How to Get Free Summer Camp

Summer camp enrollment season is here. But the economy stinks and camp’s not cheap. If you’re looking to save few bucks on camp this year – or, even better, to send your kids to camp for FREE - here’s a great way to do it: Barter.

Well, maybe not entirely free. But pretty darn close.  You can send your child to summer camp without outlaying any cash whatsoever. And you don’t need to run up your credit cards, either!

Just in case you’re unfamiliar with the term, "bartering" is just a fancy word for "trading." So, in this context, we are talking about your trading goods and services in exchange for camp time.

In exchange for providing goods or services, you can send your child to camp for no cash outlay. Camps are as interested in saving money as much as you are, so it’s a pretty good deal for both of you.

If you can find something the camp needs or considers worthwhile, you’re in great shape. Here are some creative ways people like you have traded goods and services to send their kids to summer camp in the past: 

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  A single dad owned a Public Relations firm. He wanted to send his kid to camp. The camp needed promotional services, so they traded PR services for camp sessions.
  




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   Maybe you’re a nurse and you’d like to send your kids to camp. Many camps need nurses. Why not contact the camp to offer your services in exchange for letting your child attend camp? Don’t be surprised if the camp directer jumps at your offer immediately!
  




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  Sometimes a camp may even initiate the contact with you to propose a trade. A camp in New England needed graphic design services for their brochure redesign. They searched their prospect list and found a graphic artist. The camp director contacted the graphic designer and proposed a trade: the camp would provide summer camp sessions for the graphic artist’s son if the artist would redesign the camp's brochure. The graphic artist was elated with the offer. It was a win-win for both parties -- just how bartering is supposed to be -- since it was a fair trade and neither party had to “pay” a single dime.
  

One final important point. Even though bartering involves the best of both worlds (with both parties getting valuable goods or services without paying cash), there may be tax implications. For example, our understanding is that the IRS generally considers the fair market value of what you “sell” via barter taxable income. Since we are not qualified to give tax advice, you should not take this information as such. Instead, consult your tax adviser before taking action based on the information provided in this article.