Registration Fee Options
3-Night Programs (Tadpole/Kaleidoscope)
Tier 4 - True Cost of Camp: $495
Tier 3 - Standard: $400
Tier 2 - Partially Subsidized: $350
Tier 1 - Subsidized: $300
10+ Night Programs
(Junior Leaders/CIT)
Tier 4 - True Cost of Camp: $1125
Tier 3 - Standard: $925
Tier 2 - Partially Subsidized: $825
Tier 1 - Subsidized: $725
Registration fees for our children's camps vary based on program length (nights at camp). All fees include 24-hour supervision from trained staff, meals and accommodations, program supplies, all activities, and a camp t-shirt.
We offer a range of fee options (tiers). When they register, families choose the option which best fits their needs and budgets.
Kidston believes no child should be left out for financial reasons. In keeping with this, Tier 1 offers a lower, subsidized rate to those who are not able to pay the full cost of a week of camp. Tier 2 and 3 provide partially subsidized options that begin to more accurately reflect the cost of a camp session. Our 4th "True Cost of Camp" tier allows you to help ensure the future sustainability of Camp Kidston by covering the actual cost of camp for a child.
Summer 2024 Fees are as follows:
5-Night Programs
(Junior/Intermediate/Senior)
Tier 4 - True Cost of Camp: $825
Tier 3 - Standard: $650
Tier 2 - Partially Subsidized: $550
Tier 1 - Subsidized: $450
For families who need a higher level of support than Tier 1 provides, we encourage them to ask about our Sponsorship Program. Each year, our generous supporters make it possible for us to bring a number of campers to Kidston, who otherwise would not be able to experience camp.
PLEASE NOTE: The tier a family chooses is kept fully confidential by our Registrar and Board. This information is not shared with campers or with counselling staff and in no way influences the experience children receive: activities, accommodations, meals, and supervision are the same, regardless of the tier chosen.
Curious to know more about Registration Fees?
Where does my child's camp fee go?
It takes a lot to run a summer camp! Here is a rough approximation based on 2022 data:
54% - Staff Costs - this includes salaries, required training, and other 'mandatory employment related costs.'
16% - Food - we eat three meals and three snacks a day at camp, which adds up over a week!
10% - Property - this includes everything from repairs and maintenance to required inspections and permits.
10% - Administrative Costs - think insurance, accounting, payroll, etc.
5% - Program Supplies - all the fun stuff that we do each week!
5% - Utilities - oil, power, propane, and phone/internet.
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Did you know? The true cost of summer camp...
In 2022 and 2023, the true cost of camp per child was approximately $825/week. Camp Kidston relies heavily on fundraising, donations, grants, and off-season rental income to ensure we can keep the cost of summer camp affordable to our families and communities.
Kidston's Values
At Kidston, we believe in fair pay. Non-profit summer camps in Nova Scotia are exempt from minimum wage requirements, and most pay weekly salaries. Some summer camps in the province pay as little as $100/week. Pay is an equity issue, and when summer camps do not pay their staff adequately, they limit who can afford to work at summer camp.
Over the past two years, we have made the commitment to pay our staff at least the equivalent of working a standard week at a minimum wage job. Although we know we still have work to do, we are proud to be one of the camps in Nova Scotia with the highest entry level salary ($470/week). While we continue to fund numerous staff salaries through grants, this is the reason why our staffing cost is over 50% of the camp fee.
Why have registration fees increased for 2024?
In 2023, Camp Kidston received news that we would be losing significant funding from our parent organization (The United Church of Canada) that has historically allowed us to substantially subsidize our camper fees. We also rely on government grant funding that has been cut drastically in the past several years. This combination of factors, along with ever increasing input costs, has forced us to move to a model that reflects the true cost of operating a summer camp.
In 2023, the true cost of camp per child was $825/week. This is in alignment with what other non-sponsored summer camp organizations in our area (e.g. YMCA) charge for a week of camp at their facilities.
We strongly value keeping our programs accessible to all who wish to access them. As such, we have expanded our payment options in 2024 to maintain a subsidized option that was the same as 2023’s camp fee, two partially subsidized options, and an option to pay the true cost of camp.
Thank you for your continued support of Camp Kidston!