Metro Atlanta parents scramble to secure summer camp spots
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
The summer camp "Hunger Games" have begun.
Why it matters: Metro Atlanta is in the middle of summer camp sign-up season, with some popular programs filling up fast.
- For parents, that means refreshing registration websites while sitting at work, trading tips in group chats and creating color-coded spreadsheets to juggle logistics.
Zoom in: Registration dates for camps are creeping up earlier, sometimes into December or even the fall, so organizers can lock in revenue, buy supplies and hire staffers.
- This past week, the Alliance Theatre saw record registration numbers for the roughly 5,000 spots at performance camps throughout metro Atlanta, a spokesperson told Axios.
State of play: Fernbank Museum opens registration for its summer camp on Tuesday. Slots for Little Shop of Stories' popular literature-focused program, Josh Powell Summer Camp and Zoo Atlanta are already open.
Context: Summer camps are a wonderful way for kids and teens to develop skills, build friendships and keep busy.
- They are also often the only day care option during the summer months for dual-income households.
Yes, but: Finding the right camp can feel like a part-time job, Kathryn Hatcher, the founder and CEO of Camply, an Atlanta platform that helps parents plan summer camp, told Axios.
- The platform, which launched last summer, includes more than 500 metro Atlanta camps, Hatcher said.
- More than 40 families have signed up for a premium membership that helps parents organize schedules, manage registration and line up their kids' schedules with their friends', she said.
The big picture: Metro Atlanta is home to hundreds of camps, Hatcher said. There's something out there for your child.
The bottom line: Hatcher advises parents to start looking early, especially for camps capitalizing on recent trends. The Studios Brookhaven's K-Pop Demon Hunter-themed camp filled up so fast that organizers added another session, Hatcher said.
- Be honest about your bandwidth and time, Hatcher said. Consider the camp's hours, your commute, and the mental load of juggling schedules.
"That camp might look great," she said, "but if you're spending three hours a day in the car during your workday, you're going to regret it by June."
May the odds be ever in your favor.