The holidays are about giving experiences that matter. For families looking beyond another toy or gadget, camp represents something deeper: confidence, friendship, growth, and memories that last long after summer ends.
While families are planning budgets and thinking about what will make the biggest difference in their children’s lives, you have a brief but meaningful window to help them give something extraordinary. With thoughtful preparation, the gift of camp can become a tradition that families look forward to year after year.
Open Early: Why Holiday Registration Works
Going live before New Year’s gives families a practical option when gift-giving is top of mind. Parents and grandparents are already thinking about summer logistics. They’re looking for experiences that create lasting value and meaningful connections.
The holiday season is when families make decisions about the year ahead. They’re budgeting, planning, and asking what will truly matter to their children. If your registration isn’t open, you’re not part of that conversation.
Open registration by early December. This gives families time to consider camp as a gift option before they commit their budget elsewhere. Set an early bird deadline around December 24 or 31 to create gentle urgency without pressure.
Build anticipation before you launch. Share teaser videos of last summer’s highlights. Post countdown graphics on social media. Give families sneak peeks of new programs or facility upgrades. Make camp feel exciting and real during a season already focused on anticipation and possibility.
Make Camp Tangible: Give Them Something to Unwrap
Camp is a future experience, but gift-givers need something to place under the tree. Digital confirmation emails work for adults. Kids need something physical they can hold, open, and get excited about.
This is where creativity meets practicality. A well-designed gift package transforms registration into a moment of genuine excitement. It makes camp feel present instead of months away.
Ideas for your gift packages:
- Release next season’s t-shirt design early, exclusively for holiday registrations
- Create a custom holiday edition camp shirt that becomes collectible
- Include camp store items like hoodies, water bottles, or blankets (great way to move inventory while adding value)
- Offer personalized gear with the camper’s name embroidered or printed on items
- Add stickers, patches, or buttons kids can collect and display
- Include a handwritten welcome note from the camp director
- Create a printable gift certificate with a QR code for completing registration later
- Design a camp countdown calendar families can use starting January 1st
The key principle: give thoughtfully. Don’t fill boxes with leftover items you want to clear out. Plan ahead so the physical gift feels special and intentional. When a child unwraps something connected to camp, summer becomes real. They start imagining themselves there.
Consider offering a guarantee: families who register by a specific date receive a gift box by December 20th. This creates urgency while giving parents confidence. Just make sure you can deliver on that promise.
Remove Barriers: Make Registration Simple
Families are juggling enough during the holidays. Your registration process should meet them where they are.
Consider offering an abbreviated registration option. Let families secure a spot with basic information, then submit medical forms and emergency contacts later. This respects the reality that grandparents giving camp as a gift may not have all the details yet.
Parents need to register in minutes, not hours. They want flexible payment options. They need instant confirmation they can print or forward. If you’re requiring paper forms or mailed checks in December, you’re creating obstacles that send families elsewhere.
With platforms like UltraCamp, parents can complete registration from their phone while standing in line. They can pay flexibly and receive instant confirmation. Your team avoids manual data entry and follow-up calls. Everyone wins.
Offer Value Beyond Discounts
Camp is an investment. December is tight for many families. An appropriate discount can help families say yes, and the holiday context makes it feel natural rather than desperate.
But discounting isn’t your only tool. Sometimes the most meaningful incentives aren’t about price at all.
Consider these alternatives:
- Camp store credit they can use next summer
- Cabin or bunk choice (kids care deeply about this)
- Ability to hold a spot for a friend who hasn’t registered yet
- First selection of specialty activities or electives
- Early access to popular programs like leadership tracks or adventure trips
- Sibling package deals that reward families registering multiple children
- A voucher the camper can share with a friend for a discount on their registration
If you’re using camp management software like UltraCamp, you can automate pricing tiers and discount codes without manual tracking. This frees your team to focus on relationships instead of spreadsheets.
The goal isn’t to discount your way into enrollment. It’s to remove friction and acknowledge that families are making real financial decisions during an expensive season.
Partner Strategically: Expand the Gift
Consider partnerships with local outdoor retailers or gear shops. Parents can bundle camp registration with a gift card for hiking boots, a sleeping bag, or a quality flashlight. This makes the gift feel more complete and supports local businesses.
These partnerships benefit everyone. Families get a more substantial gift. Retailers gain holiday traffic. You strengthen community relationships while making camp registration feel like a natural part of holiday shopping.
Shift Your Message: Frame Camp as a Gift Worth Giving
Parents and grandparents already believe in what you offer. Your job is to help them see camp as something they can wrap with intention and pride.
Update your marketing to reflect this. Focus on what camp gives that nothing else can: independence, belonging, skill mastery, lasting friendships. Talk about the quiet confidence that develops over a summer. The way kids surprise themselves with what they can do.
Get specific. Mention the moment a shy child raises their hand to share a story. The afternoon someone masters a skill they’ve been working on all week. The campfire night when everyone feels like they belong. These concrete moments resonate more than generic promises.
Your homepage, email banners, and social posts should reflect this seasonal angle without being heavy-handed. A simple message like “Give a summer of confidence and connection” signals purpose without overselling. Light holiday touches work better than aggressive seasonal graphics.
Show Real Impact: Let Families Tell the Story
You don’t need professional video or elaborate testimonials. A simple quote and photo from a family who gave camp as a gift last year carries more weight than any marketing copy.
Run a brief contest. Ask families to share why they gave camp and what it meant to their child. Offer early registration access or camp store credit for submissions. Share a handful of these stories on your website and social channels.
Real stories from real families provide social proof. They show hesitant gift-givers that other people made this choice and it delivered. They demonstrate that camp isn’t just a scheduling solution for parents but a genuine gift children treasure.
Getting Started: Great Gifts Take Time
The holidays offer a unique opportunity to connect your mission with what families value most: experiences that shape who their children become. You don’t have to create something complex and elaborate to offer something meaningful. Start with the basics of having your registration process ready to go early so you can focus on getting the word out. Your first try can be simple as long as it delivers. Make sure your systems are up to the task and then add a new, meaningful touch each year. If you are interested in seeing a camp management system that can help you bring this idea to life, book a quick discovery call HERE.
Camp genuinely belongs in the conversation about meaningful gifts. With the right timing, tools, and messaging, you can help families invest in experiences over objects. Launch your holiday registration with systems that make it simple for gift-givers and sustainable for your team. It might feel earlier than usually, but the work you do now creates summers that kids will talk about for years.
