More Americans Taking a Family Vacation This Summer
Nationwide Survey Reveals Summer-Camp Attendance Also Up
BREVARD, N.C., June 16, 2008 Despite the worst consumer-debt crisis since the Great Depression to say nothing of gas prices rising to record highs the number of Americans planning to take a family vacation this summer is up 10 percent over last summer.
That according to a new survey of 14,175 U.S. families from all 50 states conducted by domestic empress Marla Cilley, host of BlogTalkRadios FlyLady and Friends Show whose online community numbers nearly 500,000 members.
Cilleys first-ever Schools Out survey also showed the number parents planning to send their kids to summer camp this year will rise 3.5 percent over last year.
And the single biggest problem parents say they're facing this summer in terms of the kids being home from school isn't the fact that families don't have enough money for travel and other fun activities (25.5%), its that the kids have too much time on their hands and are bored (32%).
This data underscores the importance of parents getting away from it all with their kids while also getting time away from their kids no matter economic conditions, said Cilley.
But when the kids are home, theyll not only be taking part in free or inexpensive activities, like spending time at the library or visiting friends/relatives houses (20.5%) rather than to going to movies or theme parks (13.5%) more than ever (30%) will be working to earn extra money, the survey shows.
Meanwhile, 68.5 percent of parents say they're cooking more meals at home this summer, mostly because the cost of eating out has risen (37%) and sky-high gas prices make eating out even more expensive (32%).
For those months when families are home together, Cilley has developed a program called Camp GonnaWannaFly, which shows parents how to transform their abodes into fun, cost-effective FlyCamps.
On Tuesday, June 17 @ 2 p.m. ET, Cilley will host a special Schools Out episode of the FlyLady and Friends Show, which will focus on the survey, and how parents can work with their kids to set up an at-home FlyCamp. (Immediately following the live broadcast, the special will be archived as a podcast on BlogTalkRadio.) http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/flylady/flylady
Following are the full results of the survey (which was conducted June 511 via SurveyMonkey.com and has a +/- margin of error of 1%):
Schools Out Survey
Did you take a family vacation last summer?
-Yes: 60%
-No: 40%
If you did take a family vacation last summer, how long was it?
-Two weeks or more: 18.5%
-One week: 42.5%
-Just a weekend: 16.5%
-Just a day trip: 4.5%
Are you planning to take (or have you already taken) a family vacation this summer?
-Yes: 70%
-No: 30%
If you are planning to take a family vacation this summer, how long will it be?
-Two weeks or more: 16.5%
-One week: 46.5%
-Just a weekend: 28%
-Just a day trip: 8%
Whats the single biggest problem you face this summer in terms of the kids being home from school?
-My child(ren) has too much time on his hands; he/shes bored: 32%
-Dont have enough money for travel and other fun activities: 25.5%
-My child(ren) isnt getting enough exercise: 7.5%
-Theres no one home to watch my child(ren) because Ive gotten a job or taken a second job to make ends meet: 2.5%
-I fear for my child(ren)s safety: 1%
If youre planning to remain close to home this summer, which of the following home activities will most likely be keeping your child(ren) entertained?
-Playing in the back/front yard: 10%
-Reading: 9.5%
-Watching TV/movies: 8.5%
-Playing Board Games: 7.5%
-Crafts: 7.5%
-Other: 7.5%
-Playing video games: 6.5%
-Cooking: 6.5%
-Surfing/playing on the Internet: 6%
If youre planning to remain close to home this summer, which of the following will most likely be keeping your child(ren) entertained?
-Going to friends/relatives houses: 10.5%
-Going to the library: 10%
-Going to parks: 10%
-Going to the movies: 7.5%
-Other: 7.5%
-Going to museums: 7%
-Going to festivals: 6.5%
-Going to aquariums: 6%
-Going to the theme parks (like Six Flags Great Adventure): 6%
-Going to gyms: 5.5%
-Going to plays/the theater: 5%
Did you send your kids to summer camp last summer?
-Yes: 25.5%
-No: 52%
Are you planning to send your kids to summer camp this summer?
-Yes: 29%
-No: 46%
If you aren't planning to send your kids to summer camp this summer, which of the following best describes why?
-Camp fees have gone up: 3%
-Cant afford camp at any price: 16.5%
-Found a cheaper alternative to camp: 3.5%
-Travel fears: 14%
Did your child(ren) have a summer job(s) last year (either working around the house for an allowance or around the neighborhood doing odd jobs)?
-Yes: 29%
-No: 40%
Do your child(ren) have a summer job(s) this year?
-Yes: 30%
-No: 39%
If your child(ren) does have a summer job(s) this year, which of the following do they have? (You may select more than one.)
-Mowing lawns/gardening: 27.5%
-Cleaning out garages/basements, etc.: 9%
-Pet-sitting: 9%
-Painting and/or other simple home improvement: 8.5%
-Setting up a lemonade stand: 6.5%
-Holding yard sales: 3.5%
Are you cooking more meals at home this summer than you did last summer?
-Yes: 68.5%
-No: 31%
If you are cooking more meals at home this summer, which of the following best describes why?
-The cost of eating out has risen: 37%
-Sky-high gas prices make eating out even more expensive: 32%
-Dont trust that restaurant food is clean and safe: 6.5%
Seeing as America is in the midst of an historic presidential election, will you be encouraging your kids to increase their awareness of the candidates and issues?
-Yes: 61.5%
-No: 17%
If you will you be encouraging your kids to increase their awareness of the candidates and issues, which of the following will you most likely do?
-Encourage them to watch/read political news: 55%
-Encourage them to watch debates: 28.5%
-Encourage them to read candidates web sites: 27.5%
About Marla Cilley
Specializing in home and family organization, Cilley has been hosting BlogTalkRadios FlyLady and Friends since September 2007. She is also the author of two books, Sink Reflections: FlyLady's Babystep Guide to Overcoming Chaos (2002) and the best-seller Body Clutter: Love Your Body, Love Yourself (2007; co-authored by Leanne Ely). Thanks to the popularity of her self-help website (FlyLady.net), Cilley, who is based in Brevard, N.C., has developed the worlds largest Yahoo! user group, which is on track exceed 500,000 members this summer.
About BlogTalkRadio
Launched in August 2006, BlogTalkRadio (www.blogtalkradio.com) is a free, Internet-based radio network that allows any user with a phone and computer to host a live, interactive radio show no downloads or extra equipment needed. Each show can accommodate unlimited live listeners. Upon completion of the broadcast, it is automatically archived as a podcast. Since BTRs launch, thousands of hosts have broadcast more than 82,000 shows. Notable guests have included Brad Pitt, Yoko Ono, John McCain and Brian DePalma.
