7 ways to save money on summer camp
Can you afford summer camp for your kids? A little planning can make it all possible! Be on the lookout for cost-cutting opportunities and do your research before the camps fill up and it’s too late.
Here are some tips on how to research and cover some of the costs:
• Payment plans, financial aid and scholarships are usually available, even if they don’t advertise it on their website. Don’t be afraid to call and ask.
• Look for early-bird rates. Lower the cost of summer camp by signing up months in advance.
• Ask about your eligibility for camp discounts. Teachers, firefighters, military personnel and police officers may be eligible for discounts with some summer camps, and some church-sponsored camps offer discounts for church members. Ask up front if any discounts are offered.
• If you’re sending multiple kids to camp this year, check if there’s a sibling discount – many camps offer discounts when multiple siblings attend.
• For parents using camp as a substitute for childcare, remember that day camps fall under the same tax guidelines as daycare, so if you pay for daycare with flex plan or write off childcare expenses, you can do the same for day camp.
• Some cities sponsor camps that cost far less than private camps. Additionally, organizations like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H and the Salvation Army offer camps that are more affordable because they're subsidized by the sponsoring agency. Some of these camps also offer financial aid based on household income. Check if your city's Parks and Recreation Department offers camps. Check our Summer Camps &
Programs Directory on pages 38-46 for these and other camp listings.
• Do friends and family often ask what they can buy your child for their birthday? Let them contribute to camp. Camp is a gift that lasts a lifetime, with valuable skills gained such as confidence, leadership and independence that can’t be learned in any other environment.
