Nature Camps
Camp Sliding Scale Pricing
A sliding scale pricing structure can make day camp affordable by removing financial barriers and expanding access to camp for families in an easy, dependable, and confidential process. Sliding scale options are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is limited tiered pricing available per camp, per tier.
How It Works
1. Choose your tier using the chart below. Relevant gross family income includes the income of the parent(s) or caregiver(s) living with the child; child support is not included while determining your sliding scale tier. Household size refers to all of the family members living with the child (parents or legal guardians, their children/dependents, and the camper being registered).
| Gross Family Income | <$50k | $50k–$59k | $60k–$69k | $70k–$86k | $87k–$104k | $105k–$124k | $125k–$149k | $150k–$159k | $160k–$199k | $200k+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Family Members | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 |
| 3 Family Members | Tier 1 | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 |
| 4 Family Members | Tier 1 | Tier 1 | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 | Tier 5 |
| 5 Family Members | Tier 1 | Tier 1 | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 2 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 |
| 6+ Family Members | Tier 1 | Tier 1 | Tier 1 | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 2 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 |
2. When you register: select the price that fits your family’s income tier. The system will show your balance, and you will be asked to pay a deposit at the time of registration; you have until May 1 to pay your balance in full.
3. When your camp requests your camper’s medical and other information securely via CampDoc, you will be required to upload income verification documents such as tax returns, pay stubs, or similar documents. Registrants at Tiers 4 and 5 are not required to submit income verification.
4. Camp administrative staff with Personal Information Protection (PIP) training will review income verification documents, confirm your tier based on reported gross family income, and will contact any family with discrepancies.
5. All campers must have an active Mass Audubon membership. Families on Tiers 1-3 may add or update their membership at no cost during registration.
Additional Financial Aid & Payment Plans
Additional financial assistance may also be available. Please note: In order to be eligible, you must register for camp using the correct sliding scale tier for your family. Since financial aid is not guaranteed, families should be prepared to pay the full tier amount. Payment plans can also be arranged. Please contact the camp director for further information on both financial aid and payment plans.
When Sliding Scale Tiers Fill
Sliding scale options are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is limited tiered pricing available per camp, per tier. If your tier has filled, you can either register at a higher tier and commit to that price level, or you can join the camp’s waitlist, found on each program listing.
Support Access to Camp for All
The cost of camp makes it possible for us to maintain low camper-to-staff ratios, offer competitive wages for staff and provide rich, hands-on learning for campers. Learn more about camp costs on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
We continue to work on expanding our sliding scale program to help more kids get to camp. Each summer, around 20% of our campers are able to attend camp because of sliding scale, but we receive many more requests for sliding scale than we are able to provide. Camp is a significant investment for many of our families; if you are able to register for camp at Tier 5, you will make it possible for more campers to experience the magic of a Mass Audubon summer camp.