Customer Retention Tools to Boost Summer Camp Bookings and Increase Retention

Written by
Caitlin Martin
2
min read
Growth
Business Advice
Marketing

Whether you run kids’ activity camps year-round or offer seasonal programmes during the holidays, you already know there’s a strong demand for fun-filled, engaging sessions.

Camps can provide  more time to sharpen skills, convenient childcare, a great way to keep the kids entertained, or learn something new whilst school’s out. For you, they are a great way to boost bookings and increase customer retention.

But great experiences alone aren’t always enough to bring parents back.  

To build long-term loyalty, you need smart, streamlined processes and personalised touches that keep families coming back. So how do you turn one-time attendees into loyal customers?

Here are our top tools and customer retention strategies to make your camps not only memorable but easy to return to.  

Our top customer retention strategies for busy kids’ clubs

The booking experience is often a parent’s first impression of your club- and a frustrating one can lead them straight to your competitor.  

One of the most effective customer retention tools is a flexible, intuitive online booking system that removes the hassle from the moment they sign up.

Make Booking a Breeze

  • Keep it friction-free: Parents don’t want to jump through hoops just to get their kids into your camp. A seamless journey from discovery to checkout helps reduce drop-offs. Parents should be able to book in minutes on mobile, during the school run, or between Zoom calls.  
  • Flexible booking options: Whether they want a full week of fun or just a Moana Monday and Pokémon Friday, let parents mix and match days to suit their schedule.  
  • Add on services for convenience: Enable early drop-offs and late pick-ups via your ClassForKids system in minutes. These features are lifesavers for working parents, and extra income for you.  
  • Cashless payments: Skip the awkward ‘Can I pay later?’ chats. Go fully digital to cut admin and increase security.  

💡 Top Tip: Embed your booking system into your website or Facebook page to increase visibility and make it easier for parents to book on the go.  

[.blue__text]Click here to find out how you can fill your holiday camps with camp management software.[.blue__text]

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Reward Loyalty and Encourage Repeat Bookings

Looking to increase customer retention long term? Reward the families who come back.  

Everyone loves a deal, especially parents booking for multiple kids across the summer.  

With the right customer retention tools, you can:

  • Automate sibling and loyalty discounts
  • Generate one-off discount codes
  • Track performance to see which offers convert the best

💡 Top Tip: After a great camp experience, offer families a discount on regular classes to turn short-term interest into long-term engagement.

Make Camps the Gateway to Term-Time Loyalty

Don’t let your summer stars drift away. Seasonal bookings are the perfect chance to introduce year-round programme.  

Your goal should be to ensure that:

  • Re-booking is easy
  • Communication is clear
  • Value is evident
  • Loyalty is rewarded

Think of your camp as the open day before the new term. Give them a memorable time and make it easy to come back.

 

To compare your options and find the best camp management software for your needs, check out our blog: [.orange__text]Best Camp Management Software of 2025[.orange__text].

Advertise Smart: Use Happy Campers to Grow

Word-of-mouth is gold. Strike while the iron’s hot: reach out to parents right after their camp experience ends.  

Encourage reviews, testimonials and referrals right after camp ends, when families are still buzzing from the experience.  

  • Send a short feedback form through your customer retention system
  • Ask for Google or Facebook reviews
  • Provide a refer-a-friend discount code to extend your reach.  

💡 Top Tip: Parents trust other parents. A glowing review often matters more than any ad spend.  

Ready to see Camp Families Return Again and Again?

‍With flexible booking options, clear communication, automated discounts, and insightful reports, you’re not just running great camps- you’re building a sustainable business that grows with every season.

ClassForKids offers all the customer retention tools you need to stay ahead, so you can spend less time on admin and more time leading obstacle courses, campfire songs, or planning your next Harry Potter day.  

Let’s make this your best summer ever, for you and your camp families.  

Discover how ClassForKids can help you increase bookings and build long-term loyalty with our all-in-one booking and management system.  

See how our award-winning booking and management software can help you reach your camp customer retention goals.

[.rt__btn]Watch 10-minute Demo[.rt__btn]

Caitlin Martin

Cait is our in-house social media manager and digital content writer. When she isn’t brainstorming puns or chasing participants for TikToks, she can be found outside running, playing her fiddle in Scottish pubs, travelling on the Avanti West Coast train line to visit her family (read, dog), or nestled up on the sofa with a good book or movie.