How to Afford Summer Camp

Here at Green River Preserve, we believe that ALL children benefit from time spent in the wilderness, not just those whose families can afford the expense. However, the cost of overnight summer camps makes the experience prohibitive to many families. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of ideas on how to make summer camp more affordable. Let’s get creative!

Scholarships

Apply for camp early and be sure to check “yes” next to “seeking scholarship” as funds are, invariably, finite. We make our initial decisions in late January and then on a rolling basis, as available, after that. We are constantly seeking grants and charitable donations to support our scholarship fund.

Sibling discounts (dual enrollment discounts)

Let us save you some money while hosting all of your children simultaneously! We offer a 10% discount to each additional sibling that enrolls for any program in the same season - they do not need to be the same program. We extend this same discount to campers who enroll in multiple programs - think traditional base camp paired with base camp expeditions.

Financial gifts from relatives

Consider asking your children’s grandparents or other family members for a financial gift towards their camp tuition. Most grandparents want to contribute to their grandchildren’s lives, and helping pay for summer camp is much more enriching than buying the latest video game or toy!

Your local civic organizations and clubs (Rotary, AAUW, etc.), church or synagogue

These organizations may have summer camp funds and are looking to connect those dollars with a young member of the community. In many cases, they just need someone to ASK them.

Barter

Do you have a skill or tangible item that we could use at GRP? Master gardener, advertiser, medical staff, car dealer, carpenter, massage therapist, staff trainer or recruiter, and so on and so forth - the sky’s the limit! Reach out to us to discuss further.

Structured Payment Plans

Spread out your payments so costs aren’t incurred all at once. Just as long as we receive your payment before the start of your child’s program, we can make most scenarios work. Reach out to to make arrangements for payment plans.

Invite your child to participate

Kids are resourceful. Have them contribute when and where possible. Perhaps they can rake the neighbors’ leaves, or offer a dog-walking service. Facilitating campers’ ideas to contribute towards their camp experience (or any other opportunity that they really want to participate in) can be incredibly rewarding.