Here we will show you how to save money on summer camps.
Summer camps give your children a memorable experience that they’ll carry with them throughout their lives. However, this experience does come at a cost. Camps can range in price from a few hundred dollars a week to more than a thousand for pricier overnight travel camps.
Here are some tips and strategies that you can use to save money on summer camp:
#1 Enroll Your Child Early
If you want to know how to save money on summer camp, the first place to start is enrolling early.
Generally, the sooner you identify which camp you want to send your child to for the summer, the better. Sometimes, camps may have deals available for holidays or just because. By signing up for their email newsletter and following them on social media, you may be able to get a discount code. This can help to reduce the overall cost of camp by 10% or 20%.
#2 Consider Camps at the Parks and Recreation Department
Many city and county parks and recreation departments offer summer camps for elementary-aged students at a steep discount compared to other summer camps nearby. In some cities, you may only pay around $100 a week for day camp for one child. These programs fill up fast and may have lotteries to decide who gets to attend.
There are many summer camp options in the area at the Parks and Recreation departments. Here are some common parks and recreation sites in the DFW area:
- Frisco Parks and Recreation
- Wylie Parks and Recreation
- Plano Parks and Recreation
- Murphy Parks and Recreation
- Dallas Parks and Recreation
- Richardson Parks and Recreation
#3 Apply for Financial Assistance
Paying for summer camp isn’t always an option/ Some summer camps offer financial assistance or scholarships for low-income families.
You might be able to get an entire week of camp paid for or receive a discount on camp. It never hurts to ask the front office staff at your favorite summer camp options if there is financial assistance available! Many camps have scholarships you can apply for. If you are on other assistance programs, they can help qualify you to apply for financial benefits and other ways to save on summer camps.
For more tips, have a look at our discount page on DFW Camp Expo DFW Camp Expo Discount Page.
#4 Save for Camp Throughout the Year
Unlike the unexpected expense of a broken transmission in your car, the cost of summer camp is fairly predictable.
Think about it: You know that every summer, kids have a break over the summer. If you want to send them to summer camp or you work and must have somewhere for them to go, you can expect that cost of camp each year.
To prepare, you could try to set aside some money each month to cover the cost. It would be less financially invasive to save just a little amount each month than, try to come up with the whole amount over the summer.
#5 Have Another Kid
Just kidding. But actually, many camps will give a sibling discount when you enroll more than one child. If you have a very wide age range this may be difficult but it’s worth a shot! Your teenagers favorite summer academic camp might have a program suitable for your 8 year old. Always ask about sibling discounts.
#6 Look for Refferals
When you find a good kids camp, tell your friends, tell your mama, tell the grocery store clerk… you get the idea. We all appreciate quality tips on good programs for our children.
Your favorite camp will appreciate this, too. Many have rewards programs that offers discounts or goodie bags for referrals. The best way to find out is to call the camp and ask or check their website.
#7 Find the Right Dallas-Fort Worth Area Summer Camp
We hope you’ve got a good idea on how to save money on summer camp. There are so many amazing summer camps in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area that provide high-quality experiences to kids; don’t let money be the reason you miss out.
If you’re looking for the right summer camp, check out our comprehensive listing of local choices at DFW Camp Expo. Here you can compare your choices and see everything that’s currently available.
