The American Camp Association (ACA) believes there is a camp for every child and every budget. ACA recommends looking for these four options when planning your camp search budget:
Look for camp scholarships.
ACA supports camp scholarships indirectly with the Send a Child to Camp fund for campers in need. The ACA camp community generates a projected $XXX million annually for camp scholarships. Don’t be afraid to call the camp director and ask if financial assistance is available.
Look for assistance offered from camps.
Camps offer special discounts. Ask early.
Look for discounts from early registration, full-season, multiple enrollments from one family, to late registration to fill an empty spot. Camps also offer payment plans and partial “camperships.” Parents shouldn’t assume their income doesn’t qualify. Ask the camp what payment or assistance program they offer.
Look for assistance offered by other organizations.
Many organizations offer financial assistance for camp. Your church or synagogue may have a fund that supports campers. If the camper’s parent(s) or grandparent(s) served or are serving in the military, there may be funds available for camp. Other civic organizations and clubs, sororities, and fraternities, may have available funds.
Look for assistance offered from the US government.
Parents should inquire into whether the camp participates in income-eligible subsidy programs, for instance through Title XX. If you are sending your child to a day camp, there are options for tax breaks.
Families can utilize the ACA Find a Camp tool to search for camp by cost, location, activity, and more. Find a camp helps connect over 1.2 million families with camps each year. Camp is a life-changing experience — one that’s possible for every child and every budget.
About ACA:
The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization with more than 12,000 individual members and 3,000-member camps. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education and professional development and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accredits approximately 2,400 diverse camps nationally. Accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, and overall well-being of both campers and staff. For more information, visit https://www.acacamps.org/donate/send-a-child-camp-fund.
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