Here’s What You Need to Know About Finding Last-Minute Summer Camp Options

When you’re a parent of young children, summertime means lots of sunshine, swimming pools, popsicles, and happy memories. If you’re a working parent, summer may also mean your child’s school is closed and you are left scrambling to cobble together care and entertainment for your kids. 

On Winnie, we see searches for childcare spike in the summer months when kids are out of school, but with a few tips and tricks, you can still snag spaces in plenty of summer camps. If your kids have skipped camp the last few summers or you are new to the summer-care game, here’s what you need to keep in mind to make your search a whole lot easier. 

Start asking around

Now is the time to start asking other parents in your circle or at your child’s school where they’re enrolling their kids. If you are already familiar with programs that offer camps or summer care in your area, it doesn’t hurt to check their websites and call or email them to ask whether they have spaces left for summer programs.

Even if the camp you had your eye on is full, ask if you can be put on their waitlist. Often parents’ plans change or last-minute trips get scheduled and you may wind up getting your child enrolled after all. 

You can also check out local parenting groups, your local library and sites like Winnie, to help you discover summer care options you may not have even realized existed in your area. 

Cast your net wide 

If you are reading this and panicking that you missed the boat for the popular summer camps in your area, all hope is not lost. The need for summer care is great and many providers who offer children’s activities or after-school programs during the school year have stepped up to the plate to fill the need. You may be surprised at the number of local kid's businesses who offer camps during the summer, even if it is only for a few weeks:

• Gymnastics centers often offer camp programs for preschool age and up.
• Your local martial arts studio (karate, tae-kwon-do) may offer a week or two of summer camp during the summer.
• In-home childcare providers often have a few spaces for school-aged kids that they can fill during the summer.
• Daycare centers and preschools may run summer programs, with spaces for children who aren’t enrolled during the school year. 
• Your local YMCA, JCC, community-based organization or after-school program likely offers options for summer camp or childcare during the summer. 
• Churches, temples, and other religious organizations often offer options for summer programming for kids, even if you don’t belong to the congregation. 

Estimated Summer Camp Costs by Program Type

These are general estimates based on summer camp pricing across the United States. Actual costs may vary depending on location, schedule, and program offerings.

You don’t have to stick to one option (unless you want to)

Most parents think they have to find one camp that checks all the boxes and enroll their kids for the whole summer. This isn’t necessarily the case. If you’re late to the game with registration or can’t find a camp that runs the entire summer long, it’s perfectly acceptable (and fun) to mix and match.

Depending on your child’s interests and the programs available in your area, you can spend a few weeks at one camp learning how to swim, one week at gymnastics camp, and the last few weeks attending camp at the local Rec Center. Some parents worry that the lack of consistency might be hard for kids, but most kids adjust really quickly to the fun-filled schedule of a summer camp. You know your child best, and if they would like to spend the summer bouncing around to a few different programs and learning new skills, go for it!