During the summer camp season, it's the perfect time to ramp up your social media presence. Engaging with campers, parents, and the community can boost enrollment and create a memorable brand. Here are some creative social media ideas to keep your audience excited and engaged throughout the summer.
Key platforms and strategies:
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Facebook: Event pages, virtual tours, live updates
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Instagram: Photos/videos of activities, Stories for behind-the-scenes
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TikTok: Camp challenges, counselor talent showcases
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X/Twitter: Live-tweeting events, quick updates
Top ideas:
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360-degree virtual camp tours
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Daily countdown posts to camp day
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Alumni spotlights and takeovers
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User-generated content challenges
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Live streaming camp activities
Linking booking to social media:
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Add "Book Now" buttons on profiles. You can embed most summer camp registration software such as Pembee on your social profiles, allowing parents to book easily.
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Share exclusive social media discounts
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Enable easy mobile payments
Tracking results:
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Monitor engagement (likes, comments, shares)
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Track link clicks and conversions
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Use analytics tools to measure ROI
By leveraging these strategies, camps can boost awareness, build community, and increase sign-ups.
| Platform | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Parents | Events, Live video | |
| Visual content | Stories, Reels | |
| TikTok | Younger audience | Challenges, short videos |
| X/Twitter | Quick updates | Live-tweeting, Q&As |
Using Social Media to Promote Summer Camps
Social media can help summer camps reach more people and get more sign-ups. Here's a quick guide on how to use different platforms:
Facebook is good for reaching parents:
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Make event pages for each camp session
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Share photos of camp activities
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Use Facebook Live to show camp facilities
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Run ads to reach parents in certain areas
Instagram is great for showing camp fun:
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Post photos and short videos of camp activities
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Use Instagram Stories for daily camp updates
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Use hashtags to help more people find your posts
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Ask past campers to take over your account for a day
TikTok
TikTok is popular with kids:
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Make fun camp challenges for people to join
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Show off counselor skills in short videos
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Share quick looks at camp activities
X/Twitter
X/Twitter is good for quick updates:
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Post live updates during camp events
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Share daily camp highlights
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Answer questions from campers and parents
YouTube
YouTube lets you share longer videos:
| Video Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Camp Tours | Show people around the camp |
| Highlight Reels | Best moments from past camps |
| Testimonials | What campers and parents say about the camp |
1. Facebook Event Pages for Summer Camps
How to Use Them
Facebook event pages help summer camps promote their sessions and talk to potential campers and parents. These pages let camps:
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Make separate pages for different camp sessions
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Give details about dates, times, and places
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Post updates before the camp starts
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Ask people to invite friends and share the event
Talking to People
Event pages on Facebook let camps talk directly to their audience. Some good ways to do this are:
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Posting updates about camp plans
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Sharing photos and videos from past camps
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Answering questions in the comments
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Making polls to ask about camp activities
How to Set Up an Event Page
Setting up Facebook event pages is easy. Here's how:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Make a Facebook business page for your camp |
| 2 | Click "Events" on the left side of your page |
| 3 | Choose "Create New Event" and fill in the details |
| 4 | Add good photos and descriptions |
| 5 | Invite your followers and ask them to share |
Making Your Page Stand Out
To make your event pages look good, try these ideas:
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Use photos that show what your camp is about
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Post countdown updates as the camp gets closer
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Have live Q&A sessions on the event page
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Show what a day at camp is like
2. Virtual Tours on Facebook Live
Facebook Live lets summer camps show off their camp to people who might want to come. It's a good way to let parents and kids see the camp without being there.
How to Use Facebook Live
Facebook Live is easy to use and many people have Facebook. To make your tour work well:
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Tell people when you'll do the tour
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Make sure you have good internet
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Use a good phone or camera
Talking to People During the Tour
When you do a live tour, you can talk to people watching:
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They can ask questions right away
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You can answer questions as you go
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It feels special because it's happening now
To get people to join in:
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Ask them to ask questions about the camp
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Have camp workers talk about what they do
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Show fun camp activities
How to Set Up a Tour
Setting up a Facebook Live tour is not hard:
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Plan where you'll go and what you'll say |
| 2 | Get a phone or camera ready |
| 3 | Check the internet in all areas |
| 4 | Start the live video on your camp's Facebook page |
Making Your Tour Fun
To make your tour more fun:
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Show what a day at camp is like
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Do something surprising, like sing a camp song
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Have campers or staff join in to make it real
3. Eye-Catching Instagram Photos and Videos
Instagram helps summer camps show off their activities and get more campers. It's good for sharing pictures and videos that make people want to come to camp.
How to Use Instagram
Instagram is all about pictures and videos. Summer camps can use it to share:
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Good photos of camp activities
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Short videos (up to 60 seconds) of fun camp moments
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Instagram Reels (up to 90 seconds) for fun, creative content
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IGTV for longer videos (up to 60 minutes)
Post regularly so people keep coming back to see what's new.
Getting People Involved
To get more people to like and comment on your posts:
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Use hashtags like #SummerCamp or #CampLife so people can find you
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Ask campers to share their own photos with a special camp hashtag
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Answer comments and messages quickly
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Have contests or challenges on Instagram
You can also work with past campers to help spread the word about your camp.
Making Your Posts Stand Out
Here are some ways to make your Instagram posts different:
| Idea | Description |
|---|---|
| Before-and-after photos | Show how projects change from start to finish |
| Time-lapse videos | Show how you set up camp or do an activity |
| "A Day in the Life" | Show what campers do all day |
| Staff and camper spotlights | Show off what people at camp can do |
These ideas can help make your Instagram page more fun and interesting for people who might want to come to your camp.
4. Instagram Stories for Behind-the-Scenes Content
Instagram Stories help summer camps show what's happening at camp right now. These posts last for 24 hours, which makes people want to check them often.
How to Use Instagram Stories
Camps can use Stories to show:
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What campers do each day
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Who the staff are
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What campers say about camp
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How they get ready for special days
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Nice views of the camp area
Getting People Involved
Stories let people join in:
| Feature | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Polls | Ask what activities or food people like |
| Questions | Let people ask staff about camp |
| Countdowns | Show when camp starts or when to sign up |
| Quizzes | Test people on camp facts or rules |
| Links | For big accounts, add links to sign up |
Easy to Make
Making Stories is quick and simple:
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Use a phone to take photos and videos
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No need for fancy equipment
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Use built-in tools like text and stickers
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Save important Stories to keep them longer
Fun Ideas for Stories
Try these ideas to make Stories more fun:
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Let staff or campers run the account for a day
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Show how projects change from start to end
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Show how you get ready for camp events
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Give sneak peeks of new things at camp
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Use moving pictures (GIFs) of camp life
5. Live-Tweeting Camp Events
Live-tweeting camp events is a good way to share what's happening at your summer camp right away. Here's how to use X/Twitter to show off your camp activities:
How to Use X/Twitter
X/Twitter is great for quick updates. Make a special hashtag for your camp, like this:
| Hashtag Type | Example |
|---|---|
| For your camp | #SummerCamp2024 |
| For big events | #CampTalentShow |
| For daily fun | #CampAdventures |
Why It's Good
Live-tweeting helps:
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Keep parents updated
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Get campers involved in social media
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Make followers feel part of the camp
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Show new people how fun camp is
How to Start
It's easy to start live-tweeting:
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Pick someone to run the X/Twitter account
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Decide what to post and how often
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Ask staff and campers for ideas
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Use a tool to plan some tweets ahead of time
Fun Ideas
Try these to make your tweets more fun:
| Idea | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Q&A time | Let people ask camp counselors questions |
| Quick votes | Ask followers to pick the next activity |
| Photo updates | Show how projects change from start to end |
| Camper spotlight | Pick a "Camper of the Day" to feature |
These ideas can help make your camp's X/Twitter account more interesting for everyone.
6. Camp-Themed TikTok Challenges
TikTok challenges can help promote your summer camp and get more people to see it online. By making camp-themed challenges, you can get campers, staff, and possible future campers to join in.
How to Use TikTok
TikTok is good for short videos that show fun camp moments. Use these TikTok features:
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Duets: Ask campers to make videos with your camp videos
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Hashtags: Make special hashtags for your camp and challenges
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Sounds: Use popular songs or make your own camp sounds
Why It's Good
Camp-themed TikTok challenges can:
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Get campers and staff to make videos about camp
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Show possible campers how fun camp is
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Make past and present campers feel like part of a group
Try challenges that show camp activities, traditions, or things learned at camp. For example:
| Challenge | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Camp Dance | Make an easy dance for campers to learn and do |
| Nature Hunt | Ask people to find and show cool things from nature |
| Talent Show | Let campers share what they're good at in short videos |
| Camp Spirit | Have people show they love camp with cheers or costumes |
Making It Fun
To make your TikTok challenges stand out:
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Use things that are special to your camp, like mascots
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Be funny to make people want to watch
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Work with popular TikTok makers who like camping
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Give prizes or put the best videos on your camp's TikTok account
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7. Counselor Talent Showcases on TikTok
Showing off your camp counselors' skills on TikTok is a good way to get kids and parents interested in your camp. It also shows how much fun your staff can bring to camp.
How to Use TikTok
TikTok is great for short videos. Counselors can show what they can do in 15-60 second clips. Use these TikTok features:
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Duets: Ask viewers to copy counselor videos
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Hashtags: Make a special tag for your counselor videos (like #CampCounselorTalent)
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Sounds: Use popular music or make your own camp sounds
Why It's Good
Showing counselor talents can:
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Make your camp staff seem more real
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Show what kids can learn at camp
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Make videos that kids and parents like
Try doing a "Counselor Talent of the Week" to keep people watching.
Fun Ideas
Ask counselors to think of cool ways to show what they can do. Here are some ideas:
| What They Can Do | Video Idea |
|---|---|
| Arts & Crafts | Quick painting or paper folding |
| Sports | Trick shots or cool moves |
| Music | Short song covers or playing an instrument |
| Dance | Short dances to popular songs |
| Outdoor Skills | Quick camping tips or naming plants |
These videos can help make your camp look fun and show off what your counselors know.
8. 360-Degree Virtual Camp Tours
360-degree virtual camp tours let people see your summer camp online. They can look around the camp from home, which helps them know what to expect.
How to Make and Share Tours
You can use these tools to make 360-degree tours:
| Platform | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Google Street View | Upload 360-degree pictures |
| Matterport | Make 3D tours |
| Facebook 360 | Share 360-degree photos and videos on Facebook |
| YouTube 360 | Put 360-degree videos on YouTube |
Why It's Good
360-degree tours can help:
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People look around on their own
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Show the camp better than regular photos
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Keep people on your website longer
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Make people want to come to camp
How to Do It
Making 360-degree tours is getting easier:
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Use a 360-degree camera or phone
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Take pictures of important camp areas
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Put the pictures together with special computer programs
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Put the tour on your website or social media
Making It Better
You can add these things to your tours:
| Idea | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Clickable spots | Show more info about certain places |
| Voice guide | Tell people about the camp as they look |
| Different seasons | Show how the camp looks all year |
| Special tours | Focus on things like sports or art areas |
These tours can help people see what your camp is like before they come.
9. Daily Countdown Posts to Camp Day
Daily countdown posts help build excitement for your upcoming summer camp. By posting each day until camp starts, you can keep people interested and get them ready for camp.
How to Use Different Platforms
Use many social media sites for your countdown posts:
| Platform | What to Post |
|---|---|
| Stories and regular posts | |
| Updates on event page and main page | |
| X/Twitter | Daily tweets with camp hashtags |
| TikTok | Short, fun videos about camp activities |
Getting People Involved
Countdown posts can get people to join in:
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Ask campers and parents to share why they're excited in comments
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Use polls or questions in Instagram Stories
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Have special days (like "Throwback Thursday" with old camp photos)
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Show different camp activities each day
How to Do It
Starting a countdown is easy:
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Plan what you'll post ahead of time
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Make all your posts look similar
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Use tools to post automatically each day
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Ask staff and old campers to help make posts
Fun Ideas
Try these ideas to make your countdown posts fun:
| Idea | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Camp Facts | Share one fun fact about camp each day |
| Meet the Staff | Introduce a different staff member each day |
| Daily Challenge | Give campers a new, fun task each day |
| Camper Stories | Share stories from excited campers and families |
These ideas can help keep people interested in your camp as the start date gets closer.
10. Alumni Spotlights and Takeovers
Showing off former campers helps prove how good your summer camp is. It can make new people want to come to camp.
How to Use Different Social Media
Use these sites to show alumni:
| Site | What to Post |
|---|---|
| Stories, long videos, regular posts | |
| Live talks, photo sets, long posts | |
| Job updates and work wins | |
| YouTube | Long interviews about camp |
Getting People Involved
Alumni posts can make more people join in:
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Let current campers ask alumni questions
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Have online meetups for old campers
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Make a special tag for alumni to use
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Ask alumni to teach current campers
How to Do It
It's easy to start showing alumni:
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Make a list of alumni who want to help
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Plan when to post about each person
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Write questions to ask them
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Use tools to post at the right times
Fun Ideas
Try these ideas to make alumni posts more fun:
| Idea | What It Is |
|---|---|
| "Where Are They Now?" | Show what jobs alumni have now |
| "Camp Skills at Work" | How camp helps in real jobs |
| "Alumni Adventures" | How camp made alumni like outdoors |
| "Family Camp Stories" | Show families who all went to camp |
Linking Online Booking and Payment to Social Media
Connecting your camp's booking and payment systems to social media can make it easier for parents to sign up and pay. Here's how to do it:
Quick Booking Links
Put booking links on your social media pages so parents can sign up fast. For example:
| Platform | How to Add Booking |
|---|---|
| Add a "Book Now" button | |
| Put booking link in bio | |
| X/Twitter | Add short booking links to tweets |
Special Social Media Deals
Make special offers just for social media users. This can help you get more sign-ups and see which sites work best.
1. Short-Time Offers: Post deals that end soon to get people to act fast.
2. Friend Discounts: Give discounts to people who share your posts and get friends to sign up.
3. Early Sign-Up Deals: Offer lower prices for early sign-ups only on social media.
Easy Payment Options
Make sure it's easy to pay when people click from social media:
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Let people pay different ways (credit cards, PayPal, etc.)
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Make sure payment pages work well on phones
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Show clear prices and rules about refunds
Using Good Reviews
Share what happy campers and parents say about your camp on social media. This can help new people trust your camp. Try these:
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Post videos of people saying good things on Facebook and Instagram
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Make a short video of good reviews for Instagram Stories
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Pin the best reviews to the top of your X/Twitter page
New Social Media Campaign Ideas for Summer Camps
Summer camps can use new social media campaigns to get more people interested and sign up more campers. Here are some good ideas to make your camp's online presence better:
Virtual Camp Tours
Show people around your camp online using 360-degree videos or live streaming. This lets possible campers and their parents see the camp from home. Try these:
| Platform | Tour Idea |
|---|---|
| Facebook Live | Weekly live tours of different camp areas |
| Instagram Stories | Short videos showing camp facilities |
| YouTube 360 | 360-degree videos where viewers can look around |
Countdown to Camp Day
Get people excited about camp with a daily countdown on all social media. You can:
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Post about a different theme each day (like "7 days until swimming!")
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Share old photos from past years
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Show sneak peeks of new activities or buildings
Alumni Spotlights
Show how your camp helps people long-term by talking about former campers. Try these:
| Platform | Alumni Spotlight Idea |
|---|---|
| "Where Are They Now?" with old and new photos | |
| Job successes of past campers | |
| TikTok | Quick talks with alumni about their best camp memories |
User-Made Content Challenges
Get your community to make and share content about your camp. Some ideas:
1. Camp Song Challenge
Ask campers to make their own version of the camp song.
2. Camp Spirit Photo Contest
Tell people to share photos showing camp spirit to win prizes.
3. Talent Show Submissions
Have possible campers send short videos showing what they're good at.
Tracking Social Media Results and Booking Numbers
Keeping an eye on how well your social media posts do and how many people book your camp is important. This helps you see if your online efforts are working and how to make them better.
Important Things to Measure
Here are some key things to look at:
| What to Measure | What It Means | Why It's Important |
|---|---|---|
| Likes, Comments, Shares | How much people interact with your posts | Shows if people like what you're posting |
| Number of People Reached | How many people see your content | Tells you if your camp is getting known |
| Clicks on Links | How many people click on your links | Shows if people want to learn more |
| Bookings from Clicks | How many clicks turn into camp sign-ups | Tells you if your posts lead to bookings |
| Cost to Get a New Camper | How much you spend to get one new camper | Helps you spend your money wisely |
Tools to Help You Track
Use these tools to see how you're doing:
1. Google Analytics
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See where your website visitors come from
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Check how many people book camp
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Learn what people do on your booking pages
2. Built-in Social Media Tools
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Use tools that come with Facebook, Instagram, etc.
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See how your posts are doing
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Find out when it's best to post
3. Social Media Manager Tools
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Use tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social
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Get reports that show all your social media in one place
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See how you're doing compared to other camps
Connecting Social Media to Bookings
To know if your social media is getting you bookings:
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Add special codes to your social media links
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Make special web pages for each social media ad
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Use special discount codes just for social media
Conclusion
Social media is now very important for summer camps to talk to people, show what they do, and get more sign-ups. Using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter, camps can make posts that both kids and parents like. They can do things like:
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Show camp tours online
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Have live events
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Talk about old campers
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Make fun challenges
To do well, camps should:
1. Mix social media with easy sign-up
Make it simple for families to book online after seeing social media posts.
2. Keep track of how well posts do
| What to Check | Why It's Important |
|---|---|
| Likes and comments | Shows if people like the posts |
| How many see the posts | Tells if more people know about the camp |
| Clicks on links | Shows if people want to learn more |
| Sign-ups from clicks | Tells if posts lead to bookings |
3. Post often and try new ideas
By doing these things, camps can:
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Get more people to know about them online
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Make people feel part of a camp community
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Get more kids to sign up for camp
Effectively utilizing social media platforms can significantly contribute to the growth and overall success of summer camps.