Summer camps can be expensive. Families may find themselves spending thousands to keep kids engaged during the months school is out.
But some households find relief by creating their own summer camp cooperatives.
In a co-op, a circle of parents jointly provide childcare throughout the summer. As Care.com explains, parents typically rotate supervising one another’s children, organizing activities similar to what youngsters would experience at a conventional summer camp.
This casual setup keeps the season entertaining without the hefty summer-camp price tag.
Families can tailor their co-op to whatever fits them best. Some groups need just a week or two, while others want coverage for the entire summer. Some co-ops limit membership to close friends and relatives, while others welcome arrangements with neighbors or coworkers they know less well.
There’s no universal blueprint for starting a summer camp co-op. Below is an example of how one set of families made it function for them.
Taking Summer Camp Into Their Own Hands
Several years ago, a cluster of friends and neighbors in Rockland County, New York, decided to put together their own summer-camp co-op.
“We looked at the summer — 12 or 13 weeks off — and realized the cost of camp for that duration was out of reach for most of us,” said Vicki Larson, one of the parents who helped launch the camp.
Her daughter was 5 during the co-op’s first summer, and the program ran for three consecutive summers.
Larson said the original plan was to recruit about a dozen families and rotate hosting duties weekly. Host parents would take time off work to run the camp. That model didn’t suit everyone, so they eventually hired their own camp counselors: parents, college students and teachers who were free during the summer.
Larson explained that families rotated hosting the camp at their homes, and the children also visited neighborhood parks and other local spots. Much like a typical camp, kids spent time on arts and crafts, outdoor play and nature exploration.
“One week they would hit the pool every day,” said Adam Gorlovitzki, another parent. “Another week they would go hiking in the mountains.”
Each family contributed roughly $225 per week to cover counselor pay, food and supplies — about half of what standard summer camps charged in the region.
4 Tips for Setting Up a Summer Camp Co-Op
With some coordination, you can build a similar summer camp co-op tailored to your family’s needs. Here are four key pointers.
1. Decide Who Will Join Your Summer Camp Co-Op
The Rockland County co-op mostly consisted of kids who attended the same school, though some were neighborhood friends. Participants ranged from preschool age up through early elementary grades.
Gorlovitzki noted it worked well because kids already knew one another, and parents appreciated being able to choose instructors and influence the camp’s offerings.
When forming your own co-op, think about your child’s classmates and buddies. Keeping participants within a narrow age range simplifies planning suitable activities. Selecting families who live nearby makes drop-offs and pick-ups far more convenient.
2. Choose a Location (or Multiple Locations)
Larson recommended carefully considering where the camp will take place. Spaces should be kid-friendly, hosts should feel comfortable welcoming others into their homes, and there should be enough room for the children, she said.
“Kids need a variety of activities during the day, so you want to make sure the space lends itself to that,” she said.
“It makes sense not to commit to a single location if it’s someone’s home because you’re effectively taking over their space,” added Leslie Laboriel, another organizer. “Being able to shift locations gives host parents a chance to reclaim their homes periodically.”
3. Decide on Activities and Organization
An advantage of a summer camp co-op is parents have input into how their children spend the day. Beyond reaching agreement with other families, the possibilities for activities are wide open.
Larson advised identifying who among the parents will handle administrative duties, put together schedules and calculate costs.
During planning meetings, organizers should determine the camp’s structure, the kinds of activities they want, who will manage communication with parents and how to handle money matters without overcomplicating things, Laboriel suggested.
4. Have Parents Sign a Waiver
Larson emphasized the importance of getting every parent in the group to sign release forms that limit liability for the host family and counselors if incidents occur.
“Definitely have parents sign a waiver,” she said. “It’s not foolproof, but it offers some peace of mind that you’re less likely to face a lawsuit if something goes wrong.”
Also ensure adults hosting the co-op or serving as counselors are aware of any allergies or medical needs the children have. Parents should agree on following COVID-19 safety recommendations as well. Summer camp should be fun, but keeping everyone safe and healthy is essential.
Nicole Dow is a senior writer at Savinly.
