Council Votes In Favor of Summer Camp Fee Increases

Sending children to Manchester summer camps will cost more this year as the township council approved an amendment increasing prices for the three programs.

Depending on the program, fees for the camps, which serve children ages 3-14, are up $25 to $150 for residents and $30 to $150 for non-residents.

After hearing comments from residents suggesting that fees should work on a scale depending on how many children a family sends, Council President Craig Wallis cast the lone vote against the amendment during the Feb. 28 meeting.

“I understand why it has to be done,” Wallis said, adding that he realizes the increases will be costly for families who plan to send two or more children to camp.

“To me, the cost is worth it if you can pay,” Wallis said. But he noted that the increases could “very much hurt the program.”

Councilmen Brendan Weiner, Warren Reiter and Frederick Trutkoff voted in favor of the increases. Councilman Kenneth Vanderziel was absent. 

Wallis' comments came after Manchester resident Hank Glenn raised concerns that families wanting to send more than one child to camp might not be able to afford the increases. 

“How about families with multiple children? To come up with a $1,000 to keep the kids off the streets, it's a hard nut to crack,” Glenn said. “Usually the wife and husband both work and this is a way for kids to stay out of trouble."

Glenn said he worried that kids who otherwise would go to camp might now get caught up in crime and could “cost the township more money.” Glenn suggested a discounted rate for families planning to enroll more than one child.

Resident Sheryl Claus also suggested that the council look into lowering costs for families sending multiple children. She said that various pricing options could help families save money if they decide to send their children to camp but not on all of the bus trips.

John Kruysman of Whiting said that he supported the increases. “Parents should be paying for that,” he said. “I just happen to feel that what you do by proportionately raising the prices – even though it's a tough time – is the right thing.”

Business Administrator Elena Zsoldos said that last year 127 children enrolled in Camp Adventure, 92 joined the Pre-School Camp and 78 residents and 19 non-residents participated in Day Camp.

The fee increases, she said, will save the township $73,000 if the same number of children enroll this summer as did last year. Zsoldos said she could not predict, however, how the increases would affect this year's turnout.

When the at the Feb. 14 council meeting, Zsoldos said that should fewer participants sign up, staff will be reduced to ensure that the programs do not cost the township money.

“It's all relative. If we don't have the number of participants, we wouldn’t hire the additional staff,” she said.

A three-week summer Day Camp session for children ages 5-12, which includes three trips, has increased from $100 to $175 for residents and $125 to $200 for non-residents. The six week session, including six trips, has increased from $200 to $350 for residents and $250 to $400 for non-residents.

Fees for the ages 3-5 Pre-School Camp for residents have risen from $50 to $75 per two week session, $100 to $150 per four week session and $150 to $225 per six week session. For non-residents, fees have increased from $70 to $100 per two week session, $140 to $200 per four week session and $210 to $300 per six week session.

Camp Adventure fees, which serves children ages 12-14, have increased from $200 to $275 per three-week session and $400 to $550 per six-week session. For non-residents, fees are up from $250 to $325 per three week session and $500 to $650 per six week session.