How to Start a Summer Camp

Summer camps are a lot of fun for kids of all age groups and can be an enriching and memorable part of childhood. There are many different kinds of summer camps, from basic day camps to summer camps specifically designed for children with special needs. Starting a summer camp of your own is a big project. Here are some things to remember if you're starting a summer camp.

Instructions:

Step 1

Decide what sort of camp you want to start. The first question you need to ask yourself is what kind of children your summer camp will be oriented towards. Whether you want to start a summer camp to keep young children occupied with fun activities during the day while their parents are at work or you want to create a camp environment for wheelchair-bound campers or survivors of pediatric cancer, the type of camp you want to start will determine the kind of facilities you need, the staff you will hire and even the funding for which you could be eligible.

Step 2

Find the ideal campground. Your campground will need to be a very large piece of land, preferably with both wooded and cleared areas so there is room for buildings and offices but still plenty of places for nature and activities. If your camp is going to be an overnight camp, the land needs to have pre-existing buildings on it that are suitable to be converted into bunkhouses or have enough space that shelters can be built. A pool will require a large, level piece of land that can be dug and converted properly. Also, don't forget to account for administrative offices, staff quarters, a pool house and a nursing station.

Step 3

Hire the right staff. The staff of counselors, lifeguards, nurses and activities directors can be the difference between an average summer camp and an amazing one. It is not necessary to require that your staff members have previous summer camp experience; even though your camp is new, it can be a great learning experience for the staff as well as the campers. It is more important to make sure that your staff understands the responsibilities that come with the job, that they are fun-loving and enthusiastic, and that they are devoted to making summer camp the best experience possible for each camper. Hiring a diverse staff from a variety of backgrounds will guarantee that your camp will be a fun and interesting place to be.

Step 4

Follow regulations. Depending on what state your summer camp is in, there are several inspections and registrations that your camp will have to undergo before it can legally open its doors to the public. The American Camping Association has strict guidelines regarding basic requirements for summer camp facilities. These will vary depending on whether you have a pool or keep animals on the campgrounds, if your camp is an overnight facility and the age group and type of camper you are admitting. Research these regulations carefully and make sure that you have followed all proper procedures to avoid fines and legal problems.

Step 5

Research available funding. There are many state and government programs that provide funding to public facilities and programs like summer camps, especially if your camp is a specialty camp or admits its campers for free and is registered as a nonprofit organization. There could be money available to help you build facilities, make improvements to the campground and even buy supplies for campers. Contact your local government offices and find out what sort of funding is available for your type of summer camp.

How to Run a Summer Camp

Summer camps can play a pivotal role in the life of a child. Time spent at camp will teach children important life lessons, assist them in forming new friendships and leave them with memories they will carry with them throughout life. It also eases the minds of their parents, as they rest assured that their children are in a safe environment under the supervision of a trained staff. However, meeting all of these needs for so many children and their families takes planning and know-how. To run a successful summer camp, you must be prepared.

Instructions:

Step 1

Choose a theme. There are a variety of summer camps today that are geared specifically toward certain groups of children. They range from summer camps for children with disabilities to faith-based summer camps and to summer camps for children who are obese. Knowing the type of summer camp you are going to run will help you decide on what needs must be met to make it successful and fun for everyone.

Step 2

Decide on an age range. If you are gearing your camp toward solely toward younger children, you may need to hire more counselors for supervision purposes. Their ages will also play a major role in the type of activities you plan; younger children generally become bored more easily than older children and require activities that will keep them occupied and interested at all times.

Step 3

Decide on accommodations. Before you begin to hire staff or advertise your camp, know how many children you can accommodate comfortably. If your maximum capacity is 300, go a bit below that number for the sake of the campers' comfort. If they are packed in the cabins like sardines, they won't enjoy their stay and surely won't want to return.

Step 4

Begin marketing. This is one of the most important aspects of a successful camp. One option is to register with the National Camp Association, an organization that refers prospective campers to one of the camps listed in its directories. To become a member of this association, the camp director needs to contact it and fill out the necessary paperwork to begin the process. Other options include online marketing, creating a web page for your camp and filming a short video for YouTube; this has become an especially popular method of advertisement with camps. In addition, many camps will send out letters to the previous year's campers, in much the same way colleges send invitation letters to their alumni for upcoming events.

Step 5

Plan your budget. To properly plan your budget for the upcoming year, it is in your best interest to have as many children enrolled as early as possible. Many camps will offer an early-bird discount for campers who enroll and pay their deposit for the summer by Jan. 31. This gives the camp an idea of how many staff it needs to and can afford to hire. However, because it is a business, if there are children who want to enroll a week before the session begins, and space is open, they will generally not be turned away.

Step 6

Hire your staff. Take into account the number of campers you estimate having, as well as the budget you have to work with. Most summer camps need camp directors, kitchen staff, counselors, nurses, lifeguards and activities specialists. Also take into account the previous information you have collected, such as the type of camp you have and the age of the campers. Although you want to have enough staff, for budget's sake, you don't want to over staff.

Step 7

Choose your activities. Summer camps are supposed to be a fun-filled learning experience for kids. Therefore, when choosing the activities your camp will offer, involve the kids and the parents. If you have an established camp, ask campers from the year before what they liked best about your camp, what they remembered the most and what they would like to see added. If you are a camp that is just opening, ask community members what they would like if they were going to a summer camp. The best advice comes from your consumers.

Step 8

Decide on the hours. You need to decide if your camp is going to run all summer or half the summer or if you are running only day camps through the week. This decision should not be based solely on what is convenient for your personal schedule, but rather on what meets the needs of your campers in your surrounding area. Though summer camps are a fun experience for kids, it is also a business. If you want it to be successful, you need to play it smart.

Grants for Starting a Summer Camp for Kids

Kids who go to summer camp will find that some of their fondest memories are created during their summers away from home. However, not all kids can afford summer camp, and for some, summer camp is just too far away. If you are starting a kids' summer camp, you can maximize the number of children who can attend by finding grants that will help you cover operating costs; this way you have more money to offer scholarships to students who cannot afford to attend or to travel to camp. In fact, you can even find grants that will help make those scholarships easier to grant.

Federal Grants

Federal grants generally offer funds only to non-profit or educational institutions. If your camp is one of these, you can get funding based on the populations you serve or programs you run. Because many federal grants give money for specific programs or camps meeting specific needs, when you research these grants, do so with your program plan or camp mission/vision in mind. This will help you determine whether any of your programs make you eligible for government grants. For example, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant assists with the creation of centers that can engage children in learning and enrichment activities when they are not in school. Summer camps run by educational institutions and non-profits, including faith-based camps, can apply for these grants.

Grants for Scholarships

One of the most important parts of starting a summer camp for kids is actually getting campers to come. However, even when grants help pay for some of their operating costs, camps can be expensive, making them out of reach for some parents. A number of organizations offer grants to summer camps to help them give scholarships to children who would otherwise be unable to attend for financial reasons. For example, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Partners in Out of School Time (POST) and The Charlotte Observer have teamed to offer such grants. The Autism Speaks Baker Camp Program offers these grants for scholarships to camps for autistic children throughout the country.

Supplies Grants

From the food served in the cafeteria to the glue used in arts and crafts, the materials needed to run a kids' summer camp are many and they can be expensive. Some organizations offer grants for supplies that can help summer camps offer the best, most enriching experience for the kids in attendance. One of the best places to look for supplies grants is with local organizations and companies that may be willing to donate supplies or cash. For example, the Fund for Greater Hartford provides grants of as much as $3,000 for supplies for educational summer camps.

Organization Grants

If you are starting a kids' summer camp as part of a larger organization, also look within that organization for funding. For example, many church summer camps can request funding from their denominations, while chapters of established nonprofits, such as the YMCA or Boys and Girls Clubs, might first try their national organizations. Further, if you are running a summer camp devoted to a particular hobby or subject, try looking to organizations that also promote that hobby or subject. For example, if you are starting a music camp, ask local music stores for funds. If you are running a writing camp, ask local writers' groups to contribute.

References (7)

• U.S. Department of Education: 21st Century Community Centers
• POST Carolinas: The Summer Camp Fund
• Autism Speaks: Baker Summer Camp Program
• The Fund for Greater Hartford
• How to Start a Summer Camp
• How to Run a Summer Camp
• Grants for Starting a Summer Camp for Kids
  
  

Resources (1)

• American Camp Association: How to Start a Camp: General Guidelines
  
  

About the Author

Miranda Morley is an educator, business consultant and owner of a copywriting/social-media management company. Her work has been featured in the "Boston Literary Magazine," "Subversify Magazine" and "American Builder's Quarterly." Morley has a B.A. in English, political science and international relations. She is completing her M.A. in rhetoric and composition from Purdue University Calumet.

Photo Credits (5)

• Start a Summer Camp
• Start a Summer Camp
• Start a Summer Camp
• Start a Summer Camp
• Start a Summer Camp