Suppose you’re trying to figure out the best summer camp for your child or even yourself. You’re not alone. Summer camps are bigger, better, and more diverse than ever. Before you pick a program, check out these surprising (and fun!) facts about the booming summer camp scene in the U.S. this year 👇
🌟 Summer Camp by the Numbers
🌟 Summer Camp by the Numbers
● Over 30 million campers are expected to join summer camps across the U.S. this year, including a growing number of international students. That’s more than double the 14 million campers back in 2016!
● So Many Choices! 🗺️ The U.S. alone is hosting over 20,000 summer camps this summer! And the best part? Most have tons of different dates and city options, so you can find the perfect fit.
● Camp Hotspots! 🔥 Wondering where the biggest camp parties are? California, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Ohio are the top states, pulling in over 40% of the total summer camp market.
🎨 What’s Popular in Summer Camps?
● Sports camps are still king🏆 , making up 35% of the scene (swimming is a HUGE splash! 🏊). Arts & creativity are a close second (27%), followed by adventure/outdoor and those brainy STEM camps.
● STEM is BOOMING! 🤖 Speaking of STEM, these camps are growing like crazy – up 25% since before COVID! Eco-friendly “green” themes are also super hot, with a 20% growth spurt. 🌿.
● More Than Just S’mores! 🧠 Over 65% of camps are packing in awesome “pro-level” stuff like AI and Automation, art, sports, or even language immersion. Time to learn AND have fun!
⏳ How Long Do Camps Last?
● Peak Camp Season? ☀️ Most U.S. camps run from June to August, with July being the absolute busiest month for happy campers.
● Most kids attend for 2 weeks (47%), followed by 1 week or less (32%). Some last 3–5 weeks (12%), and a few adventurous souls stay 6 weeks or longer (9%).
● More than half of campers prefer boarding camps over day camps.
👨👩👧 Family-Friendly Camps
● 30% of camps now offer opportunities for parents or relatives to participate, whether through parents’ days or special activities, and this number’s growing every year.
● More than 55% of parents report that their children have attended formal summer camps.
👦👧 Who’s Going to Camp?
● Kids aged 8-12 make up half of all campers.
● Gender split? Roughly 55% of the campers are boys, and 45% are girls. Interestingly, the staff is comprised of the opposite: 58% women and 42% men.
● The average camper-to-staff ratio is a safe and supportive 8:1.
💰 The Business of Summer Camps
● 💰 Summer camps and all the industries around them are set to create over $10 BILLION in market value this year in the U.S. alone!
● Most families budget around $1,000 per child (41%), while 28% spend $2,000, 22% spend $3,000, and only 9% spend $4,000 or more.
● Around 98,000 agencies worldwide help connect campers to U.S. programs, including partners from 100+ countries and regions.
🌱 The Impact of Summer Camp
● The Real Wins: Beyond the fun, over 70% of campers say they seriously level up their social skills and self-confidence. Plus, a great camp experience can even boost their learning for years to come! ✨
● Compared to school or early jobs, summer camp offers a stronger sense of belonging, increased participation, and experiential learning opportunities.
● Friendship is #1! 🧑🤝🧑 Ask anyone – over 90% of campers say the meaningful friendships they make are the absolute BIGGEST win, even beyond all the cool courses!
Ready to find the perfect summer camp?
A mix of respected publications including ACA, Statista, ChildMind, EASY EDUCATION, CampLife, EdWeek, Parents, and many more. We do our best to synthesize the latest info for you!
