The Best Way to Handle Summer Camps as a Remote Working Dad

If you’re like me, you probably went into summer with a naive little glimmer in your eye. You thought, “It’s fine. I work from home. We’ll figure it out. It’ll be fun! I’ll get stuff done and be Superdad!”

Wrong.
So wrong.

It turns out working remotely while juggling summer camp drop-offs, pick-ups, weird lunch schedules, sunscreen meltdowns, and “Dad-I-forgot-my-towel” calls is basically a full-time job on top of your full-time job. But hey — we’re dads. We adjust, adapt, and, sometimes, just over-caffeinate.

So if you’re staring down the barrel of another week of summer chaos, here’s what’s worked for me (read: what I wish I knew earlier):

Stack the Camps, Not the Kids

Try to pick camps that run on similar schedules for each kid. Nothing kills productivity like three staggered drop-offs and four pickup windows. Your goal: One drop-off. One pickup. Ideally with coffee in between.

Block Your Calendar Like Your Sanity Depends On It

Because it does. Set up recurring calendar events for everything: driving, prepping lunches, even “sit quietly in the car because camp pickup is at 12:15 for no reason.” This way your coworkers won’t wonder why you're ghosting the 11 AM call (again).

Pack the Night Before (Yes, Even the Water Shoes)

It’s tempting to wing it. But 8:03 AM is not the time to realize you’re out of Ziplocs, clean swimsuits, and somehow, towels. Pre-pack the night before. Your future self (and your blood pressure) will thank you.

Set Realistic Work Goals — Then Cut Them in Half

The summer version of you isn’t the same as the quiet-February-weekday version. Be kind to him. Focus on what mustget done and punt the rest until the kids are back in school or at least napping hard.

Outsource When You Can

This is your reminder that pizza rolls count as lunch. So does a bag of trail mix and a string cheese. Don’t be afraid to hit up grocery delivery, automate your emails, or lean on grandparents like the free babysitters they are.

Create a "Do Not Bother Dad" Visual

Whether it’s a red paper light on the door, a silly sign, or a noise machine, let your kids know when not to knock. Will they ignore it sometimes? Sure. But they’ll learn. And you'll get your 17 minutes of focused time.

Remember: It’s Just a Season

You won’t always be the human shuttle service or the sunscreen re-applier. But right now, you’re building memories, routines, and resilience — for both of you. Work will still be there when they’re back at school. Or at least quiet enough for you to find your coffee.

“You’re not doing it wrong — you’re just doing it, and that’s more than enough.”

Final Thoughts

Summer camp survival isn’t about perfection. It’s about rhythm. Flexibility. And probably a second cup of coffee by 10:15 AM. You're not doing it wrong — you’re just doing it, and that’s more than enough.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I left a soggy swimsuit in the back of the car.