Tipping for all-summer day camp

[Anonymous]

How much would you tip for a six-week day camp? Does the cost of the camp factor in at all?

This is our DC’s first camp experience (spent last two summers at grandparents). She has two main counselors who are paraprofessional during the school year. And do we give something to the camp director (who is a full time teacher during the year).

Not sure if any of that context matters. I would like to give something, experience has been great so far.

[Anonymous]

Zero

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Zero

Really? Is tipping not the norm?

I worked at day camps in college and most parents tipped. I usually received between $50-$100 per kid. The camp didn’t pay much so the tipping really helped me out.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never heard of tipping, and my kid has been doing summer camps for four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero

Really? Is tipping not the norm?

I worked at day camps in college and most parents tipped. I usually received between $50-$100 per kid. The camp didn’t pay much so the tipping really helped me out.

That's a huge amount of money for many.

I'd do a small gift card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero

Really? Is tipping not the norm?

I worked at day camps in college and most parents tipped. I usually received between $50-$100 per kid. The camp didn’t pay much so the tipping really helped me out.

Did you work in the Northeast (or specifically NY)? Tipping counselors is very common here - so much so that we get a letter about it with the names of all of the staff members who interact with our children! Ours doesn’t provide monetary guidelines, though similar all-summer camps do, with suggestions for head counselors ($10-15/week); assistant counselors ($5-10/week); CITs, bus drivers, and bus counselors ($5/week), and swim instructors ($5/week). I used that guideline as a starting point for my tips last summer. For an office of one, I would write a nice note but not give a gift. Our office has multiple staff members, so I gave a group gift certificate to a local restaurant from which they frequently ordered lunch. But, then again, I’m in NY. Growing up in the DMV, my parents never tipped counselors, even for sleepaway camp!

[Anonymous]

Zero
The counselors where I work wouldn’t even be allowed to accept it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero

Really? Is tipping not the norm?

I worked at day camps in college and most parents tipped. I usually received between $50-$100 per kid. The camp didn’t pay much so the tipping really helped me out.

Did you work in the Northeast (or specifically NY)? Tipping counselors is very common here - so much so that we get a letter about it with the names of all of the staff members who interact with our children! Ours doesn’t provide monetary guidelines, though similar all-summer camps do, with suggestions for head counselors ($10-15/week); assistant counselors ($5-10/week); CITs, bus drivers, and bus counselors ($5/week), and swim instructors ($5/week). I used that guideline as a starting point for my tips last summer. For an office of one, I would write a nice note but not give a gift. Our office has multiple staff members, so I gave a group gift certificate to a local restaurant from which they frequently ordered lunch. But, then again, I’m in NY. Growing up in the DMV, my parents never tipped counselors, even for sleepaway camp!

Ah, yes, thanks this is helpful. Yes, I worked in NY. Did not realize it was a regional thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero

Really? Is tipping not the norm?

I worked at day camps in college and most parents tipped. I usually received between $50-$100 per kid. The camp didn’t pay much so the tipping really helped me out.

Did you work in the Northeast (or specifically NY)? Tipping counselors is very common here - so much so that we get a letter about it with the names of all of the staff members who interact with our children! Ours doesn’t provide monetary guidelines, though similar all-summer camps do, with suggestions for head counselors ($10-15/week); assistant counselors ($5-10/week); CITs, bus drivers, and bus counselors ($5/week), and swim instructors ($5/week). I used that guideline as a starting point for my tips last summer. For an office of one, I would write a nice note but not give a gift. Our office has multiple staff members, so I gave a group gift certificate to a local restaurant from which they frequently ordered lunch. But, then again, I’m in NY. Growing up in the DMV, my parents never tipped counselors, even for sleepaway camp!

Ah, yes, thanks this is helpful. Yes, I worked in NY. Did not realize it was a regional thing.

This is definitely a regional thing. I have family in Northern NJ where they always tip as many counselors make almost nothing but in DC we do not.

[Anonymous]

Never crossed my mind to tip.

[Anonymous]

As a camp counselor myself, a gift card
Would be nice and appreciated. Even if it is 15-20 dollars. We work really hard!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a camp counselor myself, a gift card
Would be nice and appreciated. Even if it is 15-20 dollars. We work really hard!!!

Its a job, most people work hard at their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Zero. It’s their job.

[Anonymous]

I've never tipped counselors. DS is a counselor now and hasn't been tipped. It would never occur to me to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zero

Really? Is tipping not the norm?

I worked at day camps in college and most parents tipped. I usually received between $50-$100 per kid. The camp didn’t pay much so the tipping really helped me out.

I also worked at day camps (in NOVA) and never got a tip. I’ve never even heard of people tipping camp counselors.