If you are an organization that offers summer camp programs for children, now is the optimal time to start thinking of advertising and fundraising options. The kiddos will be out of school for summer break in a few short weeks – which means parents are already making their list of summer camp options. It doesn’t matter what type of summer camp program your organization offers, the goal is always the same, to give children a fun place to enjoy the summer while being supervised, giving parents the peace of mind they need to go to work. The second part of that goal of course, is to bring money in for your organization. April is the perfect time to start looking at your fundraising and advertising options, this way you can ensure that you have enough children attending your program to keep it in business for the upcoming summers. Read on for my 7 favorite ways to fund-raise and advertise for your summer camp program and get started today.
#1: Bookmark Bonanza
It doesn’t matter what kind of summer camp program you have – if it is fun and people know about it, you will get children enrolled. I recommend ordering personalized bookmarks with the activities that your summer camp has to offer, along with your organization’s contact information. You can give these bookmarks to all of the local schools and children’s libraries in your area – it’s a great way to get your program in front of parents and children alike.
#2: Magnetic Personality
Much like bookmarks, personalized magnets are always a great form of advertising and fundraising. Almost everyone will put a good looking magnet on their refrigerator – and when yours has information about your popular summer camp program, parents will hold on to it, knowing they are going to need a summer camp come June. You can give these magnets to schools, day care centers and local children’s gyms and music classes to stick to the entryway of their office or any other magnetic surface. Parents can pick one up as they drop their child off to class, taking it home to stick it on their refrigerator.
#3: A Year’s Worth of Memories
Once you have children enrolled in your program, a great way to raise funds for your organization is by selling goodies that the parents can’t turn down. I love the idea of having someone snap photos of the children having an amazing time at your summer camp, then using those photos to create personalized calendars that can be sold to the parents at the end of the summer. Not only is it a great way to raise funds for your organization – it’s a fun way for the children to have a memento of their summer camp experience. Parents can hang the calendar in their home and hopefully it will remind them all year long to sign up for your summer camp again next year!
#4: Loud and Clear
If your organization hosts a sports themed summer camp, a great way to fund-raise is by hosting a big game at the end of the summer. For example, if your organization hosts a soccer camp, bring all of the children back for a big tournament at the end of the summer. Invite your students’ friends and family members to attend the game and offer personalized megaphones to cheer on their favorite players. You can of course also include raffles and sell food and drink to further your fundraising efforts.
#5: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
If there is one thing that every parent loves – it’s a great photo of their child. During your summer camp have someone snap a few pictures of each child having a wonderful time. Then, at the end of the camp, ask the children to put together a personalized photo frame to give to their parents. You can add your organizations name and contact information to the photo frame and as it is displayed in their child’s bedroom all year, your organization will stay fresh in the minds’ of the parents all year long.
#6: Roll with It
To get the word about your summer camp out to even more people, consider wrapping your car with a giant vinyl sticker. The sticker of course will provide all of the information about your summer camp, including activities and contact information. Depending on how much driving you do each day, you can get your organization in front of thousands of people. You could even hire individuals to place a giant sticker on their car, furthering your efforts.
#7: Memory Lane
One of my favorite ways for children to remember all of the fun they had all summer is through journaling. Your organization could order personalized notepads to be given to each child at the beginning of summer camp. Then, give the children a few minutes at the end of camp each day to write about all of the fun that they had. Parents will always keep a journal that their child wrote in, it is a personal keepsake that will be cherished forever – and lucky for you, this one will be branded with your organizations information.
YOUR TURN: How does your organization fund-raise and advertise your summer camp programs? Please share your tips below!
photo via artur84 via FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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