Kimberly Palmer: How to make summer camp more affordable
While summer camp costs are rising, parents can find deals by booking sessions early, asking about financial aid, and leveraging sibling and other discounts
To create a fun but affordable summer for her daughters, ages 11 and 13, Flossie McCowald plans out camps well in advance. The Pennsylvania resident snags early bird discounts, takes advantage of a church-based sleepaway camp that offers scholarships and leverages sibling discounts.
“Every little bit helps,” says McCowald, who is the founder of SuperMomHacks.com, where she writes about parenting.
That’s especially true when camp is more expensive than ever. “We’re in an inflationary environment, and camp is no exception,” says Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association, which represents camps and industry professionals. He adds that camps are facing price increases across every major cost category, including staffing, insurance and transportation.
The ACA says that according to responses it collected from members nationwide in 2022, on average day camp costs $88 a day and overnight camp costs $173 a day, while some camps are free, and most offer need-based financial aid to low-income families.
