Amanda Barroso
| NerdWallet
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The year has barely started, and my kindergarten parents group chat is already buzzing with summer camp anxiety. Registrations are opening and spots fill fast.
I’ve been doing research and here’s what I’ve learned: Camps aren’t cheap. But there are creative ways to work camp into your spending plan, this year and next.
The cost of summer camp
For many families with school-aged kids like mine, summer camps are a necessity. Schools are out and many parents work full-time. Summer camps fill an important child care gap.
But even for parents who are high earners, paying for camps can be a shocking expense. If you have more than one kid, paying for camp can seem almost impossible.
Affordable options do exist, says Henry DeHart, CEO of the American Camp Association, which oversees a national accreditation program for camp health and safety.
“There is a quality camp in your community at a price point that will work for you,” DeHart says.
Summer camp prices can differ widely. Costs are often driven by how long a camp runs, whether it’s a day or overnight program, and the activities offered. Specialty camps — such as those focused on horseback riding, boating or STEM — tend to cost more because they require additional staff, equipment or materials.
It’s also hard to pin down an average camp price because there are so many options.
“There are at least 20,000 camps out there,” DeHart says.
Like many services, camp prices have increased in recent years due to inflation. Staffing and food costs are higher, so camper tuitions are often higher, too, DeHart says.
I found a half-day dance camp at a local high school for $225 a week and a full-day KPop Demon Hunters camp for $555 a week. The vacation Bible school at the church up the street only charges $10 for the week for a half-day, which is also on my radar.
Costs start to add up quickly.
How to build camp into your budget
Start planning now
Even if you feel like you are late to the game, there are still early registration discounts available and time to start setting aside money before summer begins.
If you don’t know where to start, the American Camp Association’s “Find a Camp” tool can help narrow your search. Depending on the camp, you might be able to pay any registration fees now, and tuition later — or in installments over time.
Waiting until closer to summer to look for camps can be costly. You may miss discounts, find top-choice camps are full and end up paying more for options that don’t meet your needs — such as limited programming, inconvenient locations or camps without safety certifications.
Break camp costs into monthly payments
For next year, you can plan ahead. Treat camp like a seasonal fixed expense that you account for in your budget every month, similar to a mortgage payment or utility bill. You can create a sinking fund just for camp costs.
If your total camp costs for June add up to $1,200, starting in September will give you roughly 10 months to save about $120 a month. That cushion can help cover early registration fees in winter or spring, while you continue saving for the remaining tuition.
“Saving money automatically before it hits your checking account is a good strategy,” says Carolyn McClanahan, a certified financial planner in Jacksonville, Florida. “Small amounts add up, and having money saved is much less expensive than high credit card payments.”
This year, if your budget for camp feels tight, McClanahan suggests looking around the house. “Consider selling items you don’t need or want,” she says. “Have a garage sale, take items to a consignment store, or sell items online. It is a hassle, but is a good way to raise money without going into debt.”
Offset costs by cutting back elsewhere
Look for costs that naturally go away or shrink during the summer. Can you redirect your aftercare costs into camp savings? Do you scale back or pause extracurricular activities that only run during the school year, such as sports, music lessons or clubs? Use that money to help cover camp costs.
“Think about spending that isn’t bringing you or your child much value, such as unused subscriptions or easy ‘click’ spending on Amazon,” McClanahan says.
Even small shifts can help. Our son’s half day preschool isn’t open during the summer, so we can redirect his tuition to help us cover any camp costs for my daughter.
But some tradeoffs matter more than others, especially when it comes to long-term savings.
“If you have to cut back on savings to pay for camp, always make sure you are saving enough to at least get your 401(k) and HSA match at work because you can never get that money back,” says McClanahan.
Mix high- and low-cost camps
If you need to cobble together multiple camps to get through the summer, consider splurging on your top pick and supplementing with cheaper options, perhaps through local churches, YMCAs, or city or county programs.
Use your dependent care FSA, if you have one
If you have a dependent care flexible spending account, you can use those pretax dollars to pay for eligible summer camp expenses. If you don’t have one but your employer offers them, you can look into signing up next year, which can also lower your tax bill.
For example, if you contribute $2,000 into a dependent care FSA and use it to reimburse summer camp costs, you could save roughly $400-$600 in taxes, depending on your tax bracket. Overnight camps will probably not apply, so check the eligibility.
Plan for hidden costs
Getting your child to and from camp can add to the total cost. This may include daily driving expenses or airfare if the camp is in another state.
Some camps also offer extended hours — such as drop-off before camp starts or pickup after it ends — for an additional fee. On top of that, supplies, field trips and lunches or snacks can increase your costs.
“Coordinating with other parents attending the same camp makes it easy to set up carpools and even share afternoon care, so you can skip some of the costly add-ons,” says Kimberly Palmer, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet.
How camps help families manage costs
There are traditional ways to get help with camp costs, like scholarships and grants offered directly by the camps themselves or through foundations and community organizations, like churches.
Camp directors are also getting more creative with financial assistance.
“There are all sorts of programs built in to help camps be affordable,” DeHart says. “There’s early registration discounts and sibling discounts.”
Referral fees are also popular. Some camps offer discounts if you can get one or two friends or family members to sign up for camp, too.
Some camps offer community service discounts for families working in public service, teachers, nurses, first responders, clergy and members of the military, DeHart says.
Not all forms of financial aid and discounts are advertised, Palmer says, so reach out to the camp’s director.
“If you have a preteen, consider asking if they can serve as a counselor in training for a discount,” Palmer says. “They might be able to earn volunteer hours as well as valuable experience, while saving you money.”
Benefits of summer camp beyond child care
Adding camp as a line item in your monthly budget can feel overwhelming. It’s another expense competing with emergency funds, retirement investing and college savings. But a quality program can offer experiences that are hard to replicate at home, DeHart says.
Your money isn’t just paying for adult supervision. It’s paying for enrichment. Many camps are no- or low-tech, giving kids a chance to unplug.
“It’s time away from social media. It’s time doing face-to-face relationships. It’s time outdoors, being active,” DeHart says. “You know, all these things that parents want.”
My daughter is still young, but going through summer camp sign-ups has made me think about the experiences I want her to have — and how to plan for them.
I ended up picking a few lower-cost camps. Still, I did jot down a few highly recommended camps and feel more confident about asking for creative payment solutions.
I just pulled up my bank app and moved $75 into a high-yield “camp fund.”
Better start preparing for next year.
