Summer camps are a great way for kids to spend their time over the summer, but they can be expensive to attend. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for parents to save money while still ensuring that their child can have a fun summer camp experience.
Summer Camp Scholarships
Some camps will foot part of the bill for families in need. Typically, families will need to apply for a scholarship on the camp’s website. Priority is given to low-income campers, and the amount of money covered by scholarships varies by camp.
The Gift of Summer Fun
If you do not need a scholarship but would like to help others who do, many camps have a “send a child to camp” fund that pays for scholarships. The American Camp Association (ACA) and the UltraCamp Foundation have a fund that is distributed to camps across the
United States.
Sibling Discounts
Sending multiple children to camp can be daunting when camp enrollment is already so expensive, but some camps offer sibling discounts for families who are enrolling more than one child at a time.
Refer a Friend
If your child already attends a summer camp, they may also be eligible for a discount if they get a friend to sign up. Depending on the camp, refer-a-friend discounts can stack — the more friends that sign up for camp, the more you can save.
A Taste of Camp
If you can’t afford a full week of camp, some camps offer trial programs for a weekend away. These trial runs are designed to be affordable and to give children a sneak peek at what the camp experience is like so they can decide with their parents if they want to attend an overnight camp in the future.
Cost-Saving Camps in the Chesapeake
The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park offers scholarships for its summer camps through partnerships with several community organizations.
The Y in Central Maryland has a Send a Kid to Camp campaign where donors can help fund camp scholarships.
The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s Arts Angels Scholarship program covers up to $1,200 in funding for local organizations offering art classes.
Camp Odyssey in Salisbury offers a per-session sibling discount and early bird rates for campers who apply early.
Rolly Pollies in Severna Park has both sibling and military discounts available for its summer camp program.
