camp tips...????

[shoney]

I know we should be tipping the counselors at camp...but how much???? Do you base it on the cost of the camp...10%...15%...20%? We haven't done this camp before. It is full day at our town park....$200 per week per kid...we did 4 weeks for 2 kids. My one son only has 1 counseler and the other one has 3...how do we split this up???? Any thoughts from those out there..........To me, cash is the only way to go...no gift cards, gifts, etc...

 

[okeydokey]

I have never heard of tipping camp counselors.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

I also have never ever heard of tipping camp counselors.

May I ask : what would make you think that you would have to tip them ?

 

[clh2]

I have never heard of this either. Seriously - if you want to do something for them - what about $10 itunes GC's? Or - what about sub shop GC? I wouldn't do more than that. Heck - I wouldn't do it at all!

 

[AverageDiser]

I worked at several different camps as a Counselor, from Girl Scout camps to private $5000/summer camps, and at NONE of them were we allowed to accept monetary tips. You're better off doing a gift card or something like that if you feel like you need to do more than say thank you. I actually don't remember ever getting a gift though, maybe I need to go back into it..lol.

 

[shoney]

After speaking to friends who send their kids to private camps (500 to 1000) a week....they tip.

At our camp some our cit's in traing, so tips are there only compenstation.
The other olds kids make about 8 an hour. While no one has said the tip must be xyz...I don't want to be cheap or bust the bank.....If anyof you have tipped the counseler please share with me what you based it on....I am at a total loss here!!!

 

[Alsobrook]

Your best bet, then, is to ask your friends who tip at camp OR call the camp and ask the director what is customary at that camp.


That having been said, let's see....I went to 3 different camps, my wife was a camp counselor, my children have been to two different private camps each, and I have never heard of tipping a counselor.

And I don't mean to be nasty or ugly about it.... but I actually think it's sort of absurd.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughters camp gives you a "suggested tip" paper- it lists what you "may want" to tip the head councelor and assistant ones. The head one was 75.00-100.00 the assistants were 25.00-30.00 each.

 

[poohbear22]

Maybe we should just start keeping a wad of ones in our pocket and start tipping everyone.

 

[fakereadhed]

My daughters camp gives you a "suggested tip" paper- it lists what you "may want" to tip the head councelor and assistant ones. The head one was 75.00-100.00 the assistants were 25.00-30.00 each.

Is that camp or a Disney Cruise?

I was a counseler and never got tips, and didn't want any either.

 

[aprilgail2]

Is that camp or a Disney Cruise?

I was a counseler and never got tips, and didn't want any either.

I know the people they have working at camp don't get paid much- they rely on tips to make the money. Same thing with the town camps here- they make very little but get tips.

 

[RangerPooh]

I worked at camp that was on the pricier side and we never received tips, but then I worked on the day camp side rather than the residential camp side. The one time that I did receive something was from a parent who's son attended almost the entire summer. As a thank you she made all of the counselors at day camp large fleece blankets. It was unexpected and very thoughtful.

 

[pixiewings71]

DBF was a camp counselor while he was going to college, he did the camp thing over the summer. He was never tipped....and he actually drove the kids to and from camp in addition to being a counselor. Honestly, I would not tip a camp counselor, they are paid for what they do. If there was a certain counselor that impacted my child I would give that counselor a gift but it would not be a cash tip, it would be gift cards, probably a variety for places like Cold Stone, Starbucks, movies......but I wouldn't spend a ton of money.

 

[fakereadhed]

I know the people they have working at camp don't get paid much- they rely on tips to make the money. Same thing with the town camps here- they make very little but get tips.

I made 11.50 per day. It was hard work, but a great opportunity. And lots of fun on days off! We would get "real food". $5 gift cards to local fast food joints would be a great thank you.

 

[Franne]

I work in a pricey camp. Tipping is sort of expected but not always done, but most of the parents tip. My DDs are counselors there and make $900 for the summer, that's 8 weeks from 8-5 and they are also bus counselors. If it weren't for the tips they would never work there, even though they love working with the kids. They don't seem to mind not getting paid too much and even the hard work they do in the heat each day.

With that being said we send out a suggested tip letter, for a 4 week camper $30 for the group leader and $15 for each junior counselor. Then there are also suggested tips for the bus driver, bus counselors, and swim instructors. If it's an 8 week camper, double all those numbers.
When my kids were campers, I had to take my first paycheck and save it just for the tips!

 

[Gina]

Just when I thought I had heard it all... I was a camp counselor for a bunch of years, and it would have never crossed my mind that I should have been tipped. Now as a parent, it still would have never in a billion years crossed my mind to tip a camp counselor.

I know this is a novel idea, but how about everyone just does the job they signed on to do, for the amount of $$ they agreed to, and leaves it at that? Why is any job more deserving of some extra tip, and WHY do people feel that everyone else should subsidize their job choice??

Tipping camp counselors... I am just flabbergasted.

 

[JamesMom]

I was a YMCA day camp counselor the summer before college and made an average of $14 a day when minimum wage was $3.50. Yep I made about $2 an hour, but I was still a kid myself so it was fun. I don't recall getting any tips.
For the past two years I have worked (as a volunteer in addition to paying for camp for my boys) at my son's Cub Scout Day Camp - where was my tip, LOL!

 

[sk!mom]

Add me to the list of people who've never heard of tipping camp counselors. My DD15 is at a private 5 week dance Intensive now. This is her 5th year to attend some type of camp and tipping has never been suggested at any camp she's attended.

She flew across the country for camp this year and last so I don't meet the counselors. I'd have to give the tip to DD to pass on or mail it and hope that it was passed on to the right person.

Never done it- Never heard of it but I'm going to ask around.

 

[shoney]

I also have never ever heard of tipping camp counselors.

May I ask : what would make you think that you would have to tip them ?

my kids have done the 1/2 day playground program before and at the last day everyone has an envelope in their hand! My neighbors teen was a CIT and didn't get paid because he was in training...they just work for tips.

No one seems to talk about the amount in the envelope...this is the first time we did a full day so I am not sure what to do.

Sorry, I really didn't mean to start trouble...just asking if anyone had a formula or had a kid who received the tips....

 

[My5Mouseketeers]

I would not feel obligated to tip any camp counselor's/employees, but if you feel that someone went above and beyond to make your child's experience better then i would definitely tip them. My total tip "budget" would be about 20% of the cost of the camp.

I have tipped bus drivers who have either waited for my kid, dropped my kid at a more convenient location (or cleaned up vomit). I have tipped counselors that have drawn my child out of his shell, worked hard to encouraged him to be part of the group. and one counselor that really worked hard to improve my child's backstroke.

I would not feel obligated to tip any one who just treated my child as part of the "herd".