This Place Is for You

February 2025

Parenting can be a weirdly lonely experience. It’s weird because in some ways, you’re NEVER alone. Who among us hasn’t been serenaded by a toddler shout-singing right outside the bathroom door while you’re trying to do your business? But building lasting connections with people outside your own family? It’s like trying to hold onto a glob of Jell-O your toddler just inexplicably dumped in your hands.

It makes sense. Keeping a family running is nonstop! And it’s the same for all the other parents you bump into at birthday parties and PTA meetings. Even with the best of intentions, it’s hard to keep those connections alive long enough for them to grow into a lasting bond—and even harder to do it again and again to grow a lasting network.

But community really matters. Having people around to swap advice, offer encouragement, expand your horizons, and just spend time with is what makes a place feel like home.

Camps for connection

At KidsBooked, we believe a platform for finding kid camps and activities can be about more than just getting your to-do’s done faster. Camps are so much more than childcare. They’re also about connection and community. How you plan your family’s activities is part of what shapes a childhood, and what shapes your day-to-day life as a parent.

As we create KidsBooked, we’re focusing on how we can support the whole child and the whole family, and help to build a stronger community here in the Triangle. Here’s how:

• A welcoming place for newcomers. Whether you’re planning your kid’s first activities or you just moved to the Triangle, everyone is new to this scene at some point! KidsBooked is a welcoming space where you can dive right in and find great options for your family. No expertise or word-of-mouth required.
• A place to plan together. Every family is unique, but that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. With KidsBooked, you’ll be able to coordinate with other parents to the extent that it’s helpful to you. From aligning dates with your kid’s BFF to getting insider advice for your first time at a new activity, KidsBooked has you covered.
• Insights you can trust. Ads and AI chatbots will tell you lots of things, but when it comes to your child, human connections matter. KidsBooked is centered around connecting you with camps—and the wonderful humans who run them!—and with other parents who speak from experience, share your values, and have similar needs. That’s something you just can’t automate.
• Celebrating community. As we’ve gotten to know our region’s camp directors, we’ve come to appreciate how they truly bring people together. They’re not just in business to sell a product—many are on a mission to make the world a better place for both kids and adults. We’re so excited to elevate organizations that are creating community and making the Triangle a great place to raise a family.

Our why is the we

Anyone can Google, and some of us can spreadsheet. But finding the right activities for your family isn’t like finding a stain-proof sofa that can hold up to pizza night. It’s about people. That’s why KidsBooked isn’t just a directory. It’s a place to connect.

How can KidsBooked support the community connections that matter to you? Share your thoughts in the comments or via our 30-second survey.

Check out our article Parents Need a Break for more thoughts on the plight of parents in today’s world—and opportunities to lighten the load.