Themed specialty week camp

Parents and guardians looking for a focused activity for a child who has a specific interest, usually paying per week.

Weekly fees per child with small group sizes. You can add half-day and full-day options, and sell materials kits or showcase events.

• Expertise in your chosen theme
• Teaching and engaging children
• Basic marketing and social media
• Planning and budgeting

• Child care licensing rules differ by province, and shorter or part-day programs are sometimes treated differently; check with your provincial regulator
• Commercial general liability insurance, and many venues will want proof of cover before you book
• Police record checks, first aid training and staff ratios for you and any helpers
• Park or field permits from your municipality for outdoor camps, and a wet-weather backup plan
• Waivers, allergy information and emergency contacts for every child
• Check whether GST/HST applies once your revenue grows

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on your theme, venue hire, supplies and insurance. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on group size, camp weeks and what you charge per week.

Child care licensing rules differ by province, and shorter or part-day programs are sometimes treated differently, so check with your provincial regulator. Also check police record checks, first aid training, staff ratios, and commercial general liability insurance, which many venues want before you book.

Check for park or field permits from your municipality for outdoor camps, and have a wet-weather backup plan. Also gather waivers, allergy information and emergency contacts for every child, and check whether GST/HST applies once your revenue grows.