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While a two-week stay at overnight camp averages $1,000 or more, a week of day camp averages a little over $200. Typically, the longer the stay, the lower the weekly cost, but coming up with the money can be a challenge.
Here are some ideas
- Start a camping fund early in the year. Open a bank account and try to make regular deposits. When your child is old enough, suggest he or she contribute babysitting, paper-route or part-time-job money.
- Take advantage of early registration discounts.
- Some camps offer subsidies to families in financial need; don't be afraid to ask.
- Camping association websites and some camp websites list information about subsidy programs. You can also find camps that offer financial assitance using the Advanced Search (just click on the "financial aid available" checkbox in "Specialties")
- Community, church and charitable organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, help send children to camp.
Some organizations that help to pay camp fees:
- Tim Horton Children's Foundation operates residential and day camps in Canada.
- The Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund helps send children to a variety of residential and day camps across Ontario.
- AMICI Camping Charity offers subsidies for children attending various camps under the Ontario Camping Association umbrella.
- Reach For The Rainbow offers support to children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities to attend integrated residential and day camp programs.
- A range of other non-profit organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Easter Seal Society, the Ontario March of Dimes and the YMCA provide financial help to families or camps.
- Religious organizations such as the Salvation Army offers support for low-income families to send their kids to camp.
- The City of Toronto waives fees for its day camps and other recreation programs for families in need.
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