How to Make Camp Fit Into Your Budget

By Ginny McCabe

While we want our child’s summer experiences to be rich, most of us don’t have unlimited funds to shell out for camp. For some parents, they might be wondering how they can work this into their budgets.

“There are many, many different kinds of camps with many different levels of cost,” says Dave Devey, director and owner of Falcon Camp in Carrollton, Ohio. “So, the first thing families need to do is find out where they fit. They can look at programs and ask, ‘what can I afford?’ and ‘what programs fit in that category?’ Then, look and see, ‘what programs would I like for my child?’ And if those are two different things, which they often are, then you start to look at how you can pay for it.”

Often, it’s a balance between what you’re looking for and what you can afford, and where those two things meet.

“When you think about paying for camp, obviously, early bird registration is a great way to save some money on your camp,” says Dan Reynolds, vice president of camping and YMCA facilities at the Akron Area YMCA.

Many camps offer early or sibling discounts, and other special rates. It’s always best to ask the camp to see when early registration begins, so you don’t miss the deadline. Early registration periods vary. Many camps run early registration the fall of the prior year or early winter. Planning ahead is also helpful. Some programs fill up quickly.

Sometimes, certain sessions may cost less than others, or a camp might offer a discount on a session they have trouble filling. Another example of an additional savings might be if you pay the full tuition upfront. Discounts may vary from camp to camp.

While some camps require payment upfront, many camps offer monthly payment plans or split-payment options, so the costs can be spread out over time.

“We have payment plans for our families,” Reynolds says. “We are committed to never letting money get in the way of a family having a camp experience. We want to work with families to help make sure they can get there.”

When planning for camp, it’s good to have a conversation with the camp staff to find out what their financial assistance and payment policies are. Most camps will also post the information prominently on the camp website.

Does your child have an upcoming birthday or want to provide them with an early holiday gift? Providing experiences to kids are great gift ideas for grandparents and other relatives.

“We have some families where the grandparents will pay for camp,” Reynolds says. “So, they give camp to the child as a birthday gift, a Christmas gift, or a holiday gift. That is always a popular thing and a great way to help share camp.”

Applying for scholarships is another way to save money on camp. Scholarships can fully fund or partially fund a camp experience. Some scholarships may be based on financial need, while others are given based on talent or skill.

“It would be important for parents to inquire about what kind of scholarships are available, because most programs have an avenue to help families that can’t afford the full tuition, or any tuition,” Devey adds.

He adds sometimes, families may be in the midst of an unusual circumstance, and it’s good to make that known, too.

There are also programs that don’t cost as much that have a broader base of funding, and therefore, wider opportunities for scholarships because there’s more money available. There are camps that offer scholarships on sliding scales, based on your income and how much you can afford.

For example, Jacqueline Gerling, director of communications at Cleveland Metroparks says Metroparks offers camps for youth of all ages. As part of the zoo’s current co-design programming with the local community, (scholarship) priority is given to applicants from the city of Cleveland. Campers must reside in Ohio and attend a school that has greater than 30 percent student body participation in the federal free and reduced lunch program as verified by the Ohio Department of Education.

A limited number of scholarships are available for both Summer Nature Camp and Zoo Summer Day Camp, she says.

Often, civic organizations, nonprofits, churches or the military will have funds available and offer financial assistance to kids who want to go to camp. Parents can ask local clubs, like the Lion’s Club to see if there are funds available.

“Some families might have children that are getting different school resources, or different community resources to help support their kids,” Reynolds says. “So, there are some other organizations that will help pay for camp. Rotary Camp is a camp for kids with special needs, and we get a lot of kids who are funded through local developmental disability boards, or organizations like Easter Seals, and different things like that. Sometimes school districts will help to pay for different camp experiences, especially if there’s an educational component to it, and it helps to meet their school goals.”

This might seem surprising, but many camps frequently need additional adult help, so they offer volunteer opportunities, to offset the cost of camp. Parents and loved ones can work in exchange for a week or a portion of camp at a reduced rate or at no cost. Often, adults can use the skills they have to teach a class, design a flyer, or supervise an activity. In return, volunteering can save you money.

Many families use their employer’s dependent care flexible spending account for childcare, but camps may also be qualify. There are rules about which programs qualify, so it’s best to check with your accountant or the IRS to see if the options you’re considering fit the needs of your family.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, for day camps, allows parents to be reimbursed for expenses on a pre-tax basis for childcare or adult dependent care for qualified dependents.

According to the American Camp Association, camp fees can range from less than $100 to more than $1,500 per week for ACA-accredited resident and day camps. Parents will find there are an array of camp options to meet their needs. If a particular camp isn’t in your budget, you can also do some searching at local recreation centers, city programs and libraries to see if there are more affordable offerings.

Based in Cleveland, the Footpath Foundation is another helpful resource for families. Footpath Foundation, which is dedicated to providing outdoor experiences for kids who would not otherwise have those opportunities, makes it possible for about 140 kids - most from the inner city - to attend overnight camps each summer.

Whether you’re looking for a day camp, or an overnight camp, it’s always a great idea to reach out to the camp director and staff early to ask what discounts might be available. Often, the camp leadership team can guide parents when it comes to early registration deadlines, resources and how to save the most money on camp.