How to Start a Summer Camp: A Complete Guide to Boosting Childcare Revenue

Summer doesn’t have to be your slowest season. With the right strategy, it can become your most profitable. At illumine, we understand the challenges childcare providers face during summer break—lower enrollment, consistent operating costs, and staffing demands. But we also know that with the right planning, your summer program can become a revenue-generating powerhouse.

In this complete guide, you'll learn how to start a summer camp, run it effectively, manage your operations like a pro, and boost revenue while delivering outstanding summer childcare experiences.

Why Summer Break Hurts Revenue—And How to Turn It Around

Summer can feel like an off-season for many childcare providers. Parents go on vacation, school-year contracts end, and attendance dips. But while many centers experience a financial lull, others turn this season into a profitable venture.

Common Summer Challenges:

• Lower student retention: Parents often reduce or pause attendance.
  
• Harder to fill spots: Without set academic schedules, parents are less consistent.
  
• Fixed costs stay the same: Rent, utilities, and staffing don’t go on vacation.
  
  

The Opportunity:

What if you could turn this slow season into one of your busiest and most lucrative times of year? Well-run summer camps can yield profit margins of 25-40%.

How to Start a Summer Camp: Foundation for Success

Starting a summer camp doesn’t just mean extending your regular childcare services. It’s about creating an experience families value, talk about, and return to.

1. Design a Unique, Revenue-Focused Program

Parents aren’t just looking for supervision—they want value. Make your summer program stand out by offering:

• STEM-Based Activities: Science experiments, robotics, nature exploration.

• Arts and Crafts Workshops: Creative expression with a purpose.

•   ‍Music, Dance & Movement Classes: Physical, fun, and educational.

• Cultural Exploration Weeks: Introduce different cultures through food, music, and crafts.

• Parent-Child Events: Bring families together and strengthen engagement.

 
Each of these offerings can be priced at a premium, increasing your program’s revenue potential.

2. Build Flexible and Scalable Summer Childcare Options

One-size-fits-all doesn’t work for summer. Offer different enrollment formats:

• Drop-in care for spontaneous schedules.
  
  
• Weekly sessions to cater to family travel plans.
  
  
• Full summer bundles with discounts.
  
  
• Specialty week add-ons for enrichment programs.

Use pricing tiers to upsell premium options like extended care hours, catered lunches, or bonus activity kits.

3. Set Clear Operational Goals

Running a summer camp isn’t just about fun—it’s a business.

• Determine your break-even point early.
  
  
• Track cost per child vs. revenue per session.
  
  
• Forecast staffing and material needs based on projected enrollment.
  
  

How to Run a Summer Camp: Marketing, Staffing & Execution

Market Early, Market Often

Many centers wait until summer is near to begin promotions. The earlier you begin, the better your chances of filling all your spots.

Tactics to boost visibility:

• Launch digital campaigns in late winter or early spring.
  
  
• Share program highlights on social media.
  
  
• Send sneak-peek emails to current and past families.
  
  
• Distribute flyers in schools and local businesses.
  
  

Messaging to focus on:

• Unique benefits (e.g., STEM, arts, cultural immersion).
  
  
• Flexible packages.
  
  
• Testimonials from last year’s families.
  
  

Hire the Right Team

Your staff can make or break your summer program.

• Hire early to get the best candidates.
  
  
• Train for both safety and engagement.
  
  
• Consider hiring seasonal specialists for art, music, or sports.
  
  

Keep the Energy High

Camp should feel exciting and different from the school year.

• Rotate weekly themes.
  
  
• Plan special event days.
  
  
• Offer take-home projects or souvenirs.
  
  

Summer Camp Management: Using Tech to Maximize Revenue

Technology can reduce workload, improve communication, and create a better parent experience—leading to higher retention and word-of-mouth referrals.

Meet Bookingo: Your All-in-One Summer Program Tool

Bookingo by illumine helps you run your camp smoothly and efficiently:

• Real-Time Booking: Let parents instantly reserve spots.
  
  
• Integrated Calendar: Schedule and manage activities in one place.
  
  
• Automated Billing: Share invoices, manage payments, and send reminders.
  
  
• Waitlist & Early Interest Forms: Plan ahead by tracking demand.
  
  
• Custom Packages & Upsells: Let families build their ideal experience.
  
  
• Parent Communication Tools: Keep parents informed with updates and reminders.
  

This allows you to scale without stress while increasing both revenue and satisfaction.

How to Start a Summer Program That Converts into Year-Round Clients

Your summer program should be more than seasonal income. It should be a lead-generation funnel for your full-year offerings.

Ways to Convert Summer Families:

• Offer fall enrollment discounts for summer campers.
  
  
• Host info nights or open houses for year-round programs.
  
  
• Send personalized follow-ups at the end of summer.
  
  
• Showcase the continuity of your curriculum.
  
  

Final Thoughts: Summer as a Growth Engine

Starting and running a summer camp isn’t just a way to survive the summer slump—it’s a way to grow. With the right strategy, summer childcare can become your most profitable season of the year.

By offering unique experiences, flexible packages, smart pricing, and leveraging technology like Bookingo, you’ll be prepared not only to fill every spot, but to increase revenue, reduce stress, and turn summer into a growth engine.

Ready to build your most successful summer yet? Let illumine and Bookingo help you launch, manage, and scale a profitable summer camp