For many grassroots sports clubs across UK, summer marks the end of one season – but it shouldn’t mean the end of generating revenue.

A well-run summer camp can become one of the most valuable activities in your club’s calendar. It keeps children active during the school holidays, strengthens your relationship with existing members, introduces new families to your club, and generates valuable income during what is traditionally a quieter period.

But anyone who has organised a camp before knows the reality.

Registration forms get lost. Parents ask the same questions repeatedly. Volunteers spend evenings chasing payments, updating spreadsheets, and trying to keep track of who’s attending. Before the first whistle even blows, your committee has already invested dozens of hours in administration.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way.

With the right planning and the right technology, your club can deliver a professional camp experience while dramatically reducing the workload for volunteers. Here’s how.

Why Summer Camps Matter

Summer camps are about much more than filling a few days during the holidays.

They help clubs:

• Generate valuable off-season revenue
• Introduce new children and families to the club
• Keep existing members engaged during the break
• Showcase coaches and facilities
• Build stronger community relationships
• Create future players, members and volunteers

Many clubs see summer camps as one of their highest-return fundraising activities because they’re relatively low-cost to deliver while creating multiple long-term benefits.

For many children, a summer camp is also their very first experience of your club. A great first impression could lead to years of membership.

Start with a Great Registration Experience

The registration process often determines how parents perceive your camp before it even begins. If registration involves downloading forms, making bank transfers and emailing proof of payment, friction quickly builds.

Instead, make registering as easy as booking a cinema ticket.

With ClubZap, parents can register and pay securely in just a few taps from their phone. They immediately receive confirmation, while your club automatically captures every registration in one central dashboard.

ClubZap helps you:

• Accept secure online payments
• Track registrations in real time
• Eliminate paper forms and spreadsheets
• Collect emergency contacts and medical information
• Capture dietary requirements and consent forms during registration

Stay in Control as Registrations Grow

One of the biggest challenges for busy camps is simply knowing where you stand.

How many places are left? How much revenue has been generated? Is the camp nearly full?

ClubZap provides real-time visibility throughout the registration period, allowing organisers to make informed decisions without manually updating spreadsheets.

You can instantly see:

• Total registrations
• Revenue generated
• Remaining capacity
• Event status

If registrations reach capacity, ClubZap automatically prevents overselling, ensuring coaches aren’t overloaded and every participant has the best possible experience.

Create Camps That Work for Your Club

Every club runs camps differently. Some organise one-day goalkeeper clinics. Others run week-long summer camps, academy programmes or holiday workshops. Rather than forcing clubs into a standard template, ClubZap allows organisers to build events around their own requirements.

You can:

• Schedule multi-day camps
• Duplicate previous events to save time
• Pause registrations if needed
• Archive completed events
• Manage multiple camps simultaneously

This flexibility means volunteers spend less time recreating events every year and more time delivering great experiences.

Make Camps More Accessible with Flexible Pricing

One common challenge for clubs is balancing fundraising with affordability. Many families have more than one child attending camp, while others book multiple events throughout the summer. Offering flexible pricing can significantly improve registrations.

With ClubZap you can create:

• Sibling discounts
• Group discounts
• Early booking offers
• Promotional discount codes
• Custom pricing structures

Everything is applied automatically during checkout, removing manual calculations and reducing administration.

Give Parents Complete Confidence

Parents want reassurance before committing to a camp. They want to know:

• What happens each day?
• Where does it take place?
• What’s included?
• What should children bring?
• What happens if plans change?

ClubZap allows clubs to create a professional event page containing everything parents need before registering.

Include:

• Camp description
• Daily schedule
• Venue information
• Maps and directions
• Equipment lists
• Refund policy
• Contact details

By answering common questions upfront, you reduce emails, phone calls and WhatsApp messages for volunteers.

Keep Communication Simple

Communication doesn’t stop once registrations close. Parents still need reminders before camp begins.

Instead of sending dozens of individual messages, use ClubZap to communicate directly with registered attendees.

A few days before camp you can remind families about:

• Drop-off and collection times
• What to wear
• Equipment to bring
• Water bottles and packed lunches
• Weather updates
• Last-minute schedule changes

Clear communication creates a smoother experience for everyone involved and reduces unnecessary questions on the morning of the camp.

Promote This Year’s Camp While Planning Next Year’s

Summer camps create fantastic marketing opportunities.

Throughout the week:

• Share photos (with permission)
• Celebrate Player of the Day awards
• Highlight coaching sessions
• Post daily updates
• Thank sponsors and volunteers

Not only does this keep parents engaged, but it also creates excitement among families who didn’t attend.

That “we’ll definitely book next year” feeling is incredibly powerful.

Because your event remains saved within ClubZap, next year’s setup becomes even easier. Simply duplicate your previous event, update the dates, make any changes, and you’re ready to launch again.

Why Clubs Choose ClubZap for Summer Camps

Running a successful camp isn’t just about collecting registrations. It’s about creating an experience that’s easy for parents and manageable for volunteers.

With ClubZap your club can:

✅ Create professional event pages

✅ Accept secure online payments

✅ Track registrations and revenue in real time

✅ Limit capacity automatically

✅ Offer sibling, group and promotional discounts

✅ Collect medical and emergency information

✅ Communicate directly with attendees

✅ Duplicate successful camps year after year

Whether you’re running a one-day skills clinic or a week-long summer camp, ClubZap helps remove the admin so your volunteers can focus on delivering a brilliant experience.

Ready to Launch Your Next Summer Camp?

A successful summer camp doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with great planning, clear communication and a registration experience that’s simple for parents and effortless for volunteers.

Using ClubZap to handle registrations, payments, and communication means you maximise your fundraising potential while letting your coaches do what they do best.

Get planning, launch your summer camp on the app, and make this off season your most valuable one yet! Talk to our team today.