Tips for Planning Your Childcare Center’s Summer Camp Program
Summer is just around the corner, and for childcare centers, that means it's time to start planning your summer camp program! Running a successful summer camp can not only boost your revenue but also provide a fun, enriching experience for the children in your care. With a little planning and the right tools, like CareDay Solutions, you can streamline the process and maximize your camp’s potential. Here are some tips to help you get started.
1) Start Early and Get Ahead of the Competition
When it comes to summer camp planning, timing is everything. Many parents begin looking for summer camp options as early as January, so it’s important to get your messaging out as soon as possible. Use CareDay’s Event Portal to create a polished registration system where parents can find all the necessary information about your summer camp, secure their child’s spot, and even pay a registration fee—all in one place. Starting early ensures your center remains top of mind for families exploring their options.
CareDay’s Event Portal allows you to create events that your current and potential families can register to attend! This can range from utilizing your facility to host a Kid’s Night In event or a Fall Fest at a local park. Set the price (or keep it free) and easily organize registrations and head counts!
2) Forecast Enrollment to Optimize Your Center
Summer camp is also an opportunity to shuffle enrollment and maximize your center’s capacity. For instance, children in your Pre-K program who are heading to kindergarten in the fall can transition into the summer camp. This opens up spots in your younger classrooms—like infant and toddler spaces, which are often the most in-demand. CareDay’s automated enrollment and forecasting tools allow you to plan these transitions seamlessly. By looking ahead at which children can join summer camp, you’ll also see how many new enrollments you can accept. Reach out to those families early, collect deposits, and ensure your summer occupancy is fully booked.
CareDay is the ONLY childcare management software that lets you project your future enrollment and clearly visualize where your open spots will be, helping you plan ahead with confidence!
3) Communicate Effectively with Families
Keeping parents informed is key to a smooth summer camp experience. Use CareDay’s built-in communication tools to send emails, texts, or in-app messages to families who have signed up for camp. Share details about the camp schedule, any special events, and a checklist of items their children will need. Effective communication not only keeps parents prepared but also builds excitement for the fun activities you have planned!
With the CareDay app, parents can go beyond updates and stay truly connected to their child's summer camp experience. Throughout the day, you can upload photos, videos, and updates about the activities their child is participating in, giving parents a window into the fun their camper is having. Whether it’s a snapshot from a field trip, a craft project, or outdoor playtime, these updates help build trust and create lasting memories for families. Parents love the peace of mind that comes with knowing their child is safe, happy, and engaged—and your camp will stand out as a program that prioritizes family communication and involvement.
Streamline communication across your entire organization with the CareDay platform! Easily customize messages by center, classroom, family type, and more. Say goodbye to copying, pasting, and re-sending the same message to countless families—CareDay makes it simple and efficient!
4) Fill Open Spots with Single-Day Add-Ons
Summer often means vacations and unpredictable schedules, which can leave open spots at your center. Don’t let these opportunities go to waste! CareDay’s Single Day Add-On Solution allows families to book individual days, filling those gaps. This is a great way to provide extra care for part-time families or give summer campers the option to add additional days when needed. By offering this flexibility, you can keep your center running at maximum capacity throughout the summer months.
Booking single days is as easy as a click of a button on the CareDay app! It’s peace of mind for busy parents and extra revenue for your childcare center—everyone wins!
5) Plan Ahead for Field Trip Fun
Field trips are often the highlight of any summer camp, and planning them early is critical to ensuring your program runs smoothly. Begin by reaching out to local attractions like movie theaters, bowling alleys, swimming pools, parks, and indoor play gyms to check their availability and group pricing. Understanding the costs and schedules of these destinations will help you build an accurate and appealing camp itinerary for parents. It also allows you to budget appropriately and include any necessary fees in your registration pricing.
CareDay can make field trip planning even easier with its custom form capabilities. You can create and send digital field trip permission forms, enrollment agreements, and handbook acknowledgment forms directly to parents. No more chasing down paperwork—everything is stored in one convenient location. By the time summer rolls around, you’ll have all the necessary compliance and permission documentation squared away, letting you focus on delivering a fun and engaging summer camp experience. Thoughtfully planned field trips not only keep the kids excited but also make your program stand out as a top-tier choice for families in your community.
Creating custom forms on the CareDay platform is simple and hassle-free! Say goodbye to the back-and-forth of paper forms—now you can gather the information you need straight from the source. Parents can easily complete and submit forms directly through the app, streamlining the process for everyone involved.
Make Summer Memorable for Families
Running a summer camp is more than just boosting your occupancy—it’s about creating a memorable experience for the children and families you serve. With CareDay’s tools, you can take the stress out of planning and managing your program, so you can focus on what really matters: delivering an engaging, fun-filled summer camp that families will rave about for years to come.
Start planning your summer camp today and make this summer your center’s best one yet! 🌞
