How to Add a Summer Camp Program to Your Daycare (Complete Guide)

Summer is coming. And for most daycares and preschools, that means one thing: enrollment drops.

School-age kids go to camp. Preschool families take vacations. Your census dips, but your fixed costs don't.

But what if summer was your most profitable season instead of a cash flow crunch?

That's exactly what happens when daycares add summer camp programs. You already have the building, the staff (who need summer hours), and families who trust you with their kids.

This guide walks you through everything—from planning to pricing to promotion.

Why Daycares Should Run Summer Camps

Let's start with the business case:

1. You Already Have the Infrastructure

• Building: Licensed, inspected, childproofed, ready
• Staff: Teachers who need summer work
• Families: Parents who already trust you
• Systems: Check-in, billing, communication already set up

Most of the hard work is done. Summer camp is an expansion, not a startup.

2. Families Want Continuity

Parents with kids in your preschool have a problem: what to do when school ends?

If you don't offer summer care, they have to find a separate camp, deal with different logistics, adjust to new routines. Or... you could solve that problem for them.

3. The Math Works

Typical Summer Camp Pricing:

• Full-day camp: $250-400/week per child
• 10-week summer: $2,500-4,000 per child
• 20 campers: $50,000-80,000 in summer revenue

The profit margin on summer camp can be 40-60% because you're not starting from zero.

4. Retention and Recruitment

Families who attend summer camp:

• Stay connected to your center through summer
• Are more likely to return in fall
• Tell other families about you
• May have older siblings who become campers

Summer camp isn't just revenue—it's a retention and marketing strategy.

Step 1: Decide What Kind of Camp You'll Run

Not all summer camps are the same. Choose a model that fits your center:

Option A: Extended Daycare

Basically what you do now, but with summer themes and activities. Best for centers with mostly younger children (2-5 years) whose families need consistent care.

Option B: Themed Activity Camp

Weekly themes with special activities—art week, science week, nature week. Best for mixed-age programs or centers wanting to attract school-age kids.

Option C: Specialty Camp

Focused programs—STEM camp, sports camp, performing arts, language immersion. Best for centers with staff expertise or willingness to hire specialists.

Option D: Hybrid Model

Combination of regular care for younger kids + themed camp for older kids. Best for centers serving ages 2-10 with mixed family needs.

Recommendation: Most daycares should start with Themed Activity Camp or Hybrid. It's more exciting than extended daycare but doesn't require hiring specialists.

Step 2: Handle Licensing and Regulations

Summer camp licensing varies by state. Here's what to check:

Questions to Ask Your Licensor:

1. "Do I need separate licensing for summer camp?"
2. "Can I serve school-age children (6+) under my current license?"
3. "Are there different ratio requirements for camp vs. childcare?"
4. "Do I need additional background checks for camp staff?"

Action Item: Call your state licensing office now. Ask specifically about running summer camp under your existing license. Get it in writing.

Step 3: Plan Your Programming

Great summer camps have structure but feel different from school.

Weekly Themes That Work

• Week 1: Welcome to Summer (get-to-know-you, team building)
• Week 2: Under the Sea (ocean crafts, water play)
• Week 3: Outer Space (rocket building, constellation art)
• Week 4: Safari Adventure (animal crafts, nature scavenger hunt)
• Week 5: Mad Science (simple experiments, slime making)
• Week 6: Around the World (different country each day)
• Week 7: Sports Week (mini Olympics, team games)
• Week 8: Art Explosion (different medium each day)
• Week 9: Nature Explorers (bug catching, gardening)
• Week 10: Camp Celebration (talent show, end-of-summer party)

What Makes Camp Feel Different

• Less structure: More free play than school year
• More outdoors: As much time outside as possible
• Special events: Weekly field trips, guest visitors, movie days
• Camp traditions: Songs, cheers, special snacks
• Mixed ages: Older kids mentoring younger (supervised)

Step 4: Set Your Pricing

Pricing depends on your market, but here are benchmarks:

National Averages (2026):

How to Price Your Camp:

1. Research competitors: What do other camps in your area charge?
2. Calculate your costs: Staff wages, supplies, food, field trips
3. Set your margin: Target 40-60% gross margin
4. Offer discounts strategically: Early bird, multi-week, sibling discounts

Sample Pricing Structure:

Weekly Rates:

• Full day (7am-6pm): $325/week
• Half day AM (7am-12pm): $175/week
• Half day PM (12pm-6pm): $175/week

Discounts:

• Early bird (before April 1): 10% off
• Full summer (10 weeks): 15% off
• Siblings: 10% off each additional child
• Current families: 5% off

Step 5: Market Your Camp

You have a built-in audience: your current families. Start there.

Internal Marketing (Current Families):

Timeline:

• January: Announce camp is coming
• February: Share themes and pricing
• March: Open registration (early bird period)
• April: Regular registration
• May: Final push, fill remaining spots

Message: "Your child already loves it here. Why go somewhere else for summer?"

External Marketing (New Families):

• Post on Facebook/Instagram
• List on local camp directories
• Partner with elementary schools (flyers in backpacks)
• Ask current families for referrals

Referral Program: "Refer a family, get $50 off your camp fees"

Step 6: Set Up Operations

Registration System:

You need a way to:

• Accept online registrations
• Collect deposits
• Manage waitlists
• Track who's enrolled each week

Options:

• Your childcare software (if it has camp features)
• Separate camp software (CampMinder, Sawyer)
• Unified platform like Bloomily (does both)

Required Forms:

• Camp registration form
• Emergency contact info
• Medical/allergy information
• Photo/video release
• Field trip permission
• Sunscreen/bug spray authorization
• Pickup authorization
• Payment agreement

Staffing:

• Use your regular teachers (they need summer work)
• Hire college students as counselors
• Mix of both

Step 7: Prepare for Week One

Two Weeks Before Camp:

• Finalize staff schedules
• Order supplies for first two themes
• Confirm field trips are booked
• Send parent welcome email

One Week Before:

• Staff training day
• Test all activities
• Prepare first-day welcome packets
• Final parent communication

Day One:

• Staff arrives early
• Warm welcome for families
• Name tags for everyone
• Take lots of photos
• Send "first day" report to parents

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Pricing Too Low

"We'll charge less than the competition to fill spots." You'll fill spots but lose money. Parents expect to pay for quality.

2. Over-Scheduling

Camp should feel different from school. Build in downtime.

3. Ignoring Licensing

Check state requirements. Some require separate camp licensing.

4. Underestimating Prep Time

Plan themes and activities in advance. Winging it leads to chaos.

5. Forgetting Marketing

Some families will just sign up. But you need to actively promote to fill spots.

Making It Easier: Software That Does Both

The biggest operational headache? Managing camp registration separately from your regular childcare system.

If you use Brightwheel or Procare for school-year, you probably need something else for camp. That means two systems to learn, two parent portals, two sets of invoices.

The alternative: Software built for centers that do both.

Bloomily handles year-round childcare management AND summer camp registration—one family database, one parent app, one billing system.

Your Summer Camp Checklist

The Bottom Line

Adding summer camp to your daycare isn't just about making more money (though it does that).

It's about:

• Serving families who already trust you
• Keeping great staff employed year-round
• Filling your building when it would otherwise be empty
• Becoming a true year-round childcare solution

You already have most of what you need. The building. The staff. The families. The systems.

All that's left is the decision to do it.

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