First, I bet you are asking what I know about hosting a camp. Before teaching with the local Co-op, I taught in both private and public schools. Private schools often encourage teachers to host summer camps. At the public school where I taught, I took high school students to the local kindergarten and ran science stations one morning in the spring for around 100 students. The private school, summer camps helped me refine my program. The families were very wealthy and the children entitled. I made decent money; however the parents were often demanding. My home-school friends asked me to host a science camp at our church. Our pastor agreed. For several years, our church held VBS and followed up with a week of Science Camp.
You’ll need money and help. Our church in WV did not charge a fee for either VBS or Science Camp. We begged, posted lists of materials, saved recycled materials, and held fundraisers. Our most successful fundraiser was a media and toy sale. We scheduled the sales before the church yard sale to have a place to unload leftovers. Families from church donated all of the goods which we sold after church services for two or three Sundays. People gave us cash, too. I also begged for help. Our church had a dozen teens who volunteered both weeks. It was harder to recruit adult volunteers for Science Camp. So, I relied heavily on teens and looked for volunteers at outside agencies. For example, I brought in free water quality experts and a forester. I asked doctors and nurses to give lessons for Anatomy Academy. The Rescue Squad brought an ambulance. The police sent an officer to talk about forensics.
Does Camp take a Herculean effort? Yes, it does. I’ll post more about how to organize a camp. No, it won’t be a professional series with links to a TPT site. Instead I’ll give you some hints I have found to work.
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