How to open a children’s camp

Who among us has not been in childhood in a summer camp? For many, this time was the most memorable and vivid pastime in the early years. Now summer camps also remain quite popular and popular.
And for business beginners, opening a summer camp for children is a great way to invest money and make a profit. Although this business, like all others, has its own characteristics and nuances that are worth knowing.
Children’s camps are institutions whose arrangement requires certain requirements, since the youngest part of the population will be located on their territory. The main documents that entrepreneurs should rely on when opening a children’s camp are “Sanitary-epidemiological rules and regulations for stationary camps” and “Sanitary-epidemiological requirements for the design, maintenance and organization of children’s tourist camps.”
In these documents, you can find all the slightest nuances associated with the arrangement and work of the summer children’s camp, to the extent that one portion of dinner should weigh and what may or may not be included in it.
The basic requirements are as follows:
1) the maximum number of people in one squad is 25 people (for children of primary school age), and 30 people (for children of senior school age);
2) the maximum duration of one shift is 21 days;
3) the number of meals – 2 or 3 times (depending on how many hours a day the child stays in the camp).
1. Sanatorium camps
Such camps are among the most popular among caring parents who want their child not only to have a good time, but also to improve their health. The base for camps, sanatoriums are usually medical centers or other medical institutions. The main purpose of such camps is to create optimal conditions for the prevention of various diseases in children.
2. Summer schools
These are the so-called “training” camps. They can be in different directions: 1) for children who do not keep up with the general school curriculum; 2) camps with a narrow focus (mathematical, linguistic, psychological, etc .; 3) camps that prepare children for school or high school students for graduation school exams. Often in such camps, training is organized according to the principle of various educational games and quizzes.
3. Sports camps
The main task of such camps is the sports development of children, but it is not complete without games and entertainment. Sports camps can be both narrowly focused (with a bias in a particular sport), and general orientation (general physical training). A distinctive feature of sports camps is that groups are formed not according to the age of children, but according to the principle of their physical training at the time of entering the camp.
4. Weekend camps
In such camps, children are from Friday evening to Sunday evening. These days various activities and games are organized for children, a few hours of a tutorial, meals and medical care. It should be noted that such camps are not very popular and, accordingly, the opening of such a camp as an opportunity to create a highly profitable business is not worth it.
Choice of room
The camp building is very similar to a hotel, and most often it also has three types of accommodation: standard, superior standard and suite. However, for each type of room is better to allocate a separate building. In the “standard” building, children usually live 6-8 people in large spacious rooms, while toilets and showers of a general type are located on each floor. “Superior Standard” is different in that the number of children living in one room cannot exceed 5 people. Deluxe rooms are rooms for 2-3 people, and conveniences are in each room.
Naturally, such a division into types of accommodation is very conditional. We just gave an example, and the differences between the types of rooms can be completely different.
Staff
Due to the fact that the camp staff will need to work closely with the children, it is worth taking recruitment seriously. First of all, the camp needs a team of counselors. Often, students of pedagogical universities or colleges act as counselors.
Depending on the direction of the camp, you need to hire specialists of appropriate qualifications (teachers, trainers). Also in each camp there must be educators and medical staff with specialized higher education.
Advertising
Attracting customers is an important step in the development of your business, and you shouldn’t regret financial resources for an advertising campaign. Sign a contract with various children’s institutions to advertise your camp. Use any media – television, internet, broadcasting.
However, as practice shows, the best advertising in such a business is “word of mouth”. Therefore, create truly good conditions for recreation and education of children, and satisfied parents will recommend your establishment to their friends, thereby providing you with new clients.