With summer comes lots of idle time for kids. That’s why summer camps are so great. They offer children an opportunity to do and explore. However, along with these great activities usually comes a pretty hefty price tag. Summer camps can cost upwards of $400 per week! Even the cheaper ones will run a family $100 per week with only a 10% discount for multiple children. For 3 kids to attend, that would $280 per week for 5 half-day sessions. Yikes!
During an economy crisis like we are currently experiencing all over the world, parents may have to get a little creative with their summer plans for the kids. Volunteering is one way that a family can experience a great saving. Cost-conscious parents may be able to use their skills in a way that will allow their kids to go to camp and, possibly even get a few extra dollars in their pockets! Here’s how:
Summer Program Committee or Board Member - All summer programs have to be organized. Use your skills to help with the planning by volunteering or working in an administrative capacity, as a program curriculum developer, or on the Fundraising or Supply committee to help the program to buy for cheap all of the supplies that they will need. Any program can appreciate someone willing to work to save the camp money!
Be a food service volunteer. You could play a large role in helping the camp to save money by using frugal recipes or finding ways to get donations or buy for cheap snacks and other foods. Summer camps have a lot of children to feed, and being able to get discounts at any point can amount to a huge financial saving.
Volunteer, or possibly take a paid position, as an instructor. This could potentially be one of the most lucrative opportunities that you will have. Some camps will pay people to teach the children a variety of skills. You could take a hobby like arts and crafts, or concrete business computer skills and parlay those into possibly a paid position with the camp, while still enjoying having your children to attend for free!
You could be a “camp taxi”. By offering to carry children to and from camp, either as a camp employee or just to help those in your immediate area to get to and from safely, you could either raise enough money for your own children to go to camp or they could potentially go completely for free!
Your kids’ summer doesn’t have to be fun time lost during this economy crisis. Think outside of the box this year and let your skills work for you and your family. Not only will you enjoy the saving and the kids will enjoy the fun, but the program that you work for will appreciate your frugal recipes and resourcefulness when they realize that they have also saved money because of you!
Dear Reader,