As the cost of providing summer camp - including summer staff payroll, food service, canteen, insurance, utilities and more - continues to increase, the natural response would be to continue increasing our prices. However, we understand that at some point, rising prices become impossible for some families to afford. At the same time, if we don't increase prices, it becomes harder for us to continue providing Camp. That's why we've introduced tiered pricing.

For the families who simply can't afford a price increase, we will keep our base price at a rate that covers roughly 70% of the cost of providing Camp for a child. Families who are able to cover more of that cost can choose the second or third tiers, which each cover incrementally more of the total cost of a camper's Deer Run experience. By doing so, these families allow us to spend less of our donated funds on bridging the deficit between camper fees and actual operating costs, and instead spend it on improvements to our programs, grounds, and facilities. 

Absolutely not. All campers will receive the same Camp Deer Run experience regardless of which tier they choose to pay. The same is true for campers receiving financial assistance through a campership. Every camper who walks through our gates will receive the same treatment, the same meals, the same snacks, the same activities, and so on.

There are no special benefits of paying a higher tier, and there are no penalties for choosing a lower tier. We simply ask that you choose the Tier that you are able to afford. 

If you can't afford Tier 1, our base level price, we offer financial assistance through our Campership program. To learn more, please click here.

No, the higher tiers are not considered a donation. The best way to think of the tiers is that Tier 3 is the true price of a Camp Deer Run session. Tiers 1 and 2 are just discounted rates in order to keep Camp more accessible.