Are Camp Expenses Tax Deductible?

It’s that time of year when we have parents calling to inquire about Rockbrook’s Federal Tax ID, presumably to list the camp on their tax returns.  They hope their summer camp expenses can be written off, that they can receive some kind of tax deduction for what they spent sending their children to camp.   While we are not tax accountants here at Rockbrook, we can at least summarize what we know and point you to other resources we think might be helpful.  There is a certain amount of confusion revolving around this issue because some, but not all, camp expenses qualify as “Child and Dependent Care Expenses.”

First of all, the IRS document that spells this out is Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. It identifies who can claim the credit, how to calculate it, and most importantly for us, what sorts of childcare providers qualify. The question is, does Rockbrook qualify as a childcare provider? If so, and assuming you qualify in other ways (e.g., both parents working), you may be able to claim between 20% and 35% of your allowable childcare expenses— up to $3,000 per child or $6,000 per family.

Unfortunately, it appears that Rockbrook does not qualify as a child care provider for a rather simple reason. We are an overnight, sleepaway camp. The IRS is clear on this; while “the cost of day camp may count as an expense towards the child and dependent care credit, expenses for overnight camps do not.” I suppose the logic here is that this deduction is meant for child care expenses accrued because both parents are working (or looking for work), and hence a day camp is legitimately providing childcare during working hours. Yes, overnight camps provide that too, but what they charge also covers childcare when the parents are not working, i.e. at night. Perhaps a portion of overnight camp expenses should qualify as “work-related,” after all Rockbrook is taking care of your children while you work in the summer, but that is not how the current tax code reads.

Again, we are not tax experts, so please do not take this as advice. Your tax professional may have a different point of view (if so please share that in the comments!), and certainly there may be exceptions and other restrictions to consider.

Here is a good article published in Forbes to consider, and another from CBS News. Both do a nice job of discussing the restrictions, and both mention overnight camp expenses not qualifying.

Camp is the next 'High School Musical'

Did you see that the next “High School Musical” might be about summer camp? It’s true! Peter Barsocchini, the main writer for our favorite Disney Channel show with Zac and Vanessa, is set to begin filming in Malibu a pilot TV show about sleepaway camp. It’s supposed to be a comedy and will air on Nickelodeon. Beyond that, we can only guess what the show will be about and who will be starring in it. No doubt, though, there will be plenty of funny camp situations that the characters find themselves in— pranks, daily silliness, and the sort of camp crushes that happen at co-ed summer camps. As you know, camp is one of those places where you tend to laugh your head off, so this could be good!

Barsocchini is using the slogan, “Camp is why kids invented summer.” Well, we could also say, camp is what makes summer for kids. If you’ve been to Rockbrook, it’s just not summer without it.

Anxious about camp?

Going away to camp, particularly to an overnight or sleepaway camp, is a big step for kid. Being separated from parents, meeting loads of new people, and trying lots of new challenging activities— all these can be a little scary. Imagining it all, it’s easy to worry and find yourself asking “What if…?” kinds of questions. In fact, it’s just as common for parents to be scared and worried too. They also can suffer from a certain amount of “separation anxiety.”

There are a couple of things that can help both parents and kids feel better about this. First, realize that this is perfectly normal and all parents feel nervous about being away from their children for extended periods of time. Likewise, all children see their parents as their basic source of comfort and can at first be reluctant to go without it. Being away from each other requires both parents and children to develop a new sense of trust. Parents must trust the camp (its directors and staff, in particular) to take good care of their children, and each child must learn to trust themselves and their abilities away from home.

Fortunately, summer camps are ideal places for this kind of growth. They offer safe, structured environments where each girl finds plenty of fun things to do, but more importantly, caring adults trained to encourage her to make her own decisions, and to be more independent and self-confident. Camps have a lot of experience in this. They know it can take time, but have seen thousands of children succeed at camp and be better prepared for challenges later in life.

If you are considering summer camp for the first time, it can help to practice the kind of healthy separation camps represent. For example, it’s a good idea to schedule sleepovers at friends’ houses or other long weekends away from home.  Even with something this simple, kids learn they can do things on their own.

Camp is a wonderful experience for everyone.  For both parents and kids, it’s a chance to grow up a little.

Charlotte Camp Party

Loads of summer camp fun down in Charlotte! Yesterday Sarah traveled down to visit with our Charlotte NC girls, show the new Rockbrook movie and slides from this past summer, and meet some new girls interested in finding out more about camp. Since these camp parties are both mini reunions and information sessions, they are great ways to recharge your Rockbrook Spirit and learn what makes RBC so special.

At the party Sarah saw Katy Beltz, Rhonda Aucamp, Lisa Neely and Kristen Boye— all moms who attended Rockbrook when they were younger. In fact Kristen and Sarah were co-counselors at RBC back in 1992!

A special thanks to the Beltz family for hosting the party.  There’s Elizabeth and her two sisters Caroline and Margaret, and Gracie G. and Elizabeth A. too!

Those Charlotte summer camp girls really know how to get excited!

Camp Cabin Life

Occasionally we are asked if Rockbrook provides a day camp in addition to its overnight residential summer camps. Unfortunately, the answer is no; we run only our residential (overnight, sleepaway) programs, which means all of our girls spend the night when they come to camp. In fact, that’s a big part of the overall Rockbrook experience— being away from home, getting to know the other girls in your cabin, doing your share of the cabin chores, and hearing the night sounds of the forest from your bunk. Life in the cabin is for some girls their favorite part of going to a residential camp.

Spending those nights in the cabin with your friends somehow makes everything else at camp more exciting and fun.

New Orleans Girls Summer Camp Party

McKain and Shelby

Lots of summer camp excitement down in New Orleans! Last week Sarah traveled down to visit with our New Orleans girls, show the new Rockbrook movie and slides from this past summer, and meet some new girls interested in finding out more about camp. Since these parties are both mini reunions and information sessions, they are great ways to recharge your Rockbrook Spirit and learn what makes RBC so special. Of course, they’re bound to be a little silly and guaranteed to be plenty of fun too!  Thanks again to Shelby and her family for hosting the party.  Everyone had a wonderful time.

P.S. Recognize that shirt Shelby’s wearing?

Letters Home from Camp

Here’s an article that caught our eye over at the Christian Science Monitor, “Mom to Dad: ‘Think Jimmy’s Doing O.K. at Camp?’”  It’s a short piece written by Dave Horn about his time as an overnight camp counselor in the 60s.  While parents today have online photo galleries and blogs to see how their children are doing at camp, he notes just a few years ago there were only letters.  Parents had to mostly wonder and wait to find out about their camper’s camp experience.

But what if the campers didn’t write home much?  After all, they’re having too much fun to stop and write a letter.  Camps helped by asking the camper’s counselors to write quick notes to parents, reassuring them that all is well at camp (a tradition Rockbrook still follows).  To help his young campers even more, Dave Horn turned this letter writing into a game.  He had each camper take turns playing the “boss” and dictating a letter home.  The camper would sit down and recite what he wanted to tell his parents and Dave would type it out on his portable typewriter.  In this case, 1960s technology helping kids communicate from overnight camp.

I wonder if he mentioned hula hooping in your bathrobe?

A Sunset View From Camp

Here’s a classic photo that’s been circulated around a bit. It’s girls enjoying a sunset view from the top of Castle Rock at camp. A girl at an overnight summer camp can look forward to some incredible sunsets, and when she’s in the mountains of western North Carolina, there are also amazing long-range views too. It’s just another one of the great things we look forward to each summer!