Summer Camp Goldmine: Tap & Thrive Into this Booming $70B Industry
Summer camp is more than a rite of passage for kids; it’s a powerful economic engine, an avenue for youth development, and an incredible opportunity for outdoor business owners. According to a report from the University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute and the American Camp Association (ACA), the U.S. youth camp industry fuels over $70 billion in economic activity annually and supports nearly 1 million workers nationwide (University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute, 2023; American Camp Association, 2023). The ACA further emphasized that more than 26 million children attend camps annually- both day and overnight, which makes this one of the most impactful, yet often overlooked, segments of the outdoor economy (ACA, 2023).




