How to Save on Summer Camp

            Right now, with all the snow and winter woes, it’s hard to imagine that summer will ever come. Yet, it will, and sooner than you think. If you haven’t started already, it’s time to think about summer camp, especially if you want to keep your budget in mind.

            Here’s where to begin.

             Sock away money now

           Begin to save your money if you don’t have a stash yet. The average weekly fee for resident, sleep-away camp is $325-780, the average day camp is $100-275 a week, though you can find some as low as $75, according to the American Camp Association.

            You have four months, so do the math. How much will you need and decide on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly amount that you can squirrel away until camp starts.

            If you don’t have a camp in mind, you can go to www.CampParents.org and search the database. You can search by price, location, special needs, activities, length of session, age, and you can search multiple categories at one time. You can also ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations.

            Ask about financial assistance

            Once you’ve found a few possibilities, find out whether the camp offers financial assistance and scholarships.  Some camps offer a portion, or all of the enrollment fees. They may not advertise this fact, so it’s on you to speak up. To take advantage of these opportunities, it’s best to get in line early. You up the odds of getting what you need if you don’t wait until a few weeks before camp starts. In the past, members of the American Camp Association gave away $39 million. Ninety percent of camps offer some form of financial aid.

            Just as there may be financial assistance, look out for discounts, such as for early registration, full-season enrollment, or multiple enrollments.

            Don’t be afraid to negotiate, especially in this economy.

            Get all the details

            Avoid nasty surprises. Make sure you know what’s included in enrollment. Some camp fees include transportation, others may not.

           You’ll also want to be clear about fees for special programs, trips, special equipment that is required, laundry service and the camp canteen, for example.

            See if you qualify for tax credits

           Uncle Sam can help. The cost of day camp can count as an expense towards the child and dependent care credit. Expenses for overnight camps, do not qualify, however. For more information visit www.irs.gov.

           Check with your employer too, about whether they offer a flexible spending account for dependent care. If so, you can typically set aside up to $5,000 to cover costs such as child care (including day camp, but not sleep-away camp). Go to www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp for more information.

             Be strategic about costs

             Look for ways to shave expenses. For example if the camp has a meal program, see if you can have your child bring their own food instead.

            Then too you can choose to skip camp altogether. Find out what kind of programs are being sponsored in your community, through churches, synagogues, that are free or very low cost.

            Also you can pick shorter sessions. Maybe you decide to have your child attend 2-4 weeks, instead of 6-8, or even just two weeks.

            It’s okay if every second of summer isn’t taken up with organized activity. “There is tremendous value for children in what I call ‘hammock time’. This means doing nothing. Daydreaming, hanging out, getting lost in thoughts, doodling. Call it what you will, it means shifting gears to neutral. Our culture puts too much emphasis on ‘doing’ and children soon pick that up. Children are profoundly nourished by introspective time. Too much focus on busy activities and games leaves very little time to dream, wonder, reflect and discover,” says Susan Kuczmarski, author of The Sacred Flight of a Teenager: A Parent’s Guide to Stepping Back and Letting Go.

            Fill up the gap with family time too. The beaches, parks, await you and they are free.