P.E.I. summer camps seeing many more families seek financial aid

More P.E.I. families than ever are asking for help covering the cost of sending their kids to overnight camp this summer. 

Camp Seggie, Camp Abegweit and Camp Keir all told CBC News that the number of requests for financial assistance is much higher than in previous years. 

Both Camp Seggie and Camp Abegweit said twice as many families have asked for financial help in 2023, compared to 2022. That amounts to a third of all campers registered for the summer so far at Camp Seggie. 

"It's really mind-blowing," said Simon Reid, treasurer for Camp Seggie. "A lot of families just don't have the same money to be able to fork out hundreds of dollars to send their kid to camp for a week. 

"You want your kid to be able to be part of these activities and enjoy having the summer camp experience, and it seems inflation is likely the biggest issue right now."

Inflation is also affecting the cost of running the camps. Reid says fees at Camp Seggie were raised to compensate. 

All three camps are faith-based and have reached out to congregations across the Island to pitch in.

In just one week, the United Church on PEI raised over $1,200 to help subsidize fees, said Alex Corbett, the executive director at Camp Corbett. 

The camps say they've also turned to corporate sponsors and individual donors.

Overall, enrolment is up at both Camp Abegweit and Camp Seggie, compared to pre-pandemic. 

Corbett said they're seeing their highest enrolment numbers in over a decade. He thinks that's probably because parents are eager to get their kids back to normal summer activities — and unplug a bit. 

"They want their kids off the devices. They're on their devices at home. They're on their devices at school," said Corbett. "So camp is really a great spot for them to remove themselves from technology and get that one-on-one connection with someone."

Requests for financial assistance are made when campers register. Parents or guardians can ask for help with the entire cost, but many just need help with part of the fee. 

"We ask them to contribute what they can," said Corbett. "If they can't afford any part of it, that's okay. But we do ask them to try and contribute something and then we'll cover the rest."