How to Afford Camp for Your Child

“My daughter is going to be heart-broken to miss summer camp this year,” says Charlene Westbrook, a Nashville mom with three kids. Westbrook’s kids have all attended local camps in the summer months, but when her husband was laid off two months ago, Westbrook had to start re-thinking what her kids would do once summer arrived.

“I always start planning in February,” says Westbrook. “Because the last months of school after Christmas break go by quickly. Once you get to spring break, it’s a whirlwind,” she adds. While the Westbrooks haven’t given up on sending their oldest away to the camp she’s attended since she was little, they are currently looking at sending her for a one-week session rather than three weeks.

“Even that might not work,” says Westbrook. “We’re taking it one bill at a time.”

More and more parents will be seeking assistance to make camp a reality for their kids this year. That reality includes cutting back on family vacations, requesting scholarships and exploring options with financial aid.

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), the more than 12,000 sleep-away and day camps in the country means that there are a wide number of camps to suit every budget, but every budget today is a lot worse off than in years past. In some cases, non-profit camps such as the Boys & Girls Club might waive fees for families who can't afford to pay. Churches, synagogues and social service groups also offer low-cost or free options.

Limiting your options to day camps, rather than a round-the-clock sleep-away, is a fast way to slash spending. With various fees, day camps can cost around $275 a week, while sleep-away can cost about $780, according to the ACA.

Another way to cut costs is to pick shorter sessions. Many camps offer a menu of programs that run between two and 10 weeks. “Kids generally get the same social benefits from camp, regardless of the duration of the program,” says Peter Surgenor, president of the ACA. "Camp is about forming social bonds and learning how to fit into a new situation away from home," he says. "You don't need months or an elite program to achieve that."