With January weather all around us, summer warmth seems forever away. But, when it comes to owning and operating a dance studio, you know that it’s never too early to start planning your seasonal offerings – especially for summer camps. Families often plan their summers earlier than ever, and studios that prepare ahead of time are better positioned to fill spots and stand out.
Here are a couple of things you can do to help you get a jumpstart on summer dance camp planning.
1. Summer Camp Themes
Get the excitement flowing with a fun summer camp theme! One of the best ways to spread the word about your summer camp is by finding a theme that appeals to all ages.
Keep your eye out for dance or general pop culture trends
What music, dance styles, or performance trends are your dancers excited about right now? Are there certain styles, eras, or choreography vibes that are especially popular in your classes? Paying attention to what’s trending – both in dance and youth culture – can help you create themes that feel current and exciting. If you have a camp theme that consistently sells out, consider refreshing or reusing it with a modern twist.
Host separate summer camps for different ages
If resources allow, hosting various sessions of dance summer camps for an array of ages would allow for different themes. By doing this, it may be easier to come up with age-appropriate themes rather than coming up with one blanket summer camp theme.
Ask your dancers
If you’re coming up blank when trying to decide on a theme, ask your dancers! Leave a sheet by the front desk for ideas, run a quick poll, or ask after class. Getting input from the dancers who will attend the camp helps ensure you’re offering something they’re genuinely excited about.
2. Hire Engaged Summer Camp Staff
Your current staff is usually ideal when it comes to staffing a summer camp – they already know policies and procedures and the students they’ll be interacting with. If you don’t have enough staff available to assist with summer camps, consider hiring part-time staff that you know will be good educators, willing to learn, follow the curriculum you provide, and will be engaged with students during camp each day.
A good place to start when it comes to hiring is former dancers from your studio or student teachers. Post flyers in your lobby, around the community and spread the word through social media. Utilize background checks and conduct interviews to make sure you employ the right people for the position. After all, positive experiences at dance summer camp are a great way to enroll new students and ensure student retention for the following school year!
3. Decide On Summer Camp Logistics
Before you begin planning the tiny details, you need to figure out the big picture. Here are some ideas of things to consider:
- How long is your summer camp going to be?
- Are you going to offer more than one session?
- What should the price be?
- What time of summer works best for families in your area?
- Will you offer half-day or full-day options?
- What kind of waivers or legal agreements do you need?
Thinking through these logistics early helps create a smoother experience for both your staff and your families.
4. Focus On Summer Camp Promotion
If you’re opening up your dance summer camp to students outside your studio, chances are you want to grow your student count. In order to do that, you have to promote!
Where do most of your registrations come from: your website, social media, email, word of mouth, or something else? Update all of these platforms with information on your dance summer camp. Consider adding a pop-up or banner to your website, sharing short videos or previews on social media, and sending reminder emails as registration dates approach.
You can also encourage current students to spread the word by offering referral incentives or partnering with local businesses, schools, or childcare centers. Whatever your tactics, promoting in advance helps families confidently fit camps into their summer schedules.
5. Utilize Technology For Summer Camp Registration
Dance summer camps involve a lot of moving pieces, from registration and payments to schedules and parent communication. Using an all-in-one dance studio management software to manage everything in one place helps reduce manual work and keeps your studio organized as enrollment increases.
With Camps in Jackrabbit, studios can manage their camps alongside the rest of their programs using an all-in-one dance studio management software and mobile app. This makes it easier to stay organized, keep families informed, and deliver a smooth camp experience from start to finish. When camps are structured intentionally and supported by the right tools, they can also become a meaningful part of your studio’s growth strategy – helping you bring in new families, re-engage current students, and generate additional revenue during seasonal breaks.
With dance summer camp season on the horizon, it’s never too early to start preparing. A little planning now can save time, reduce stress, and help you create camps that dancers love and parents trust. And if your current tech setup is starting to feel limiting, now is the perfect time to explore tools that can support a smoother, more successful summer.
Want help planning and managing summer camps at your studio?
Explore how Jackrabbit can support your summer camps – from registration and payments to communication and organization.
