Let’s face it – sending your kids to summer camp can cost a fortune. But here’s a secret: you can save up to 25% or more off your camp tuition if you know the right people and use the right strategies.

Sending your child to camp can be just like buying a car – you don’t want to pay full price…and you don’t need to! So let’s start with 5 things you can do right now to save money at camp:

Early Bird Discounts

Camp directors want to fill their camps as soon as possible, and they want to get paid as soon as possible, perhaps more so than in other industries because camp directors only get a few months per to make as much money as they can. So you’ve got some leverage here. Most likely, a camp will offer you discounted tuition in exchange for your early registration (and sometimes prepayment). So make sure you ask the camp director about early bird discounts because you might be pleasantly surprised how much you can save.

Camp Coupons

Everyone uses coupons at the grocery store, but did you know you can save money with coupons at camp? There’s a website in development called campcoupons.com. It probably won’t be online for another few months, so it may not benefit you this year. But it’ll be loaded with all kinds of great coupon offers and discount opportunities from camps around the country. You’ll be able to print free money-saving coupons from your favorite camp(s) absolutely free.

Meanwhile, there’s another Website called gocamps.com that, last we checked, was offering offered discounts of at least 25% from participating camps on its site. Last we checked there were discount offers from camps across the USA. So visit www.gocamps.com, click on Registration Discounts and see what you can find.

Sibling Discounts and Group Rates

You might not see a sibling discount advertised, but don’t let this stop you from asking because you can probably get one anyway. Most camps I’m aware of will generally provide a 5% discount off the second child’s tuition…but they may not volunteer this opportunity is available. So remember, ask for a sibling discount!

Group discounts may be available for an even larger savings. How much of a savings are we talking about? The amount will vary from camp to camp and the size of your group. At a minimum, your group should save at least 10% off camp tuition. Why? Because it’s a camp director’s dream-come-true to register a bunch of kids at once, rather than expending the time, money, and other resources to seek out and enroll one kid at a time. You’re making things easier on the camp, so your group should be rewarded with a nice discount.

Lock-in your tuition rate the year before

Camps generally raise their prices every year, so here’s a little known secret that can save you lots of money. You can often freeze your tuition at this year’s rates so your rates won’t go up next summer, even though everyone else will be paying full price.

Similar to the Early Bird discount program described above, some camps offer Advance Registration discounts where, for a month or two after the current summer ends, you can prepay for the following summer at this year’s prices. Even though you’re essentially prepaying for camp year in advance, you’re also freezing your tuition at the current year’s rates and the savings can be tremendous.

Tax Breaks

Did you know you might qualify for a tax deduction (credit) on your income taxes? In our experience, those who’ve qualified for this credit are parents sending their kid to day camps, not overnight camps. You will need to consult your tax advisor for the specific details because we are not qualified to give tax advice, and you should not construe this information as such. But if your child attends a day camp and your can get the camp’s federal tax id number you may qualify for a tax deduction child care credit. Here’s a link for more information from Bank Rate.com:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/CutYourTaxes/TakeATaxBreakForSummerCamp.aspx

So there you have it. Five tips to help you save money at summer camp. Remember, even if you don’t see any discounts offered or actively promoted by the camp, it doesn’t mean they aren’t available. Sometimes all you have to do is ask…good luck!

Copyright Eric D. Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp Summer Camp. All rights reserved.

Choosing the right summer camp for your child can be a challenging and sometimes overwhelming task. Since there’s a seemingly endless variety of choices to consider, matching the ideal camp to your child’s interests, personality, and busy schedule can be daunting. Furthermore, as a parent, you have the responsiblity of ensuring the camp you choose for your child is operated in a safe and appropriate manner for your child’s age and skill levels.

The following is a camp selection checklist for parents to consider when considering summer camp opportunities for their kids:

1. Identify the camp’s program emphasis.

Every camp has a different philosophy and program emphasis. Some camps promote structured group activities, while others give campers more individualized freedom to pick and choose the individual activities that appeal to them. Some camps offer strictly traditional activities, while others may focus exclusively on sports, drama, or surfing. Or, maybe your child would flourish in a competitive camp environment whereas another child would be better off participating in non-competitive camp activities. By knowing your child’s personality, interests, personality traits, and learning style, you can better identify the right camp for you.

2. Confirm that the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.

In order to earn accreditation by the American Camp Association (ACA), camps must comply with up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to camper health, safety, supervision and activity planning and execution which are crucial to a camp’s operation.

3. Ask about the camp director’s background.

To ensure that the camp director is qualified, make sure he or she meets the minimum standards set forth by the ACA. Such standards recommend that camp director holds a bachelor’s degree, has in-depth experience in camp administration, performed in-service training during the last three years, and is at least 25 years old.

4. Camper-to-counselor ratios. To make sure your child is getting the individual attention and supervision he or she needs for his or her age, compare the camp’s counselor-to-camper ratio to ACA standards. For day camps, the general ratios range from 8:1 for 6, 7 and 8 year olds, to 10:1 for 9 to 14 year olds, and 12:1 for campers ages 15 to 17. For sleepaway camps, the general recommended ratio is 6:1 for 7 and 8 year olds, 8:1 for 9 to 14 year olds and 10:1 for campers ages 15 to 17.

(Please note, the above-cited child-to-counselor ratio standards are only ACA’s general, MINIMUM recommendations and may vary depending on various situations and/or conditions. Moreover, there could be additional standards relating to specific programs and/or activities where more supervision may be prudent, if not required. Accordingly, you should use your own judgement and conduct your own research to decide what is appropriate for you and your child.)

5. Inquire about camp staff: Your child’s counselors can make or break a child’s camp experience.

In addition to facilitating camp activities, counselors serve as role models and should be dependable, trustworthy, and show enthusiasm for their job. For safety reasons, counselors should also be CPR and First Aid-Certified and have undergone criminal background checks prior to employment by the camp.

6. Accommodation of special needs.

If your child has special needs due to an allergy or other medical condition, be sure to ask if the camp is equipped to handle these requirements.

7. Find out about how the camp handles discipline.

As in any organization, rules need to be followed and the camp’s disciplinary approach should be fair, reasonable and openly communicated. Positive reinforcement, a sense of fair play and assertive role-modeling are important things to look for. If penalties apply to certain violations, camp staff should apply them fairly, calmly and without unnecessary criticism.

8. Check the camp’s references.

References can provide you with a glimpse of the experiences others have had at a camp, and they are an important way of checking out a camp’s track record and reputation. Before you choose a camp, the camp director should be willing to provide references upon request.

Good luck choosing a camp and have a great summer!

Copyright Eric D. Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.

Many parents joke that they are going to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for college, but what about for overnight camps?  What are the costs and is it worth the benefit?  We help send our kids to college because we know that this investment will help them secure better-paying jobs and a brighter future.  For a camping experience, however, is it worth it?

For some of us, camp was one of the most cherished growth experiences in our childhood and we feel the gift of camp is one that we will bestow upon our kids no matter what the cost.  For those of us who did not grow up as campers, we have to decide what all the buzz is about and make a determination if we can afford it or not.

As a former camper, counselor and teen tour leader, I believe that camp is a priceless gift that you can give your child (of course, as long as you find the right fit).  Camp experiences pay off in all sorts of “emotional intelligence” dividends:  self-esteem; self-reliance; self-awareness; empathy; the ability to listen, cooperate and share; self-control; the ability to wait in line (delayed gratification).  Research shows that developing these skills leads to greater success in school and deeper and healthier relationships.  And these early, positive growth experiences are fairly good indicators about our success as adults.  So, now that you are convinced that camp is all it is cracked up to be, how much does it cost and how are you going to pay for it?

Types of camps.  There are two types of camps:  agency camps and private camps.  There is a pretty big price differential between the two.  If cost is a concern, agency camps – like YMCA, JCC – make camping much more affordable.  They can do this because they are subsidized by agencies, therefore making your summer tuition less.  You can expect to pay about $500 – 650 a week.
Private camps are not subsidized, so the camper is paying for all of the costs to run a camp:  insurance, staff, equipment, capital improvements.  In the Midwest, you can expect to pay between $750 – $1000 a week for a private camp.  In Missouri and Southern Illinois, private camps are a little cheaper because they do not offer the extensive water sports, like sailing and water-skiing, like camps in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan).
Discounts.  There are other ways to save, as well.  At most camps, early enrollment discounts are offered.  So, if you do your homework early enough, you can take advantage of this discount.  In addition, if you are trying to provide a camping experience for more than one child, be sure to ask for a sibling discount (assuming that one camp can suit the needs of all of your children).  Lastly, if you are looking at camps on the East or West Coast, be sure to ask for a “Midwesterner’s discount.” Our camps in the Midwest are traditionally less expensive (if you can believe that after looking at the costs of camps).

Extras.  When budgeting for camp, you should also ask the program director about extra costs such as optional activities, spending money, special clothing and equipment, or trip insurance.  A camp may offer horseback riding, but is there an additional cost for participating in this activity?  When your son or daughter goes to the camp store, do they have an open-ended account or is there a set amount?  If it is open-ended, you will be the one responsible for that bill at the end of the summer so you should have a conversation with your child about proper spending.  If there are out-of-camp trips, you should find out whether or not those are included with your tuition.
Scholarships.  Almost every camp – private or agency – offers some amount of need-based “camperships.”  Jewish Federations, church groups and YMCAs give out scholarships for camp.  Many private camps have foundations to send needy kids to camp which, besides being a good thing for those kids, help to diversify their population.   Most camp directors are altruistic, giving individuals that would like to see every child in a camp.  Some camps even give “scholarships for life.”  So, once a child qualifies, they are promised that scholarship for however long they attend that camp.  For older kids, there are programs like Summer Search (www.summersearch.org) whose aim it is to send at-risk youth to leadership development programs like wilderness trips.
Camp is a wonderfully enriching gift you can give your child.  If you want to send your child, there is probably a camp out there to welcome them.  Happy camping!