How to Start a Summer Camp Business

Parents need somewhere safe, fun and reliable for their kids during the long school break, and many of them start searching in spring. A summer camp business can meet that need with a small team, a good venue and a well-planned week. This guide covers the camp model, licensing and safeguarding, staffing, programming and pricing so you can open with confidence.

A group of children pulling on a rope in a game of tug-of-war on a grassy field outdoors — Simple games on open grass are often the moments kids remember most from camp.

Key takeaways

Start with a day camp for a clear age range and theme. Overnight camps bring far more rules, cost and risk.
Licensing and background checks vary: US rules differ by state, some childcare for under-8s in England needs Ofsted registration, and UK staff working with children usually need a DBS check.
Safeguarding, supervision and written emergency plans come before the fun activities, and parents will ask about them.
Build your price from a weekly budget that covers staff, venue, insurance, materials and a buffer for empty places.

If you are reading this in April, you may wonder whether it is too late to launch for this summer. It is not too late for a small start. Many first-time camp owners run a single week or two in late July or August, learn from it, then open a full season the following year. The planning in this guide works for either path.

A quick note: this article is general information, not legal, insurance or employment advice. Rules for working with children are strict and vary by country, state and council, so check with your local licensing body and speak to a solicitor, lawyer or specialist insurer where you need to.

Choose your camp model

"Summer camp" covers a lot of ground. Narrowing your model makes every later decision easier, from the venue to the staff you hire.

Day camp or overnight. Day camps run during working hours and children go home each night. Overnight camps need accommodation, night supervision and much more planning. Most new owners start with day camps.
General or specialty. A general camp mixes sports, crafts and games. A specialty camp focuses on one theme, such as football, drama, coding, art, nature or cooking. Specialty camps are easier to market if you or your staff have real expertise.
Age range. Pick a tight band, such as 5 to 7 or 8 to 12. Activities, supervision needs and rules for younger children are very different from those for older kids.
Half day or full day. Full days suit working parents. Half days are easier to staff and can be a good first step.

Think about your venue at the same time. Schools, community halls, churches, sports clubs and farms often rent space in summer. You need safe indoor space for bad weather or heat, outdoor space, toilets, a first aid area and a secure entrance where you control who comes in and out.

Pro tip

Ask parents in your network what they actually need before you choose. A quick survey made with Google Forms, Typeform or Jotform can tell you which weeks, hours, ages and themes they would pay for. Keep it short and only collect the details you need.

Licensing, safeguarding and insurance

Like any business, you will choose a structure, register it, check licenses and permits, arrange insurance, set prices and build a booking and invoicing setup. Working with children adds a serious layer on top.

US

Licensing for summer camps and kids' activities is set at state level, and background check rules vary by state. Some states license day camps, some exempt certain programs, and local health and fire rules may also apply. Contact your state's childcare or camp licensing office early, describe your program precisely and ask what you need.

UK

In England, some childcare for children under 8 needs Ofsted registration. Whether your camp needs it depends on details such as the ages, the hours and the type of activity, so check Ofsted's guidance carefully. Staff working with children in the UK usually need a DBS check. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own systems, so check the right one for your area.

Safeguarding and insurance

Write a safeguarding policy that covers safer recruitment, a named safeguarding lead, how staff report concerns, photography rules, toilet and changing arrangements, and collection procedures. Add a written emergency plan for injuries, lost children, allergies, severe weather and evacuation. Then talk to a specialist insurer about liability cover for children's activities and employer cover for your staff.

Common mistake

Treating background checks as a box to tick after hiring. Checks, references and safeguarding training should be done before anyone works with children. Build the time into your hiring plan, because checks can take a while.

Hire and train a great team

Your staff are your camp. Parents will judge you on how their children are treated, and children will judge you on whether the staff are fun. You need both.

Work out your staffing needs. Decide your maximum number of campers and the supervision levels you will keep. Check any staff-to-child ratios your licensing body or insurer requires, and plan cover for breaks and sickness.
Write clear role descriptions. Camp lead, activity leaders, first aider and helpers each need defined duties.
Recruit safely. Use application forms, interviews, references and the right background checks before anyone starts.
Check rules for young staff. Teen helpers are common at camps, but young worker rules apply. In the US, FLSA child labor rules limit hours and jobs for under-18s, with tighter limits for 14 and 15 year olds. In the UK, children below school leaving age face restrictions and may need a local council work permit.
Train before day one. Run a training day covering safeguarding, first aid, behavior management, allergies, the daily schedule and emergency drills.

A bright orange camping tent pitched on the ground near a line of tall green trees in a quiet outdoor setting — Even a day camp can bring a taste of the outdoors with a tent, a trail walk or a nature hunt.

Plan a camp week kids will love

A good camp week has rhythm. Children feel safe when they know what comes next, and they stay engaged when each day has something new. Build a weekly framework you can reuse.

Arrival and sign-in. A calm, supervised start with a quiet activity while everyone arrives.
Morning group time. Welcome, the day's plan and a quick energy game.
Two or three activity blocks. Mix active and calm sessions, such as sports, then crafts, then a team challenge.
Lunch and snack breaks. Clear allergy rules, handwashing and shaded areas.
A weekly highlight. A show, a tournament, a nature trail or a small exhibition for parents on the last day.
Collection and sign-out. Only release children to authorized adults, and check ID if you do not know the person.

Summer heat needs planning too. In the UK, there is no legal maximum workplace temperature, but employers must keep temperatures reasonable and assess risks. In the US, OSHA uses the general duty clause for heat hazards, and some states, such as California, have their own heat illness rules. Those rules protect your staff; for the children, plan shade, water breaks, sun protection and indoor alternatives on hot days.

Price your camp from a weekly budget

Pricing a camp is easier when you think in weeks. Add up what one week costs to run, then decide how many places you can realistically fill.

Weekly camp budget template

Copy this into a spreadsheet. The amounts are made-up examples for illustration only.

Cost line	What it covers	Week cost (example)	Notes
Staff	Camp lead, 3 activity leaders, first aider	$3,200	Include training day and paid breaks
Venue	Hall, field and toilets for 5 days	$900	Check what the rental includes
Materials and trips	Craft supplies, sports kit, one visitor	$400	Reuse kit across weeks

Add rows for insurance, licensing fees, snacks, marketing and booking fees, split across your weeks. Then divide the total by the number of places you expect to fill, not your maximum. If your venue holds 40 children but you expect 30 in your first year, price for 30.

Hypothetical example

Imagine Aisha, a former PE teacher planning a multi-sport day camp for ages 7 to 11. Her made-up weekly costs come to $4,500 for the three lines above, plus $600 of shared costs such as insurance and marketing, so $5,100 a week. Expecting 30 children, she needs $170 per child just to break even. She sets her price at $215, offers a small sibling discount and a lower price for early bookings, and plans two weeks in August as her first season.

Registration, communication and marketing

Parents choose camps they trust. Clear information and organized registration are part of your marketing.

Registration

Your registration form should collect each child's details, emergency contacts, medical needs and allergies, authorized collectors, photo consent and any additional support needs. Form builders such as Google Forms, Jotform or Microsoft Forms can handle this, and booking tools such as Square Appointments or SimplyBook.me can manage places and payments. Check current features, pricing and privacy policies, and store children's data securely with access limited to those who need it.

Getting the word out

Google Business Profile. List your camp with dates, ages and photos. You can publish updates, offers and events on your profile.
Schools and clubs. Ask whether you can share a flyer through school newsletters, sports clubs or libraries.
Parent groups. Local parent groups online and word of mouth from happy families are powerful.
Email. Collect emails with consent. CAN-SPAM requires a clear unsubscribe option and a postal address in US commercial emails, and PECR and GDPR consent rules apply in the UK and EU.

Never post photos of children in your marketing without written consent from their parents, and respect families who say no.

Your summer camp launch checklist

Choose day or overnight, theme, age range and hours
Survey local parents on weeks, ages and themes
Book a venue with indoor space, outdoor space and a secure entrance
Contact your state licensing office or check Ofsted guidance in England
Write safeguarding, emergency and collection policies
Get specialist insurance quotes
Recruit staff and complete background or DBS checks before they start
Build a weekly budget and set prices based on expected numbers
Set up a registration form and booking system
Run a staff training day before camp opens

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to run a summer camp?

It depends on where you are and what you run. In the US, licensing is set by each state. In England, some childcare for under-8s needs Ofsted registration. Check with the right body for your location before you take bookings.

Can I run a camp from my home?

Sometimes, but home-based childcare often has its own registration rules, and zoning, insurance and space can be a problem. Many new owners rent a hall, school or club instead so they have proper space and facilities.

Is it too late to start a camp this summer?

If you are starting in spring, a small pilot of one or two weeks later in the summer is often realistic, provided you can complete licensing, checks and insurance in time. If not, use this summer to plan and open next year.

The bottom line

A summer camp business rewards careful planning. Pick a clear model, sort licensing, safeguarding and insurance first, hire and check your team properly, and build a week that mixes energy, calm and one big highlight. Price from a weekly budget so every week covers its costs.

Start this week by surveying a few parents and calling two possible venues. A small, well-run first season builds the reviews and repeat families that will fill your camp for years to come.