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The first step of starting a camp for kids is deciding what type of kids camp you want to run. A lot of your decisions will be based on capital, location, estimated enrollment numbers, and more factors. Start by asking yourself these questions to see where your interests lie.

Will you choose to run solely in-person activities or will you also include virtual options?
Is your camp going to operate only in the summer or will you provide activities throughout the school year during holiday breaks and days off?
How old will your campers be?
What type of activities will you offer? Will your camp focus on one theme (like STEM or sports) or will it offer a variety of options?

These are all important questions for camp owners to consider at the beginning of their journey. To help you make these decisions, we’ve outlined the pros and cons of different types of kids camps.

Based on camp duration and location

There are 3 main types of camps that you can choose to run: day camps, sleepaway (or residential) camps, and virtual camps. Learn more about each type of camp, including the pros and cons of that specific style, to see which is right for your business.

Day camps

Day camps can range from 1 hour to a full day, but the main difference is that the child does not sleep at the camp.

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Sleepaway camps

At sleepaway camps, the campers spend the night away from home, on the grounds of the camp with the staff.

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Virtual camps

Virtual camps take place online and can be as short as 1 hour.

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Based on activity theme

Camps can be organized by a theme (focused around one subject), or they can be more general enrichment camps that cover lots of different types of activities. To decide which type of camp you want to run, you should think about your target audience and what is more likely to interest them.

Based on age group

Opening up your camp to a wide range of students can increase your audience size and revenue, but each age group comes with its own unique positives and negatives. We’ve outlined the 3 main age groups for camps so that you can see what works best for your goals.

Toddlers

Toddlers are 1-2 years old. Some spend time away from their families during the school year at daycare. But, for others, this might be their first time away from their families.

Preschoolers

Preschoolers are generally 3-5 years in age.

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Youth

This generally refers to children aged 5-12 who are typically in elementary and middle school.

Based on season

Camp does not only need to happen in the summertime. Many camps offer activities for days off from school as well as holiday breaks. Check out some activity ideas for these seasonal camps.

Types of kids camps