“So, what are your kids up to this summer?”
As I catch up with a friend over coffee, enjoying the gentle warmth of spring, I can’t help but feel the impending pressure of summer vacation looming just around the corner. Soon, those peaceful moments will be replaced by the chaos that comes with kids at home for 55 long days—days filled with boredom and relentless snacking.
Summer brings its own unique challenges: the sunscreen battles, excessive YouTube marathons, and the incessant sound of the back door slamming. And for many parents, summer means it’s time to consider summer camp for the kids.
But here’s the catch: affording those camps can be a daunting task. Honestly, I could probably buy a minivan with what it costs to send my two children to various local camp programs. The average annual tuition for a public community college is around $3,400. So why do summer camps often exceed that?
Reflecting on my own childhood, summer camp was a simple affair. My mother would pull up in her old green car, and I, along with a group of friends in matching T-shirts, would hop out and head inside, greeted by enthusiastic teenage counselors. We played games, crafted with plastic lanyards, and enjoyed watered-down Kool-Aid and generic cookies. That was camp—affordable, straightforward, and fun.
Fast forward to today, and summer camps have become a massive industry, raking in a staggering $18 billion annually. There are over 14,000 options across the U.S., ranging from traditional camps to specialized ones like French language immersion and even Explosives Camp (yes, really). Frankly, I can think of far cheaper ways to keep my kids entertained—like having them blow things up in our backyard for a fraction of that cost.
For working parents, summer often feels like a juggling act. We rely on camps to provide a safe and engaging environment for our kids while we manage our work responsibilities. We pay these high prices, not just for enrichment, but to keep our sanity intact. But honestly, can summer camps please lower their prices? It’s not realistic for many families to spend a year’s salary just for a few weeks of activities.
Given the steep costs, I’ve had to get creative with summer planning. My kids will attend a week of scouting camp each, but we’ve largely ditched structured camps in favor of family activities that are more enjoyable and budget-friendly—like a tropical vacation, which, surprisingly, can be cheaper than some local camps.
While my son dreams of Game of Thrones camp and my daughter would love Farm Camp, I believe they’ll have just as much fun at “Here’s a Popsicle, Now Go Ride Your Bike” Camp or “Get Outside and Find Something to Do Before Mommy Loses It” Camp. I have fond memories of my own no-frills camp experience, and while I once wished for a surprise Space Camp adventure, I now recognize that simpler options can be equally fulfilling.
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In summary, summer camps have transformed from affordable, simple experiences to costly ventures that can rival a year’s worth of community college tuition. Parents are left to navigate these high prices while trying to create enjoyable summer memories for their children.