How Much Do You Charge For Camp?

A strong youth basketball camp does more than fill a week in the summer. It helps build the future of your program.

Camps keep kids excited about basketball, give them a reason to stay connected to your program, and let them picture themselves one day wearing your school’s jersey. If you want to build a program that competes every year, youth camp needs to be part of that plan.

When coaches ask about camp pricing, one of the first things I talk about is mindset. What is the goal of your camp? For me, youth camp is usually about building the program, not just making money. That is different from a private camp, where profit may be a bigger focus. There is nothing wrong with either approach, but you need to decide ahead of time what matters most. Is your goal to teach players while making a profit, or to teach players while building your program?

Once you know your goal, the next step is to answer a few basic questions. These answers will help you decide what to charge.

• What ages or grade levels is the camp for?
• How many days will camp run?
• How many hours will camp last each day?
• Will you pay workers or use volunteers?
• What equipment will you need, such as balls, cones, pinnies, or awards?
• Will campers get camp t-shirts?
• Will you need to rent a gym or pay custodians?
• Does the school keep part of the money, or does it go back into your program?
• Is the camp meant to raise money for your program? If so, how much do you need to raise?
• Do you have other fundraisers?

Once you work through those questions, you will have a much better idea of your costs. That helps you understand your bottom line. Again, if your main goal is to build your program, the bottom line may matter less because you want more kids in the gym. If your goal is to make a profit, then the bottom line becomes more important, even if that means fewer kids attend.

The last step is to do a little homework on what other camps in your area are charging. One important note: do not compare your prices to camps run by colleges, universities, or professional players. Those camps often charge more because of the name attached to them. In many cases, they are trying to limit numbers by charging a higher price. Your goal is different. You are trying to get kids in the gym and build your program.

Every camp season brings new questions and situations. I have put together resources and a full course that make running a youth camp much easier for coaches and can help you build a better camp experience. You can check that out here. Before I wrap up, though, I want to share three common situations that come up every year. Having a plan for these situations ahead of time makes registration smoother and improves the experience for families and campers.

1. Do You Have a Plan for Families Who Cannot Afford Camp?

Every year, there are families who want their child to attend camp but simply cannot afford it. Even when camp is priced reasonably, some families still do not have room for it in their budget.

My view has always been simple: if a kid wants to be in the gym, I want to help make that happen. At different times, I have asked parents what they could afford. Other times, I have told them not to worry about the cost and to just bring their child to camp.

You will have to decide what works best for your program, but it helps to have a plan before this situation comes up. That way, you can respond with clarity and keep cost from becoming a barrier for a kid who wants to be there.

2. What About Families With Multiple Kids?

Camp costs can add up quickly for families with several children. If a family has three or four kids, even a fairly priced camp can become hard to manage.

That is why it is important to think through your sibling pricing ahead of time. Some camps charge full price for the first two kids and allow additional siblings to attend for free. Others offer a half-price discount for extra children.

There is no perfect system, but you should have one in place before registration begins. A clear plan helps families, keeps your pricing fair, and makes it easier to handle questions with confidence.

3. What If a Camper Can Only Attend Part of the Camp?

This is one of the trickiest situations coaches deal with. Families often ask for a discount if their child can only attend part of camp, and on the surface, that seems reasonable.

The challenge is staying consistent. If one family gets a discount for missing two days, but another family does not get one for missing three days, it can quickly look like you are playing favorites. Even when that is not true, it can still create frustration.

To avoid that issue, I chose not to offer discounts for partial attendance. If a family vacation or another event overlaps with camp, then it just does not work out that year. You may choose to handle it differently, but whatever you decide, make sure your policy is clear and consistent from the start.

If you want a step-by-step plan for running a camp that is organized, fun, and built to grow your program, my Starting and Running a Basketball Camp From A-Z course will give you the tools to make it happen.