If you’re a Camp Director, you’ve probably thought this at least once: “Why would I invest in software I only use for four weeks?”
On the surface, it’s a fair question. Camp is seasonal. Budget lines are tight. Every line item matters.
Your schedule runs for a handful of weeks. Why add one more expense to the budget? But the truth is - even if camp is only four weeks, those are the most operationally intense weeks of your year. And scheduling is one of the biggest time drains you face!
The Real Cost of Camp Scheduling With Excel or Google Sheets
Many camps rely on spreadsheets for camp activity scheduling because they’re familiar and technically free. But they’re not accounting for your time.
Manual camp scheduling is a multi-step process:
Blocking out non-negotiables like swim instruction and lunch
Scheduling special events and inter-camp programming
Coordinating staff availability and program areas
Managing shared spaces like fields, courts, and studios
Checking for conflicts, double-bookings, and staffing gaps
And then when schedules are finally set? Something changes. This is where spreadsheets break down.
Staff get sick. Weather changes. Events get scheduled or rescheduled. With scheduling software, like Camptivities, once camp begins, scheduling becomes adjustments — not emergencies.
Support when you need it most
Many camps prefer to use Staff (or Parent, or Alumni) built software for their daily and weekly schedules. They see it as a cost-efficient solution, and it does the trick! But what happens when the formulas break down, and that person is no longer available?
When you subscribe to Camptivities scheduling software, you don’t just get scheduling solutions. You also get a dedicated Account Manager with guided support, onboarding, and ongoing support all season long. If your Staff, Parent or Alum move on, who is there to help you when you hit a snag? If you have questions when using Camptivities you can research our library of help documents, watch videos, or reach out to our team of specialists. Bottom line - you’re not alone in scheduling.
Software isn’t about how long you use it for. It’s about having a tool to support you when you need it most.
You wouldn’t say:
“Why buy walkie-talkies if camp only lasts a month?”
“Why invest in staff training for a few weeks of work?”
Some things matter more because the window is short.
Scheduling software like Camptivities exists to reduce stress, errors, and burnout during the most critical weeks of your year—so you can spend your time where it actually belongs: on your staff, your campers, and your program. Those four weeks deserve tools built to support them.
