12 cost-saving summer camp discount tricks

Summer camp discounts parents may not be aware of can make traditional and creative arts camps more affordable. Discounts can range from early bird and sibling specials to an "opt-out-of-the-camp-bus" choice. Those discounts and others can make zip-lining through the summer a better bet within your budget.

"Affordability has been our mission for three decades," says Jason Turnier, co-owner of Camps ‘R’ Us, with 10 Long Island locations. "It’s part of what we do because we want camp to be accessible to as many people as possible."

Summer fun on Long Island can stretch four to eight weeks at traditional camps, where grade-school-age children spend their parents' working hours playing Color War, learning archery or traveling the Island. Tuition varies by age level, session length and camp location. Many camps will run parents between $2,000 and $10,000 per child, with town and YMCA sessions on the lower end of the range. 

At Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts in Wheatley Heights, 45% of the campers receive some form of a scholarship or tuition assistance. "For anyone who wants to come to Usdan, we try to make it affordable," says Kathryn Appleton, director of marketing. Usdan's eight-week weekday session starts at $9,200 and includes full weekday care, classes led by educators, bus pickup and a daily ice cream treat. A payment plan breakdown with a tier of discounts, tuition assistance and scholarship options is available on the enrollment website.

"It’s never a bad idea to ask a camp owner if there are additional discounts," says Mark Hemmerdinger, co-owner of Crestwood Country Day Camp in Melville. "Sometimes, if a family just moved to a town, maybe a camp owner would be open to a discount that expired already. You can ask about payment plans. Some camps might do it."

Here are discount options to look out for to save this summer.

The sibling discount

• Enrolling multiple children in summer camp adds up quickly. At Red Robin Country Day School & Camp in Westbury, the child with the equal or less expensive tuition receives 10% off. There's a tier of discounts available to parents who enroll two or more children at Usdan and Camps 'R' Us, where the dollar amount off increases based on the number of enrollees. At Pierce Country Day Camp in Roslyn, that breaks down to 5% off for the second child and 10% off for the third and fourth.

The flexible schedule discount

• If both the camp and your schedule allow, signing up for a shorter camp session can save you hundreds, if not thousands. Campers at Usdan can sign up for four-week sessions instead of eight and save about $3,000, according to online registration material. Alternatively, if a camper signs up for the one-week recreational program, it’s slightly less than the regular camp rate. It's a savings of nearly $2,000 should you choose to sign up for fewer than eight weeks at Red Robin. There's also a shorter day option for campers age 18 months through age 4. Crestwood, Pierce and Camps 'R' Us offer a shorter day schedule as well.

The referral rebate

• It pays — literally — to know someone at camp. A camper who refers a new family to Red Robin receives a $500 rebate. If a current Usdan family refers a new family, the new family and current family will both receive $150 off tuition (recreational week program does not apply). Red Robin and Camps 'R' Us also offer referral rebates.

The alumni discount 

• If someone who has attended Usdan and has graduated from high school refers a new child to Usdan, the new child will receive a 10% tuition discount for the first year. This includes children of alumni.

The younger camper discount 

• Camp tuition varies based on length of session and age of camper. Tuition for campers in kindergarten and first grade is slightly less than standard at Usdan. At Camps 'R' Us, the Tiny Tots program is designed for kids age 3-5. They can attend for a half day through noon, a mini day through 2 p.m., or full day through 4:30 p.m. Parents can pay less than full tuition if their child is enrolled in the half or mini day.

The mini day discount 

• At Pierce, kids ages 3 and 4 can leave camp at 2 p.m. at a lower cost. And a similar option is offered at Crestwood, where kids aged 2 to 4 can attend camp until 12:15 or 2:30 p.m. as an option. These are lower-priced programs; 18-month-olds can also be accommodated.

The working parent discount

• At Camps 'R' Us, full-day pricing (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) is broken down into options for two-, three-, four- or five-day-a-week enrollment, plus campers can attend on any combination of individual weeks. Full-day, eight-week tuition is listed as $4,675. The camp is designed to accommodate working parents. If a parent is a health care worker, a teacher or other type of educator, an essential worker, an employee for public or civil service industries and other organizations, that parent can receive a camp tuition discount. 

The parents pitch in discount

• At Crestwood, Hemmerdinger says, "Parents who aren’t working or have their summers off [such as teachers], can get a great deal working at camp. We offer attractive salaries for parents and camp tuition discounts. It’s a way to get your kids into camp without paying the full price. A lot of people do it."

The C.I.T. discount

• If your child is entering eighth through 12th grade, a counselor-in-training program is offered at Red Robin. Camp tuition is less expensive. The C.I.T.s train to become counselors and receive a bonus at the end of the summer. At Camps 'R' Us, a camper who is currently in ninth grade can become a C.I.T. at no cost. Similar programs are offered at Crestwood and Pierce.

The early bird discount 

• Many early bird discounts expired in January, though camps do offer a percentage off tuition for those who sign up while fresh out of the holiday season buzz. Red Robin offered 9% off tuition prices through January. 

The bus discount

• At Red Robin, if you opt out of bus transportation to and from camp, a discount will be offered.

Scholarships and tuition assistance

• Usdan campers can apply for tuition assistance and/or music merit scholarships or "uniquely U" scholarships.