Still think you don't have a prayer when it comes to finding cost-effective childcare? Look into your place of worship and find out if it hosts Vacation Bible School. Some churches offer a week of VBS for as little as $25. It's hard to beat that. If you just want an extra set of hands, consider recruiting a high school or college student to keep the kids occupied a few hours a day. You'll likely spend much less than you would if your kids were in camp. When you start to feel overwhelmed by the excess of extra time, use the resources available to you. Take your kids to the library for book time or any other kid-friendly activities. Contact the local chamber of commerce to see what other programs or events there are for children. Also look into what local or state parks have to offer. This summer exhaust your resources, not yourself.