Scholarships for Overnight Summer Camps? Start Here!

The annual rush of summer camp planning has gotten underway with many overnight camps posting their updated season information on their websites. If your child needs a scholarship (also called a "campership") to attend overnight camp, you'd be wise to apply now. Decisions may not be made until February or March but expressing your interest early is a sign of serious commitment that may work in your child's favor.

Summer camp scholarships aren't limited to special camp opportunities designed exclusively for low income families. Overnight summer camps catering to diverse camp populations provide financial aid to campers unable to fork over several thousand dollars for a two or four week childhood adventure. Some provide full camperships; others offer partial assistance. Terms vary considerably, so if you are hoping to obtain a scholarship for the 2011 camp season, it's time to start perusing the registration and payment sections of camp websites. Early applications allow the camp administration leeway in scheduling any amount due that is not covered by a campership.

The following list provides an idea of the range of summer camps offering scholarships with links to the scholarship information pages:

California

Hidden Villa, Los Altos, Cal.: serving children entering grades 1 through 12, this camp offers a variety of activities from farming, arts, crafts and swimming to wilderness activities. The camp provides for varying levels of financial assistance to make camp available for everyone.

Sierra Friends Camp, Nevada City, Cal.: this camp boasts it has never turned away a camper for inability to pay the camp tuition. Geared to children ages 9 to 14, the camp experience includes contemplating peace, gardening, art and wilderness trips involving hiking, swimming and backpacking.

Maine

Camp CenterStage, Raymond, Maine: this theatre arts camp for boys and girls ages 8 through 17 offers partial and full scholarships for campers who couldn't otherwise attend.

Camp Netop, Casco, Maine: this boys camp offers sports, arts, aquatics and adventure trips and serves children ages 8 to 15. Scholarships are available.

Maryland

Catoctin Quaker Camp, Thurmont, Md.: this co-ed camp has both a financial grant program and a parent work program that allows parents to work at the camp to defray some of their child's expense.

Michigan

Circle Pines, Delton, Mich.:this environmental co-ed camp offers arts, crafts, water activities, sports, games, music, dance, and theatre to campers ages ages 8 to 17. Financial aid is available.

New Hampshire

Waukeela Camp for Girls, Eaton Center, N.H.: Camperships are available to help girls finance 4 week camp stays. Waukeela 's program centers on sports, arts, and outdoor adventures.

New Jersey

Camp Dark Waters, Medford, NJ is a simple, traditional summer camp for children ages 9 to 14, with noncompetitive arts, games and skill building activities. Partial financial aid is available.

Ohio

Friends Music Camp, Barnesville, Ohio: this camp caters to children ages 10 to 18 who are dedicated to excellence in music and have a least a year's experience playing their chosen instrument. The camp assists students with financial aid.

Pennsylvania

Journey's End Farm Camp, Sterling, Penn.: a co-ed farm camp for children ages 7 to 12, Journey's End provides financial aid to the extent possible and otherwise tries to assist families to make attendance possible.

Vermont

Farm and Wilderness Camps offers 10 to 30 percent tuition camperships to accepted campers unable to pay full tuition. Farm and Wilderness camps include several different camps aimed at different age children, some single sex and some co-ed.

Virginia

Camp Shiloh, Hood, Va.: this camp offers arts, crafts, drama, sports and adventure activities for children ages 9 to 14. Financial grants are available as is a parent work program allowing a parent to exchange work at camp for part of the child's camp tuition.

Opequon Quaker Camp, Clearbrook, Va.: featuring swimming, pottery, weaving, carpentry and theatrical arts, this camp for children ages 9 to 14 provides financial grants and offers a parent work program enabling parents to work to defray tuition expense.

Wisconsin

Camp Woodbrooke, Richland Center, Wisc.: Camperships are available to assist families at this summer camp premised upon simple outdoor living in an ecology-oriented atmosphere and designed for ages 7 through 15.

This list is far from exhaustive so if the type of camp or location sought isn't listed, go online and start searching. Searches by location and camp type will return a camp list; parsing through the registration and payment information on a camp's website will disclose whether the camp offers camperships.