Hello, I was thinking of hosting a summer camp to help raise funds to get a VEX and VEX IQ program started at my local middle school. I would like to have it run three hours a day for five days. My question is, what do people think is a reasonable amount to charge for for a 15 hour summer camp?
Woo Day Camp!
Short answer: $100-$200/child.
Longer answer: “Reasonable” depends on a number of different factors, but I’d start by answering two questions - What is your break even point (how much do you have to charge to not lose money), and what do camps in your area charge for a half day program? I calculate nearly all of my expenses on a per camper basis, so I start by figuring out my target ratios - how many campers per kit, how many campers per instructor, etc. Next is adding up all of the expenses involved in executing the camp - instructor payroll, facility rental, equipment (if you don’t already have kits), insurance, etc. Once you know the breakeven point and how much other camps charge you can set prices accordingly.
Longest answer: PM me if you’d like to talk via phone. I’m happy to talk logistics of IQ Day Camp with anybody who will listen.
Official resources: These day camp guides here published by VEX are pretty great.
http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/products/accessories/vex-iq-robotics-camp-handbook.html
+1 to this. That seems to be the going rate for day camps like this. You could charge more if they get something to take home out of it (like the IQ robot or Robot C license or virtual world license and/or x-box joystick)
What is the objective of the camp? Intro to robotics or a specific subject?
Are these middle school kids or younger ones? That 6th grade age seems to be the inflection point of getting more serious content.
I ran one last summer for one week from 8: till noon’ish each day. I charged $225 and had nobody complain. BUT… by Friday I was running out of stuff to do! More planning will be in order this year!
I’m part of a camp that is charging $200 per person, but everyone needs to bring their own robot.