Cut Summer Camp Costs: How to Stay on Budget

By the time the school year is winding down, many parents have already spent months trying to figure out where their children will be during the summer. “You really have to start thinking about it in January or February,” says Erin Bury, mother of a toddler and a kindergartner in Wellington, Ont. “It’s like—you just spent money on the holidays, you might be paying down that credit card, and then you have to plan for summer camp.”

For working families, summer can feel less like a break and more like a two-month childcare puzzle. Camps, family visits, vacations and creative patchwork solutions all compete for time and budget. If you missed early registration this year, there are still options, but experts stress the importance of planning early, setting a clear budget and managing expectations to avoid last-minute stress.

Camp planning starts months ahead

Parents who want coveted camp spots often treat registration like a secondary job. Bury says some friends maintain spreadsheets to track opening dates, session lengths and costs for each camp. That level of organization helps them snag openings the moment registrations open.

Bury, who is co-founder and CEO of the estate planning firm Willful, recounts how her eldest daughter was placed on a waitlist for a popular camp and only secured a spot when other families changed plans or the camp increased capacity by hiring additional staff. Camp fees vary widely: some community programs can be quite affordable, while specialty camps with extended hours, meals and activities command higher prices.

To get a sense of what works, Bury tried two different types of programs this year: an economical $105-a-week camp and a premium farm-based camp offering farm-to-table meals and outdoor programming for about $700 a week. “I booked the low-end option and the high-end option because this is our first summer trying multiple camps,” she says. “The pricier camps often include food and run longer each day, which is a big help for working parents.”

Are expensive camps worth it?

Many lower-cost camps mirror the school day and end around mid-afternoon, which can be difficult for parents who work full days. Families with flexible schedules may manage pickups and drop-offs more easily, but additional costs should be considered: meal arrangements, travel time to remote sites, extra supplies, and commuting fuel can add up quickly.

Millie Gormely, a certified financial planner at IG Wealth Management in Thunder Bay, Ont., cautions that high-priced specialty camps and the gear they require don’t always deliver proportional value. “Adults can overestimate what will make summer ‘special,’” she says. “Kids are often thrilled by simple activities—a municipal pool visit, playground time and a boxed lunch can be just as satisfying as a pricey program.”

Summer fun without overspending

Camps are only one option. Many families rely on a mix of strategies to cover the summer months without breaking the bank:

• Childcare swaps with friends or relatives—alternate weeks hosting each other’s children to reduce costs and provide variety for the kids.
• Grandparents or other family members stepping in for short stints or sleepovers to give parents flexibility and kids a chance to bond with relatives.
• Hiring a responsible neighbourhood teen for part-time childcare, tutoring or activity supervision—often a more affordable option than formal programs.
• Allowing older children some unstructured time at home. While not a full-season solution, short stretches of downtime can be healthy and less expensive than constant programming.
• Combining a few structured weeks of camp with periods of free play, family activities or inexpensive local outings to balance cost, enrichment and rest.

Gormely suggests treating summer childcare as a regular budget item and integrating it into annual financial planning rather than leaving it as a stress-inducing, last-minute decision. “The issue isn’t summer spending itself,” she says. “It’s not having a plan. Set expectations, plan ahead, and it becomes manageable—then you can actually relax and enjoy the season.”

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