What is Camp Management Software?
Camp management software helps day and summer camps manage registration, schedules, attendance, and parent communication with session-based pricing..
What Makes Camp Software Different?
Camp management has unique requirements that year-round childcare software doesn't address:
| Requirement | Camp Software | Childcare Software |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Session-based, seasonal | Year-round enrollment |
| Pricing | Per-session, multi-week discounts | Monthly tuition |
| Scheduling | By week, activity rotations | By day/room |
| Capacity | Changes weekly | Fixed classroom caps |
| Staff | Seasonal hiring | Year-round employees |
Core Camp Management Features
1. Online Registration
Parents register online, selecting:
- Which weeks/sessions to attend
- Before/after care add-ons
- Activity preferences or electives
- T-shirt sizes and other logistics
2. Session-Based Billing
Camp billing is more complex than monthly tuition:
- Per-week or per-session pricing
- Multi-week discounts
- Sibling discounts
- Deposit and payment plan options
- Waitlist management with automatic promotion
3. Activity and Group Scheduling
Campers rotate through activities:
- Create daily/weekly schedules
- Assign campers to groups (cabins, teams)
- Track attendance by activity
- Manage counselor assignments
4. Health and Safety
Camp-specific health requirements:
- Medication administration tracking
- Allergy alerts visible to all staff
- Incident reporting
- Emergency contact access
- Immunization tracking
Camp Software vs. Childcare Software
Many organizations run both year-round childcare and seasonal camps. Using separate systems creates problems:
| Challenge | Separate Systems | Unified Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Family data | Duplicate entry | Single profile |
| Billing | Multiple invoices | Combined billing |
| Staff training | Learn 2 systems | Learn once |
| Reporting | Manual consolidation | Unified analytics |
Bloomily's approach: A single platform supporting both childcare and camps, so families and staff use one system year-round.
Choosing Camp Management Software
- Registration experience: Parents complete registration in under 10 minutes
- Flexible scheduling: Handles your specific session structure
- Waitlist automation: Automatically offers spots when cancellations occur
- Activity tracking: Logs what campers did, not just attendance
- Year-round continuity: Ideally integrates with childcare operations
Related Bloomily Features
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best camp management software for day camps?
For day camps, look for software with strong daily check-in/check-out, activity scheduling, and real-time parent communication. Bloomily, CampMinder, and CampBrain are popular options, with Bloomily offering the advantage of unified childcare and camp support.
How much does camp management software cost?
Camp software pricing varies widely: $100-500/month for basic platforms, or per-camper fees of $1-5 per registration. Some charge percentage-based fees on registration revenue. Compare total cost based on your expected registration volume.
Can camp software handle overnight camps?
Yes, many camp management platforms support overnight camps with cabin assignments, 24-hour scheduling, health center logging, and different permission structures for residential programs.
Does camp software integrate with payment processors?
Most camp software integrates with Stripe, Square, or proprietary payment processing. Look for platforms that support payment plans, deposits, and ACH payments to reduce transaction fees.
Can I use camp software for year-round after-school programs?
Some camp software adapts to year-round programs, but you may find childcare management software more suitable for ongoing enrollment. Platforms like Bloomily support both models in a single system.
Related Terms
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