Happy Day to you parents and guardians, thank you for tuning in again to our series Let’s Talk Camp… If you are listening in for the first time, I'm your host and Camp Director, Stacia Archer-Clarke of BimSmart Play Vacation Camps and Activity Clubs, for children ages 4-10 So if you are interested in learning more about our camps and what other activities we offer, or registering your little learner for our upcoming summer camp which runs from July 12th (the day after the last day of school until Aug 9th, 2024, then visit our website at bimsmartplay.com
Now, in today’s episode, I will be sharing 4 tips to help you manage your child’s camp fees. Ok so we are officially 5 weeks away from the summer holidays, so these ideas might not apply to the upcoming camp experiences, depending on your existing budget status, but you can use them for next year's camp season.
I want to say firsthand that camp as a mom of 4 was never an option for me, no matter the discount it still wouldn't work out, and that is the reality for some other parents &guardians out there. I get it.
Thankfully my personal and professional circumstances have made this more manageable for me, yet again not every parent has that. Maybe you are a parent of more than 2 children, or maybe you don't have the extended family/friend support to physically care for your children, so your only solution at this time is camp.
But those fees, how do I manage them all.
I'm here to help with 4 simple yet actionable tips
Tip 1. The Yearly Plan:
Have you ever really sat down to think about the camp experience annually rather than vacation by vacation…if you haven't that's okay you can start today.
Let's start now, by calculating how many weeks are there for the entire vacation within a year.
Easter has 2 weeks, summer has 9 weeks and Christmas give or take how the days fall, has 3 weeks. In all there are 14 weeks of holiday for your child or children in a given academic year. Im sure right about now you wish those weeks could also transfer to your job.
Tip 2. The research.
Doing market research allows you to Find camps in your preferred location and helps you to see camp price ranges being offered. For example some can be as low as $80.00 per week or as high as $450 weekly.
Take the time to go through and see if the prices are fixed meaning that throughout the year its one set price, or do the prices vary according to the camp themes/activities?
Explore if camp directors are only offering one camp per year vs camps like mine that can provide you with a camp experience for all vacation periods.
Tip 3. Make A Decision:
Now let's make some decisions by answering the following questions:
How many weeks from the 14 in total, can you realistically afford to send your child/children to camp? Will I only be able to do 1 week for easter, maybe 4 for the summer, and a few days for Christmas?
Are there any vacation days or weeks you can use to help fill in for those other weeks?
Is there a trusted family member or friend…highlight and bold TRUSTED……that can fill in the blanks for those weeks your child is unable to attend camps physically?
Is it more beneficial to focus on camps that have one experience per year or ones like mine, catering to the 3 vacation periods?
Take your time to thoroughly answer those questions. Please don't answer them in your head, put the response down on paper so you can quickly refer to it later.
Tip 4: The Final Equation:
Let's dive a bit deeper into this final tip. Now that you've done the math, conducted your research, and made some critical decisions, it's time to put it all together. You've figured out how many weeks of camp you can realistically afford based on your budget and the price ranges you've found.
You've also explored whether it's more cost-effective to focus on camps that offer programs throughout all three holidays or just one.
Now, take a moment to add it all up. Calculate the total cost for the weeks you've chosen and divide by 12 months that way you can start making those small, actionable steps toward saving for your child's camp experience. This might involve setting aside a certain amount each week or month, and looking for additional ways to cut expenses.
Yes I know, there is the possibility of camp prices being lower or higher, but with this plan, you are not left scrambling to source funds from scratch.
Remember, every little bit adds up, and with careful planning and budgeting, you can make your child's camp experience a reality without breaking the bank. It's all about finding the right balance between what you can afford and what will provide your child with a fun and enriching experience.
And there you have it, parents and guardians! We've covered some essential tips for budgeting for your child's camp experience.
If you found this episode helpful in any way I’d love to hear from you…reach out to me on instagram @bimsmartplay.
be sure to subscribe to Let's Talk Camp on our website bimsmartplay.com for more practical tips and advice on making the most of your child's camp experience. Thanks again for tuning in, and until next time, have a great!