Find camps, save money, and stay organized. Everything your family needs for a great summer — all in one place.
If your child is under 13, summer day camp qualifies as a dependent care expense. Use your Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) — up to $5,000/year in pre-tax dollars — to cover camp costs. That can save $1,200–$1,800+ depending on your tax bracket. Overnight/sleepaway camps do NOT qualify, but day camps do.
Print this out or pull it up when touring or calling a camp. These are the questions most parents wish they had asked upfront.
Your employee benefit includes backup care days that are specifically designed for situations like gap weeks between camps or unexpected camp closures. Check your Bright Horizons employee portal or ask HR how many days you have. These days can be used for in-home care or center-based care.
Gap weeks — when school is out but camp hasn't started yet, or between camp sessions — are one of the biggest stressors for working parents. Here are ideas for every budget.
Use Bright Horizons backup care for in-home sitters. Split a nanny or babysitter with a neighbor family. A college student home for the summer can be a great flexible option.
Most public libraries run FREE summer reading programs with daily activities, crafts, STEM workshops, and author visits. Completely free — just register your child at your local branch.
Many recreation centers, art studios, and dance schools offer single-week drop-in camps specifically designed to fill gaps. Search "[your city] one week summer camp" for local options.
Use a PTO day or WFH day strategically during a gap week. Plan something fun — a day trip, museum visit, or staycation activity. Even one covered day eases the logistics crunch.
Coordinate with other ERG families! A rotating schedule where 2–3 parents take turns watching a small group of kids can cover a full gap week with minimal cost.
City and county parks departments often run low-cost or free daily programs during summer. Check your local parks & rec website for drop-in sports, crafts, and nature programs.
Many churches, synagogues, and community centers run VBS (Vacation Bible School) or community summer programs that are free or very low-cost and open to all families.
For older kids (10+): Khan Academy, Scratch coding, Outschool classes, YouTube cooking/art tutorials. Set a daily "project" to keep them engaged while you work from home.
A grandparent, aunt, or uncle visit during a gap week can be a win-win — the kids love the special time, and you have trusted childcare covered. Plan these visits around known gaps.