Dates and tuition table for our kids programs 2019

We offer programming that is intentionally crafted to provide adventure, challenge and socioemotional growth through a variety of 150+ activities. There truly is something for everyone at Augusta.
Comparable camps charge significantly more, often several hundred – ask for the comparison charts and graphs. (upto $400 for two-week sessions, and upto $700 more for a one week session with nearly every other camp charging more, and offering less).
Many things included in our tuition are extra at other places – often adding $100 — $300 to the stated tuition. This fact is not included in the above calculus. We don’t charge for horses, wilderness excursions or rock climbing trips
As a non-profit, we don’t pay taxes, we receive donations, staff work for less, hundereds of hours of labor are donated, and we receive grants. These allow us to offer a high-quality program at a non-profit rate.
We don’t receive grants of any kind
Nearly all of our new programs are funded from camp-family donations — ask about a program or facility you may wish to sponsor!

Why does camp cost what it does?

Camp Expenses

Personally – perhaps from my days of research – I would be interested in where the money from my camper’s tuition goes. It is both interesting and important to note that Camp Augusta is supported solely by camper tuition fees and generous donations from individuals. We do NOT receive any support from any government, city or agency; Camp Augusta is an entirely self-supporting, independent non-profit camp.

Staff Salary (including workers’ comp and payroll taxes	50%	All counselors, village leaders, equestrian staff, masters of fun and games, program directors, assistant directors, office staff, bookkeeper, kitchen staff, recruiters, CIRCLE staff, arts director, and director. There are three, year-round staff included.
Program	10%	Everything related to running all programs, except for new programs, which are entirely funded via donations.
Site	12%	Some new mattresses and tents, clearing out the grease and kitchen lines, volunteer work weekend tasks (small improvements), cleaning the site up after a fall and winter laying dormant, road repairs, wood chips for various areas, pumping septic tanks, and scores of other things. New facilities are via donations.
Food	12%	International staff have all kinds of fees from SEVIS to agencies to travel and more.
Insurance	7%	Autos, business interruption, facilities, background checks, health, liability, and directors and officers
Utilities	4%	Phone, internet, web server, propane, trash, and electricity.
Training and Recruiting	3%	Lifeguards, CPR, 1st aide, Wilderness First Responders, Camp Horsemanship Association training, ropes course trainings, and other professional development. Also includes staff banquet.
Other (including taxes)	2%	Includes medical supplies, coverage for minor injuries and illness, store, office, shirts, finance charges, etc.

Except for counselors, who make about the industry average of roughly $2.50 an hour, the year-round staff make about half (sometimes less) of positions in their normal professional fields. Within camping, it is about 20% less than average. Why?

The value of camp is the exceptional 2:1 camper-to-staff overall ratio (not including kitchen or other non-camper direct position!), the wide and unique diversity of activities, the unequaled training staff receive, and the wonderful environment in which Camp Augusta is located. Those four things provide for meaningful relationships, opportunities, and experiences that remain an exceptional value in camping. Please see the “Camp Augusta Difference” page. Again, without the generosity of individuals that support the vision and mission of Camp Augusta, we would not be able to have the facilities and programs that we do — those are not funded via tuition.

Please click here if you would like to learn more about camp’s closure in 2020 and it’s impact on the 2021 season.

There you go! Now you know more about how Camp Augusta spends the money we take in. We frugally examine the budget every year, so that we can offer campers and families the best camping experience Camp Augusta can afford. The Camp Augusta website is entirely created in house, for free. Questions? Please ask the director! 🙂

A $500 non-refundable deposit per camper is taken at time of registration. Camp Augusta reserves the right to retain the $500 non-refundable deposit.

FULL refunds, including the $500 deposit, are available as long as we are able to fill the space (i.e., Someone from the waiting list accepts and pays for your forfeited spot).

There is no guarantee a forfeited spot will be filled. The closer it gets to summer sessions beginning, the less likely we are to fill the spot.
To the degree that we are able, Camp will offer prorated refunds if the cancellation or interruption occurrence is an insured, covered event.

There are NO REFUNDS for uncontrollable acts of nature or large-scale events outside of Camp Augusta’s control and NOT an insured event, including but not limited to:

Weather conditions
Fire and/or air quality
Earthquake
Contagion/outbreak (Including but not limited to COVID-19)
Utility failures
Inaccessibility
Civil unrest
Governmental order

Additional refund information:

Campers who leave due to illness or injury are refunded 50% of their remaining days.
No refund is made for early withdrawal, late arrival, or dismissal due to poor camper behavior.
Camp may dismiss any camper whose behavior, with or without reasonable accommodation, is deemed by camp, in its sole discretion, to be inimical to the operation of camp. In this instance no refund of tuition will be provided, and camp shall not be responsible for any additional costs of food, travel, or lodging that may result.

Horsemanship and all other activities (no hidden charges)
Staff-designed custom T-shirt for the given year
Overnight backpacking trip, rock climbing trip, Yuba trips, and other day excursions
24 hour supervision by staff (1:2 overall ratio) who have been exceptionally well screened and trained . . . the most extensive training in the US we know about.
Three great meals a day & snack prepared by a professional food-service staff using organic products internationally sourced from local farms.
Natural playground with waterfalls, forest, a lake, and the Yuba River recreational area
Check out the “Camp Augusta Difference” page

Camp Augusta is a nonprofit organization

Email the Director a Question