Sending your child to summer camp doesn't have to break the bank. Finding a scholarship to help pay for enrollment fees can help ease the financial sting. Here are four ideas for finding financial assistance for summer camp this season:
- Shop for scholarships while shopping for camp. As you research camp options on MySummerCamps and KidsCamps, take note of listings that mention scholarship opportunities and check their web sites for further details. Or contact all the camps on your short list and see if they're aware of scholarships in their area.
- Offer to swap volunteer time for a discount or partial payment. Contact the camp director to ask, especially if you're a teacher, coach, or artist or have a special skill the camp may find useful.
- Check for local sources of scholarship funding. Many local offices & foundations have scholarship funds that provide camp tuition and fees. County human services offices and local Parks & Recs departments are great places to call to start your search. Or search your local paper and parent publications for news articles written about camp scholarships available in your area.
- Find a national scholarship fund or foundation that supports summer camp. Many non-profits offer financial assistance for campers in a specific subject or region. Search the Internet for scholarships to the type of camp you're interested in and see what comes up. Here are a few links to get you started:
If you know of other scholarship programs that offer financial assistance for summer camp, please leave a comment below!
You trust your child's pediatrician to give you advice on what's best for your their health and well-being. Why not take their advice on how to choose a summer camp? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a policy statement outlining tips for creating healthy camp experiences for children.
If you're still looking for a summer camp for your child, you can avoid disappointment and frustration down the line by researching a camp's refund and cancellation policies before enrolling. That way, if your family schedule changes, you know what your options are for rescheduling summer camp plans.
