The summer camp season has begun, but due to record high inflation, summer childcare is extraordinary for families who are already overkill due to rising living costs. It is an expense.
Anneliese Lawton, three mothers from Burlington, Ontario, gymnastics that her children usually attend summer camps are not. Said. Their budget is growing due to inflation, so this year is a financially viable option . The camp she was planning to send her two sons to was $ 300 a week per her camper van, out of reach of her.
"As soon as I did it, I was like junk, we can't afford them to do this," Lawton said.
Instead, Lawton's sons, ages 4 and 5, respectively, attend trampolines and tumbling camps in town as part of the week. For students hired by
, Lawton juggles the full-time remote, so the rest of the week Help with childcare. Work and 2 years old.
"Going to Costco is like paying a mortgage," she said. "So, with rising food and gas costs, it's basically impossible to afford these camps on top of that."
Inflation, an increase in operating costs fees Promotion
When inflation peaks, summer camps (already a luxury for many families) force families to make difficult spending decisions.
Canada's inflation rate reached 7.7% last month, the highest level in almost 40 years. Compared to May 2021, consumers paid gas 48% higher, but last year's food prices rose 9.7%.
There are summer camps across the country, just as parents had to budget for higher costs. In many cases, that means charging more to the family for registration.
Summer camp managers across Canada have told CBC News that inflation has caused prices to rise significantly, making the program unaffordable for some families.
Camp relies on essentials such as boat gas, natural gas for barbecue , and food to feed campers. Inflation has pushed up the prices of these necessities significantly.
Summer camps usually set prices well in advance and make small changes to take inflation into account, said Stephen Jackson, president of the British Columbia Camping Association.
This year was different at Camp Bob, a co-educated Christian wilderness camp on the Campbell River, British Columbia. Jackson is Executive Director.
Camping prices typically increase by $ 10 from $ 5 a year, but Camp has raised its price by $ 35 a week this year.
Jackson did not have a price increase in 2021, so this year's increase is very important and in 2020 there will be a camp for COVID-19. Said it was closed. When he combined the cost of inflation with the usual price increases that occur each year, he had no choice but to raise prices.
"Inflation is very important and will continue to be important," Jackson said.
Food, gas and energy are not the only factors contributing to price increases. According to Statistics Canada, in May 2022 , prices for recreational facilities and services (including summer camps in the government's consumer price index) rose 4.9% compared to May 2021. Did.
In Montreal, Camp Ecolat, which also runs small outdoor adventure camps in Banff, Whistler and San Diego, has increased prices by 30%.
"We lost a lot of registrations because our parents couldn't afford it, so it definitely has a direct impact on sales," said owner Mariano Riu said.
Increasing demand for financial assistance
Private camps have been forced to raise registration fees, but nonprofits such as Camp Kadesh in Christopher Lake, Saskatchewan are at record highs. Is being recorded. Demand for subsidies for which is paid by the donor.
Tim Good, Executive Director of Camp Kadesh, said the camp relied on charitable donations and didn't have to raise prices this year. He said he had to demand more money from the donor because of the high demand for financial assistance.
"What we see is that far more people apply for grants," Good said. "We do it for each family."
According to Goode, during a normal year, the camp will include $ 10,000 in its annual budget for subsidies. However, this year's demand for financial assistance is worth more than $ 20,000.
He says the camp's annual food budget exceeds $ 100,000 in normal years. He is worried that a 10 to 20 percent increase in food costs could make it harder to manage his budget.
"I think food will be the biggest thing for us," Good said. "We are already growing and trying to give as many people as possible a dollar of food."
Some costs did not go up. The facts make it more difficult to predict the cost of his , which makes managing books a difficult balancing act.
"It's difficult to even actually track ," Good said.
Food costs are not the only consideration for Good. Camp Kadesh operates on a lake, so much of its programming involves electric boats that blow out gas. According to Statistics Canada, the cost of gasoline has risen by nearly 40% since March last year and is currently around $ 2 per liter.
Amici Camping Charity has partnered with 47 summer camps across Ontario to provide financial support to low-income families with children aged 7 to 17 years. It offers. For this year's service.
Charity Executive Director Judy McGowan emailed CBC News that charity had a 15% increase in camper van applications compared to 2019. ..
Meanwhile, Goode says he understands the importance of summer camps and the extent to which was missed between the blockade and restrictions of COVID-19.
"We recognize that this is what our kids need. We know we strive to find every way we can run." Good said. "I think that's the attitude of almost every camp across Canada."
