Campership Financial Aid Program

We understand that sending your child to camp can be a significant financial commitment. At Deer Lake, we believe every child should have the opportunity to experience the fun, adventure, and growth that our camp offers. That’s why we are proud to offer Camperships to help make camp more accessible for families.

Who is Eligible?

We offer two kinds of financial aid to our families.

The majority of our Campership Funds go to families who demonstrate financial need. Whether your family is facing economic hardship due to job loss, medical expenses, or other unforeseen circumstances, we are committed to helping make camp affordable. Priority is given to families who show the greatest need.

We also award Camperships to two campers based on how well they demonstrate Deer Lake’s camp philosophy and principles year-round.

Types of Financial Aid Available:

Payment Plans: Flexible installment options to help spread out the cost of camp over time.
Financial Assistance Campership: Partial tuition discounts based on financial need.
Deer Lake Happy Camper Campership: Full tuition awarded to 1 camper for 1 session to attend Deer Lake Day camp who best demonstrates the annual theme.
David Knapp Inclusion Campership: Full tuition awarded to 1 camper for 1 session to attend Deer Lake Wilderness School who practices inclusion.

How to Apply for Campership Financial Aid

Complete the Camp Registration: Begin by submitting your child’s camp registration form and deposit. *deposit can be refundable if aid is not granted.
Fill out the Financial Aid Application
Submit Financial Aid Documents: To assess your family’s financial need we require 2025 Tax Forms (first page only) OR other documents that demonstrate income.
Personal Statement: Share why your child would benefit from attending camp and how financial assistance would help make this possible.
Submit by the Deadline: Be sure to submit your financial aid application before the deadline to ensure consideration.

Click here to start your application.

How We Determine Financial Aid Camperships

Our team reviews financial aid applications based on the following criteria:

Household income and family size
Special circumstances (e.g., medical bills, unemployment)
Camp availability and resources

We aim to provide assistance that allows as many families as possible to participate, while also ensuring a fair and sustainable distribution of available funds.

How We Determine Happy Camper & David Knapp Camperships

Both Camperships are based on an essay submitted by the camper to the campership committee as well as references provided by individuals outside of the applicant’s family.

Important Deadlines

Financial aid Campership applications must be submitted by April 20, 2026. We encourage families to apply early, as funds are limited.
Happy Camper & David Knapp Campership must be submitted by April 20, 2026.
Notification of all Campership decisions will be sent by May 15, 2026, allowing families to plan accordingly.

Additional Information

Financial aid Camperships are contingent upon availability of funds.
If you are awarded financial aid, you will still need to complete the full registration and pay any remaining balance by the camp’s final payment due date, June 1st.

We are committed to making camp a reality for every child. If you have any questions or need assistance with your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at camperships@deerlakeoutdoors.org. We’re here to help!

Need Based Application

Happy Camper Campership Application

David Knapp Campership Application

Letters of Recommendation

Need Based Scholarships

Thank you for your interest in Deer Lake Day Camp programming (Deer Lake Day Camp & Wilderness School). The Deer Lake Outdoor Center wishes to provide opportunities for children without the financial ability to attend summer camp. Scholarships are awarded solely on the basis of financial need and references regardless of race, creed or national origin.

This form does not autosave, so MUST be filled out in one sitting. To complete this form you will need to have the following ready:

Tax Forms: 2025 Tax Forms (first page only) OR other documents that demonstrate income. Please upload the FIRST PAGE ONLY of your 2025 taxes or other document showing income. This application is a securely encrypted Jotform. Read Jotform’s online security features here.
Personal statement from you our your camper. We ask that you or your child (age appropriate) writes a testimony following one of the two prompts provided.

Please select the appropriate prompt:
First-Time Camper – Why do you want to come to camp?

Returning Campers – What is one experience at camp that had a positive impact on you?

By submitting a testimonial, you are giving The Deer Lake Outdoor Center permission to use it in other capacities. These testimonies will primarily be used for grant applications, which is how we fund most of our scholarships.

Income and family size will be considered during the application process. Scholarships can be up to a maximum of 50% of a camper’s tuition. If you have extenuating circumstances, please explain in the additional information field at the end of this form. Decisions regarding awards of scholarship will be made in accordance with criteria set by the Deer Lake Outdoor Center Campership Committee.

To complete this application, you must fill out a reference form, which can be found at the link below.

Please review this letter carefully and make sure you complete all steps in a timely manner. Incomplete or late applications will jeopardize your eligibility for financial assistance. Once submitted and processed, you can expect to receive a confirmation of receipt.

*To qualify for financial aid your child must be registered for camp. If the deposit is a barrier for your family, please reach out to our business manager, camperships@deerlakeoutdoors.org to discuss alternative options*

To be considered in the first round of financial aid awards please submit a complete application by April 20, 2026.

Any incomplete or late applications will not be considered until the initial round of awards are allocated on or before May 15th.

After May 15th, applications will be considered as they are completed. Invoices sent before the financial assistance has been determined will show full balances due for camp. Payment Plans for the balance can be arranged. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office.

Please direct any questions about the application to camperships@deerlakeoutdoors.org.

Letters of Recommendation

2026 Financial Aid Recommendation Letters

The child who requested this reference would like to attend Deer Lake Day Camp or Deer Lake Wilderness School at The Deer Lake Outdoor Center and is requesting scholarship assistance. All applicants are required to submit one reference. Please be assured that your responses will be confidential.

Answer the questions below to the best of your ability. Any questions or concerns can be directed to camperships@deerlakeoutdoors.org.