Paying for your kids’ camps

There are such a wide variety of camps available for kids of different age groups these days and while many overnight and day camps are expensive, many camps go out of their way to make fees affordable or even cheap for parents with several children or who may be cash-strapped.

Affordable camps come in many different types, including sports, music, dance, art, technology, languages and special needs. Day camps are an affordable option as compared to weekend camps or week-long camps, and campers can enjoy similar activities to those they would experience by going away – plus the costs are much more within your means. Fewer hours or less days can also help slash costs without taking away from the camp experience.

A large number of summer camps offer discounts for early registration, full-season enrollment or multiple enrollments. Group or family enrollments are particularly beneficial and the large discounts can give you an affordable summer camping experience.

There are also tax breaks for children’s fitness offered by some provinces including Ontario. The amount of the credit is based on adjusted gross income and applies to federal taxes only.

Transport, meals and accommodation may also be subsidized at many of the reputed summer camps in Canada. Several nonprofit organizations run inexpensive and affordable summer camps each year, allowing kids to have a great camping experience for less money.

Here are some additional ideas for helping families pay for camp:

• Start a camping fund early in the year. Open a bank account and try to make regular deposits. When your child is old enough, suggest he or she contribute babysitting, paper-route or part-time-job money.
• Take advantage of early registration discounts.
• Some camps offer subsidies to families in financial need; don’t be afraid to ask.
• Camping association websites and some camp websites list information about subsidy programs. You can also find camps that offer financial assistance using the Advanced Search (just click on the “financial aid available” checkbox in “Specialties”)
• Community, church and charitable organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, help send children to camp.

Some organizations mentioned above that help to pay camp fees:

• Tim Horton Children’s Foundation operates residential and day camps in Canada.
• The Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund helps send children to a variety of residential and day camps across Ontario.
• AMICI Camping Charity offers subsidies for children attending various camps under the Ontario Camping Association umbrella.
• Reach For The Rainbow offers support to children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities to attend integrated residential and day camp programs.
• A range of other non-profit organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Easter Seal Society, the Ontario March of Dimes and the YMCA provide financial help to families or camps.
• Religious organizations such as the Salvation Army offers support for low-income families to send their kids to camp.
• The City of Toronto waives fees for its day camps and other recreation programs for families in need.
• Kids in Camp helps pay for children to attend accredited camps of the Ontario Camps Association.

Paying for your kids’ camps was originally posted by ourkids.net. Our Kids is Canada’s trusted source for information on private schools and summer camps.