PCS to begin charging for summer camps

Pinellas County Schools will charge a registration fee for its summer camps for the first time this year, while also expanding the program with new camp options and extended dates. 

The district, which previously funded its summer programs through federal Covid relief funds, will now require families to pay a small fee to enroll their children in camps. Kim Hill, Director of Student Experience for Pinellas County Schools (PCS), said the shift was necessary as federal funding expires in September: “This is just a small fee that is allowing our kids to engage in some really high-interest camps with some great teachers.”

The new cost is $75 per summer camp session. For students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the cost will be $25 per week. According to PCS, as of January 2025, more than 46,000 students, about 52% of kids in the district, are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

The registration fee will help cover costs associated with running the camps, including teacher salaries, supplies and other operational expenses.

Along with the introduction of a registration fee, the district is expanding its camp offerings. This summer, PCS will provide programs across five categories: Visual arts, performing arts, career exploration, fitness and academics. Popular camps such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and culinary programs will return, alongside new options including a boys’ reading camp tied to the district’s literacy initiative.

The expansion also includes an extended schedule, with camps running in both June and July for the first time. “That’s giving parents some more options,” Hill said. “If they’re on vacation or in summer bridge, they’re still able to apply for those camps.”

Despite the fee, Hill emphasized that the district’s summer camps remain an affordable alternative compared to other specialty programs in the community. She also highlighted that camps are taught by certified instructors, ensuring high-quality instruction. 

“If you’re taking an art camp, you’re taking it with a certified art teacher. If you’re taking a welding camp, you’re taking it with a welding teacher,” she said.

The district’s most popular summer camps have historically filled up quickly. Hill noted that visual arts and performing arts camps typically draw high enrollment, while career-oriented camps like cosmetology and culinary programs also attract significant interest. STEM camps, she added, “are always filled.”

Families interested in enrolling their children must apply through the district’s online system at pcsb.org/summercamps by March 9. Parents can select up to three different camps for their child. Enrollment is not guaranteed, and Hill said demand often exceeds available spots. Accepted students will receive invitations beginning April 1, at which point parents must pay the registration fee. Families have until April 15 to confirm their child’s spot before the district begins offering seats to waitlisted students.

Beyond academics, Hill stressed the overall benefits of summer camps in keeping students engaged in meaningful learning experiences during the break. 

“It’s continuing learning in a lot of our camps, but it’s also fun,” she said. “We want to engage kids in areas of interest to them, expose them to different career paths, push literacy initiatives and provide STEM opportunities with high-level instructors. The past two summers that we’ve been running STEM camps, we’ve had huge success and seen a really good return on investment with kids excited about these areas.”

.