Paying for Camp with 2 Teenagers at Home

Check with the camps about scholarships. Depending on what the camps are for they might have grant money to give that does't have anything to do with income. I work at a day camp that is trying very hard to get girls into certain camps (they're engineering based camps) and the director frequently has grant money that she'll give to parents if their daughter is attending one of these camps.

Ask it's worth a shot.

I have no idea on how to pay for camps - I haven't had to cross that bridge yet with a 2yr old and an 8mo old - but I have heard that camps are tax deductable as a childcare credit type thing. I am not sure of the details but it is something to look into. Not a help in the upfront cost but might help ease the pain later. : )

I have two teenagers at home myself and can definitely sympathize with you. Those camps are terribly expensive, and I have never had a problem asking the kids to pay for at least a portion of the cost. Both my husband and I work out of the home, but like many families our budget is stressed at times just taking care of normal household bills and expenses related to having a family of 4. If it is something the kids want to do bad enough, they won't have a problem contributing and we shouldn't feel bad about it.

My kids were scouts and we did fund raisers for the camps. Check to see if the group doing the camp has fundraisers. If not, have your children do some on their own. Mowing lawns, collecting cans, garage sale are some ideas how to do it. It is ok for them to split the cost out of their savings account. It is a good eduacational experience for them, not a waste of money.

If you plan on paying for their higher education, then I think it's okay to have them help pay for some of this. Of course, the 17 year-old should have to pay more than the 14 year-old. You could have them do extra chores around the house too.

Of course they can help pay. Your 17 year old will be a legal adult in one short year, and his paying a portion willhelp him to undestand financial responsibility (it will help your 14 year old, too). Also, this will tell you how much they really want to go to camp. I would have my 17 year old pay a larger portion than the 14 year old. You know how much they can afford to pay, use that as the base of how much they have to pay. Part of your responsibility as parents is to teach finances and this is a great way to do that.

My friends with 7 year old daughters have had them earn money to pay for their summer horse camp. Certainly your teenagers can contribute as well. You could set a base amount - maybe $50 per camp (or $100 - not sure how much they make.)

You can also start talking about having them save some amount of money toward their college expenses. If they're paying for a portion of it they're probably going to take it more seriously. It can be an amount you set - $2,000 - $3,000 per year, or a percentage.

I agree that it's best to start early with getting kids to understand the value of work and money. That said, the practical side of my life is that it's sometimes easier for the mom to whip out the check book. My 13 year old was very excited to get his first part time job at a camp this summer. He'll get $5 a day... :) That is a big improvement for him over his $5 a week allowance. But obviously, that money is not going to go too far in paying for all the other stuff he wants, etc. I don't want to discourage his interest in working by basically saying, "Good job, now hand it over, kid!" We will start with some basic conversations this summer and go from there. By the time he's 18, my goal is that he realizes that he contributes a portion of what he needs - such as gas, travel money, etc. And that in the process he remains passionate and excited about trying new things and getting involved in his community. (Unfortuately, I have seen it backfire, when you say to a kid, "Ok, you help pay" and the kid says, "Then never mind" and just checks out.)

are there grants to help wiht the cost? I would say they need to use their money for the extra things they will need or want at camp

Since you didn't say if your kids were the ones wanting to go or if you were the ones encouraging them to go. If they are the ones really wanting to go I would try to set a mark so that they pay for part of it. This will help them take stock into why they are going and get the most out of it when they know it's their hard earned dollars going into the camp. Teenagers need to learn that everything in life isn't free and parent's pocket books really do have an a lining in them. They are both old enough to pay for things and you know they probably have money for all the fun stuff in life! You are helping them prepare for future finances by having them use some of their own money. Good luck!!!

If going to camp was all the kids' idea, and you and your husband were not pushing them to go, then yes, I would say the kids should pay a portion of the expense. Specially if they are making some money. This will help teach them how to save, so they can do things they want..

Hi: This is a tough question with today's economy. Personally I see these camps as part of their education so we would pay for it. However any additional costs (for souveniers, etc.) would have to be paid by the children. A friend of mine suggested possibly asking family menmers to "sponsor" the child, in which the sponsor would pay part of the cost. Another factor we would consider, is that we want our daughter's education (both mentally and socially) to come first and foremost, so we don't want her working so much that she woudn't have time to pursue her "education." Thanks for listening.

I was just wondering if you have ever checked into getting some sort of scholarship for these camps. I am a leader for my kids Girl Scout Troop and I know that there are programs that help with the costs of expensive camps. I would think that most camps would have something like that too. I do think that it is ok to teach children how expensive things can be and that you want them to be a part of these camps and what not. And also that if they are wanting to do more and more things that maybe they should pay a part of it with their own money. I don't think all of it but enough to teach them about money etc. good luck in whatever you decide.

ABSOLUTELY NOT! It's ok to have them help pay for their camps out of their saving once in a while, especially if they are earning their own money working. It helps them, I think, to learn that everything just doesn't come handed to them when asked for. Our oldest daughter started working @ McDonalds ate the age of 15, then went to Pizza Hut to make a little more money. She is now a Senior in high school and going to graduate and attend college. She actually gives us money out of her makings once in while, just because. If we refuse to take it and tell her to save it because she is the one that made it not us, she gets very upset. So we have learned just to say Thank You and take it (to make her happy)!
She has always told us though, that we have put a roof over my shoulders, put food on the table and clothed me, so least I can do is give you a little mulla in return.
Hope this helps! I feel the same way!

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We spend on average $5000 per summer on our kids activities because they are educational or church related.
YES, they save and help pay!
Why not? It's a priveledge!

Camp is expensive. You are right, though, kids get so much out of it.

My sister has 8 kids and when one wants to go to camp, she makes them raise the money for half of it. I prefer to let mine make a choice between camp and something else: "Sorry honey, if you want to go to camp we won't be able to afford to also send you to..." This way my kids can see that a lot is at stake in order for them to go ~ it is a privilege not a right.

Ann Bancroft has a website where she gives out one-time grants for girls who want to go to camp - up to $500.00. The child has to write an essay and fill out an application (not the parents so it is empowering for her). It looks like most requests are granted.

Also, if you send them to YMCA camps, they have a fundraising aspect as well as scholarships that you can apply for. My daughter is going to camp for 13 days this year with a little help from these programs.

I think my kids have benefitted so much from camp that I would do almost anything to get them there. Good for you for sending them C.!

Our kids pay for their own once they are old enough to earn money. Before that, we pay them to do small jobs around the house so they can "work" for it. I find that they appreciate something much more if they don't have it handed to them.

C.,

Of course it is okay to have them pay for it - it is their camp! If you don't want to depleat their savings too much, split the cost with them. When I was a teenager I had to pay for everything short of the mortgage and utilities! I covered my own clothing, car, gas, insurance and entertainment. My first car was a $300 VW Bug, and that was 1989, so I know your kids can come up with the cash if they really want to. Now I can say I am pretty frugal and creative about getting what I need and want.

My sister was raised differently by my parents. She said she liked or wanted something and my mom whipped out the check book. Dance lessons, clothes she never bothered to wear, pagents; she got whatever she wanted. Lets just say it worked to her detriment in ways you could never imagine as an adult. She is now almost 30 and still pays the price of being spoiled.

When I was little, I resented that my parents favored her so much. Now I see that she really got the raw end of the deal.

S.

I would say it depends. Are these camps they are begging you to send them too or just opportunities you are wanting them to experience?

We send our son to a church retreat for a week every summer, this will be his 4th and last one. He is 18.

We live in NE and we drive 12 hours to family in TX. then next day he , cousin , friends my sis and I all drive 5 more hours to the retreat.

Its exhausting, expsensive - $370 for 5 days 5 nights everything included. They stay at college campus. Not to mention the price of gas!! and using vacation time.

But I wouldnt change it for the world! It has been a sacrifice at times. He did offer to use his own money for spending last couple of years but I still give him a good amount.

I even made him stay in TX for an extra week to hang with his cousin (and keep him from a bad girlfriend) I paid for Six Flags , a music concert.

If you can afford it I would say make it your gift to them. If they offer - thats your choice.

If you are pushing this camp on them- then I dont feel they should have to spend their money on it. thats just my opinion.

We didnt have a chance to send our other son to these for several reasons - money not being one of them. But we did make sure he made it to football camp every yr and put our time, $ and effort into things of interest for him.

They were both scouts- the younger one just pinned on eagle! Lots of time money effort on 5 yrs of that for one and 9 yrs for the other. Like I said older one had diff interest.

Enjoy - as we both know they are gone soon. mine are 18 20

:)

how important are these camps, will they really be missing out? If you think they are important you should be able to afford to send them. Do the kids really want to go to these camps? I think the 17 yo should help pay, but the 14 yo shouldn't.

Yes absolutely 100% it is ok for you to make them help pay for it. One of the best things my mom and dad ever did for me was to teach me to be responsible financially. They did that by having me take responsibility for some of the things I wanted to do. It means more when you are investing something that you earned. For instance, my parents had me pay for half of my camp fee every year starting at 13(I babysat alot)Then they paid the other half. gave me 5$ aday for the cantina and if I want to have more spending money that was up to me. I never regreted or hated my parents for that. I am 29 now and I am very financially stable and it is in large part due to my parents. It will give your kids a sense of ownership and empowerment...even if they do not tell you that until they are 29! :)

I don't feel it's "o.k." to ask for help from their savings account. They are still children and will need that money when they venture out into the world as adults. I think you are still financially responsible for them. You are fortunate to have a fairly good paying job (I was also a nurse) you'll find the $500 and the warm feling that goes along with providing a wonderful experience for your children.

As a teenager and even pre-teen, I always had to pay for part if not all of camp (and music lessons too). These days their are some great ways for youngesters to earn a few bucks.

My 3y/o and 4 y/o (plus mommy and/or daddy) have been out walking in the country and picking up pop cans since they are around 80cents a pound. Since the grass hasn't grown up yet they are easy to spot. I also did this as a youngester so its second nature to me. I also worked in the ginsing fields, babysat, picked rock or helped farmers put up hay. These are all great ways to help others out and earn a few extra dollars.

H.

It is never too early to teach your children to work to save money for something they want. My daughter is almost 9 and this year she is going to camp alone as well. The 1 week camp she will attend only costs $205 and it is a Christian Camp! She is younger than yours, but she wanted to do a fundraiser to help pay for it and she raised $115. It was so cool to see her passion to try to pay for it herself, not that she needed to or was asked to. If your teens love the experience, they should help in some way to pay for it and it is NOT asking too much for them to help out. What a great way to start preparing them for adulthood -- where they will have to pay their own way!