Marva Babel, like many parents in New York City, has spent over $8,000 to send her teenage daughter to an overnight camp in the upstate region during the past few summers.
For Eirim Tucker, a 12-year-old from Brooklyn, it was an expensive way to enjoy some time away from the city, yet for Babel, she felt it was worth every penny.
The family’s summer plans changed swiftly when Babel had to shut down the Crown Heights bar she co-owned with her twin sister. This left her and her husband with a tighter budget, but they were determined to ensure their daughter had a fulfilling summer, ideally without screens and immersed in nature.
In search of a more budget-friendly summer camp option, Babel stumbled upon one in Morocco.
“I went through the numbers, and it was astounding. It’s just so much cheaper,” Babel shared, noting that the camp’s total cost was around $800.
Her daughter aspires to be a competitive swimmer, but it became clear that local options wouldn’t provide the practice and support she needed.
“We considered swimming camps, but the costs were outrageous. I didn’t think she’d get the experience she needed to pursue her goals,” Babel explained. “I felt stuck.”
A friend mentioned a Moroccan swimming camp directed by a former Olympian in Rabat, and Babel found herself intrigued.
With flights and lodging included, Babel spent between $4,600 and $5,000 on the whole trip to Morocco—about half the price of her daughter’s previous camp experiences. Plus, she felt this would offer her daughter invaluable experiences that were absent in local options.
“I visited Morocco and Marrakech a few years back and had such a wonderful time,” she recalled.
Babel’s approach might seem drastic to some, but for parents in the tri-state region, it’s becoming a trend.
Many parents in online groups and chats are anxious as tuition for both traditional overnight and day camps has soared, approaching nearly $20,000 for a seven-week session.
“Camp fees have really shot up in recent years,” said Patty Roberts, a summer camp advisor for over 30 years. “I’ve noticed prices just keep escalating.”
Roberts commented that parents now face averages of $14,000 to $17,000 for popular overnight camps in New England states, where kids can experience swimming, sports, and build lasting friendships. Day camps, resembling a typical school setting and offering activities from math to dance, currently fall within the $10,000 to $12,000 range.
“It sounds absurd, but honestly, if you can afford to send a couple of kids to camp, you might as well just rent a house in Tuscany,” she remarked.
For numerous families, funding a summer camp is not merely optional.
With two-income households increasingly common, summer camp becomes a necessary part of family life. “Summer camps can be very costly, and the prices are rising fast, even more than typical childcare,” noted Paige Connell, a Boston advocate and mother of four.
Connell, who has garnered significant attention on social media for her engaging content focused on working mothers, emphasized that summer camps often go unnoticed as essential resources.
“Many view camp as a luxury, but it actually holds great value,” she stated.
Yet, faced with the high expense of traditional camps, some parents are thinking outside the box. Madi Novich’s children have attended various affordable camps, like Lego engineering and nature camps, though none are located in the U.S.
Novich, who resides in Harlem during the school year, explores summer opportunities abroad. Her children have camped in nations like Edinburgh, Poland, and this year they’re off to Switzerland.
“In Europe, there’s such a variety of camps at different price ranges,” she mentioned.
She and her husband first considered international camps during a trip to Amsterdam. “I suggested that if our kids were in New York now, they’d be at summer camp. Why not do the same while here?” So she searched for options and found plenty in Amsterdam.
Though a weeklong day camp back home can cost close to $1,000, Novich was delighted to find overseas options for around 350 euros weekly—about $401—or just over $4,000 for an entire 11-week program.
But it’s not all about saving money; it’s really about what the experience offers the entire family.
“The first time we did it, I was amazed,” she shared. “My husband and I enjoyed a nice lunch and visited the museum together while the kids were busy. It felt like a vacation—for everyone.”
“Once you try it, you realize just how beneficial it is,” she reflected. “It’s a win-win situation.”
Of course, Novich acknowledges that not every family can afford to travel for weeks.
Her husband is able to work remotely while teaching, and she employs clever strategies to lessen summer expenses, like home exchanges. “Swapping homes is a fantastic way to travel with kids because it minimizes housing costs,” she explained.
Engaging in camps abroad also grants her kids cultural exposure since staff members typically speak English.
“Kids find ways to connect even without a shared language,” Novich pointed out. “The fun they have isn’t dependent on verbal communication.”
As for Roberts, she expresses concern about parents skipping camps due to costs since they offer children invaluable experiences.
“It’s a gift of independence, a chance to learn how to make friends and try new things without parental guidance,” she said.
Roberts noted that many camps are facing challenges due to rising inflation but are seeking solutions. Shorter camp sessions of 2-3 weeks at relatively lower costs are becoming more common, along with scholarships for families who might struggle financially.
Connell observes parents pooling resources to help cover summer costs. “In my mom’s chat group, we regularly share camp options, pricing, and schedules—it’s like crowd-sourcing our research,” she shared.
She encourages parents to avoid taking out loans to afford camps and to refrain from comparing their situations to others.
“Just find what works best for you and your family,” she advised.
