazy days of summer wears off and you're tired of the kids staying up all night and sleeping all day. Or, if they aren't sleeping, they are playing video games or watching TV and eating all the food in the house.

Not to mention, they are unsupervised for most of the day and that starts a whole new world of worries. The question now is, "How do I keep my kids busy and active in the summer?"

That answer will depend on the age of your kids and your work schedule. With some planning, you can have a summer without the worries.

y Day camps and away camps: These are great for kids. From the time your children arrive at camp to the time you pick them up, they will be engaged in all types of supervised activities, anything from area field trips to the summer staple of arts and crafts. (We all need more yarn and Popsicle-stick creations in our lives.)

Parents also have the advantage of sticking to a schedule. That means kids will go to bed at a decent time and get up well before noon to go to camp. Everybody in the family will be happier on a schedule.

y Clinics and classes: There is also the option of sending kids to various clinics and classes. These are typically one to two hours in length and offered by the day or in weekly sessions. You can choose from art, education, fitness classes, sports camp, golf lessons, music, swim lessons and just about anything else to keep kids entertained. While they don't offer all day care, the kids will at least have something to keep their brains and bodies active for part of the day.

y Have a "staycation": If you don't normally take a traditional vacation every year, but have some vacation days saved up, you can add some fun to your week by being your own camp counselor. A friend of mine picks one day a week to take off from work during the summer and calls it "Field Trip Day." This is a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Black Hills just like everyone else that comes to visit.

You can easily fill a day by taking the kids to walk or bike the Mickelson Trail, hike Harney Peak, visit our national monuments (sneak in some history lessons here!), play golf, swim or any other activity your family would enjoy. The point is to get the kids out of the house and do some type of physical activity. It also keeps them motivated throughout the week if they know a fun day is coming up. Parents get the added bonus of spending quality time with the kids, too.

y Next year, plan ahead: You know summer is coming, yet somehow it is surprising at how fast it sneaks up on you. If you want to put your kids in some type of camp, begin setting aside some money for the camp fee with each paycheck. That way, when it is time to register them, the camp fee won't seem like such a big chunk of your paycheck. I always start putting away money for summer camps in January - it feels kind of weird to save for summer in the winter, but I am glad I have when it comes time to pay for the camp.

Whatever it is you decide this summer, have fun, get active, play safe and wear sunscreen.

Nicole Craig is the wellness director at the Rapid City YMCA. Contact her at 718-YMCA.