How to Organize a Summer Camp

Organizing a summer camp can be an exhausting endeavor, but is one with a very rewarding result. Providing a place for children and/or teens to spend their summer vacation that is fun and educational is a great opportunity with many different possibilities. When organizing a summer camp, there are many things to consider, including sponsorship/income, location and length, activities/theme, staffing and advertising. There may also be legal issues, such as parents signing a waiver, that need to be addressed. You may need to consult with a lawyer to ensure you are covered.

Things You'll Need

  • Sponsorship/income
  • Volunteers or paid staff
  • Camp location

Instructions

    • 1

      Find sponsors and sources of income. Before implementing all the steps necessary to organizing the summer camp, craft a budget and solicit sponsorship from area businesses. Whatever the sponsorships don't cover, estimate the average cost per child (including employee wages, if applicable), and charge the parents this amount for each child. Estimate high or round up to make sure all costs are covered.

    • 2

      Find a location. Many city-owned parks and buildings may let a summer children's camp operate in their building for free. Additionally, area businesses may choose to sponsor the camp by providing empty buildings or meeting spaces for little to no cost. Other areas where camps can be held include farmsteads, community centers, or schools that don't have summer classes.

    • 3

      Figure out activities and an overall theme. Summer camps can either have an over-arching theme (like science or sports), or can have weekly or daily themes that cover something new. Theme ideas include other cultures, technology, photography, nature, weight loss, country living, or learning about different religions.

    • 4

      Hire camp workers. There may be people willing to volunteer their time to help supervise and run the summer camp. This may include teenagers or college students--if the camp is for younger children--or retirees. If staffing needs aren't met by volunteers, make sure that there is enough money in the budget to hire camp workers. Make sure all labor laws and tax procedures are met when hiring.

    • 5

      Spend time advertising. Spend an afternoon or day creating flyers for the summer camp. These can be posted up around schools, daycares, parks and community message boards. Take out ads in the newspaper and create a website or blog to provide more information for parents who want to learn more. Wordpress and Webs.com offer free blogs and websites with built-in themes. Posting a registration form online may also provide an easy way for parents to enroll their children.

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