Feature image for Evaluating Summer Camps

Evaluating Summer Camps

Surveys, conversations, staff input, camper feedback, and careful recordkeeping help recreation agencies evaluate and improve summer camps.

5 min read

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jill Forsook, Mentor Recreation Department

Now that summer is over, most agencies will breathe a collective sigh, and begin to evaluate which camp programs were successful and which were not. Most agencies examine enrollment numbers and revenue, staffing issues, the effectiveness of cost-control measures, and other issues.

But how does an agency know if it has hit the mark with campers? How does it identify effective customer service or ways to be successful in future summers?

It is fairly simple to measure revenue against previous years, or compare whether enrollment increased or decreased. However, ongoing and thorough evaluation takes many forms, and is critical for understanding the full scope of the program’s strengths and weaknesses.