SCH’s summer camp program continues to grow at an unbelievable rate. Called Summerside, SCH’s modern camp system was established in 2017 to expand the SCH brand and create “non-tuition revenue” that aids the “growth of our current programs,” said Heather. Murphy, the director of auxiliary and special programs for SCH. Summerside is open for ten weeks during the summer and offers different activities that range from STEM to sports to the arts. Since Summerside’s inception, the camp has exploded in size and popularity, almost doubling the number of weeks sold in the last two years (‘Weeks sold’ refers to the number of weeks a camper will attend. A camper can attend for a maximum of ten weeks).
“It’s felt a bit like whiplash,” said Mr. Morris, the director of summer programs at SCH. “We’re only two weeks into registration [for this summer], and are already close to beating last year’s sign-ups.” Within the first day, SCH camps had already sold 1,007 weeks for this coming summer. What’s so remarkable about this number is that the amount of weeks sold in 24 hours was more than the school had sold in 2021 all year. So, what’s the reason for the yearly increase? Ms. Murphy thinks Summerside owes some of its success to the location of the camp.
“Summerside Camps is an urban oasis,” Murphy said. “We call ourselves that because [Summerside] gives campers access to the entire Wissahickon.” In a nation that continues to urbanize, access to parks has become extremely important to many parents. The biggest factor, Murphy believes, is referrals from previous customers. “I attribute our strongest growth to word of mouth. When people are having a great experience, they tell their friends.”
Why should students be excited about the growth of the Summerside program? Firstly, the more popular Summerside is, the more great jobs are offered to students. Spencer Curry, a SCH camp counselor, stated that “[the camp] provides a great opportunity to connect with the younger generation and mold the minds that will be dictating the future.” Summerside doesn’t just provide jobs for students, it’s also an important part of SCH’s finances. “We generate important revenue for the school,” said Mr. Morris. The revenue generated by Auxiliary Programs, including Summerside Camps, contributes to offsetting expenses that the school incurs and “helps keep tuition prices down, and supports maintenance of our facilities.” A profitable SCH summer camp means Summerside also plays a valuable part in recruiting potential students to the school. “It helps get our name out there,” said Mr. Morris. “It shows the world all the great things [SCH] offers.”
