Cutting Costs

How are camps addressing challenges of financial sustainability? While growing enrollment, fundraising, and other revenues is the preferred strategy, and deferring expenditures is a coping mechanism used by the majority of camps, some cost cutting measures are being utilized as well. We know that most camps run lean: there just isn’t much “fat” that camps can cut from expenses if they want to continue to provide quality offerings. But there are some tactics that camps may employ in this area as well.

Based on 230 responses in the Fall 2024 JCamp 180 Camp Insights societal trends survey, the following is a summary of approaches camps are taking to manage costs.

The following conclusions from this analysis stand out:

• Camps are concerned with a number of costs – e.g., food, staffing, insurance, operations, programming, facilities - that have increased in recent years, and are expected to continue to rise by more than the rate of inflation.
• Camps are lean: there is limited room to customize costs without affecting quality.
• Strategies camps are using include: closer and more systematic line by line scrutiny of budgets to identify potential for cost reduction and implementation of operational efficiencies; pursuit of staffing level and compensation adjustments; and more rigorous vendor management, including to achieve economies of scale.

Costs that Camps are Most Concerned about Rising Over the Next Three Years

 

• Staffing: Costs are rising to retain and attract capable staff
  • Salaries: Rising compensation is required to be competitive in the attraction and retention of year-round and seasonal staff
  • Health and other Specialized Roles: Higher expenses for increased numbers of medical, mental health, and professional staff
  • Minimum Wage Impact: Adjustments to comply with rising minimum wage laws in certain regions
• Food services: Camps face increases in food costs, especially kosher food and labor; and to some extent responding to increased expectations for diverse and nutritious meals
• Facilities: many facility cost concerns, including:
  • Backlog of deferred maintenance and upgrades
  • Need for more indoor spaces and cooled spaces in response to climate change
  • Renovations of cottages and bathrooms to be inclusive of a range of gender identities
  • More adult housing
• Insurance: Property, health and other insurance which has spiked in many regions. especially in areas prone to natural disasters
• Travel to and from Camp: Transportation, fuel, and rental costs for buses has impacted the cost of bussing campers, including to offsite activities
• Programming costs have increased for many camps, especially for specialized programs that may be resource intensive (e.g., STEM, water sports, etc.)
• Security costs have increased for infrastructure, technology, and personnel in response to rising concerns about antisemitism and community safety
• Scholarship Funds and Affordability: As camps increase prices, they are concerned about the corresponding increase in financial aid that will be required.

Camp Approaches to Cutting Costs

Operational Efficiencies Camps are:

• Scrutinizing budgets to identify opportunities for reducing costs and eliminate unnecessary spending
• Investing in solar and other energy-saving measures to cut utility costs
• Cutting back on lower priorities like field trips to save on transportation and staffing
• Collaborating with local Jewish organizations and other community groups to share resources and reduce expenses
• Considering self-insuring

 
Vendor Management Camps are:

• Negotiating long-term contracts and relationships with sympathetic suppliers for reduced costs (e.g., kosher food providers)
• Using RFPs and competitive bidding to negotiate better vendor rates for food, transportation, and supplies
• Collaborating with other camps for bulk purchasing to reduce expenses

Staffing  Camps are:

• Coordinating pre-camp internships to offset lower camp salaries while boosting staff resumes
• Standardizing pay scales to ensure consistent compensation structures
• Leveraging parent expertise (e.g., medical or mental health professionals) to reduce reliance on external hires

About the JCamp 180 Camp Insights Societal Trends Survey
Since 2019, JCamp 180 has conducted an annual survey of Jewish camp leaders to understand the implications of a wide range of economic, demographic, technological, cultural and other societal trends on Jewish camps. The goal of this work is to support effective future planning by Jewish camp professionals and boards so that camps can navigate the myriad issues coming their way. 230 individuals from 100+ camps responded to the November 2024 Trends survey, which included a number of qualitative questions relating to financial sustainability.