Parents massively refuse children’s summer camps: “Cosmic prices”

Judging by the statistics voiced by our authorities, the number of “camp” children has even increased this year. Although, perhaps, the fact is that these figures are predictive? Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, reporting the other day on the organization of summer holidays for children in the DOL, said that in 2023 there will be 39,000 such children’s organizations that will provide recreation for more than 5.1 million children. And in 2022, we recall, the head of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children, Nina Ostanina, complained that out of 18.5 million Russian children, too few children – 4.5 million, will rest in holiday camps, and called this situation “abnormal “, since “the rest will either remain in school children’s camps, or are doomed to spend all the holidays at home.”

However, as MK found out, parents across the country are literally shocked by the almost doubled prices for summer camps this year. What upsets them the most is that they removed the money-back program for children’s holidays, the cashback system that was in effect in 2021 and 2022. The refund for the ticket was 50%, but it was possible to return the amount within 20,000 rubles. Nina Ostanina, by the way, in March turned to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin with a request to resume this program. “Such an effective mechanism should be made annual, providing for its implementation an amount exceeding past indicators (taking into account the expected price increase),” she wrote in her address. However, she herself reminded that no funds were provided for the implementation of this program in 2023 …

And, of course, prices have gone up. “MK” found out from parents from different regions how much it is now to send a child to the DOL.

“Without this money-back program, it’s very sad,” said mother of twins Ekaterina from St. Petersburg. – The price tag has grown, but if there was this program, it would not be so scary. And now it is very expensive to send children even for one shift. If last year, after returning under this program, we got less than 50,000 rubles. for two children, then this is more than 100,000 rubles, and now the children will not go anywhere.

Other examples of price hikes. DOL in the Ivanovo region last year cost 20,000 rubles per child. for 21 days. This year it will cost 30,000 rubles, but in 14 days. Double growth!

“The camp in the Moscow Region is one shift, 21 days, it costs 48,300 rubles, we don’t have any discounts or benefits,” says mother Gulnur from the Moscow region. – The year before last it was 38,000 rubles, last year it was already 42,700 rubles, but at least there was a 20% cashback. There is another camp near us, but this summer its cost is 68,000 rubles. The prices are space, for whom such camps are, it is not clear.

On average, according to parents, good DOLs now cost around 3,000 rubles. per day. “Leningrad region, a wonderful camp in which I worked for many years, this year 21 days in it costs 60,798 rubles. My 6-year-old son asked for a lot, but the cost… We can’t afford it,” complained Ekaterina from St. Petersburg.

“We have five children, certificates and discounts are not allowed,” Anastasia, a mother of many children from Moscow, shared with MK. – We spend on camps like this: one child goes to a sports camp near Moscow from a karate club – 14 days for 58,000 rubles. Then two people go to Anapa for 21 days, one for 115,000 rubles, the second for 96,000 rubles. (difference due to age). In this case, travel is paid separately. And in August, two people go to a camp near Moscow for 21 days for 78,000 rubles. for one. And we still have three children…

But these are insane prices! Are you very wealthy parents?

– I will not say that it is inexpensive for us, we are an ordinary large family. We also have loans, like everyone else. It’s just that my husband works a lot (is engaged in European-style apartment renovation), seven days a week, me too, remotely. Of course, we would not refuse any discounts, like all large families. Because last year the expenses were for one child, and this year for two. If we take the price to Anapa, then it would be better, of course, if the ticket was already included … But we don’t have grandparents, I can’t sit all summer because of work with all the children. Therefore, it is important for us that at least two of them are looked after for a couple of months, fed, excursions, the sea, the sun, the beach, entertainment programs … Therefore, this is the price.

For comparison: last year, prices for camps at sea ranged from 70-80 thousand rubles, also without the cost of travel …

But the mother of three children, Elena, also a Muscovite, complained that for them sports camps have recently turned into a pipe dream: “We don’t go to sports camps in the summer precisely because of the inadequate price tag, although all three children go in for sports. Previously, training camps were organized on the basis of a sports school, and then it was still normal. Then they began to make field fees, and now there are already from 55,000 rubles. per child for two weeks, excluding the cost of the road. This is in the Moscow region. Not to the south, not to the sea, but here, nearby. As a result, only 12 out of 35 people signed up for the summer camp this year.” “My son plays football, from the club they offer in Sochi for 10 days – 80,000 rubles. and the road at their own expense, up to 8 years, accompanied by their parents, this is another 50,000,” another mother complained.

By the way, it is very unfortunate that in this way, in fact, the development of children’s sports is hindered in our country. It’s time for the authorities to think about what is happening in the field of children’s sports camps and why only wealthy parents can use them?

As for large families, they (in some regions, not in all) are given free tickets to children’s camps. True, no choice. In fairness, we also add that at some enterprises and factories, employers compensate workers for most of the cost of such vouchers.

“My two out of four children (two are still small) will go to the camp this year only if we are given free vouchers as large families,” says Ekaterina from St. Petersburg. We didn’t ask for proof of income. This is such a program to help large families in St. Petersburg. In general, you can apply for all children and for all shifts, in the Leningrad region.

– A more or less normal camp in Ivanovo and the region costs 40,000 rubles. 21 days,” a mother of many children from this region described the situation. – Preferential vouchers for large families are given, mainly to the worst camps, and to those who were the first to apply through the State Services on January 9 at 9.00 in the morning. It turns out that the most agile can ride at least every year, the rest of the donut hole.

“In general, the camps are not the same as before,” she added. – 20-30 years ago it was interesting there, we made friends, sobbed at parting and wrote letters to each other for years. Now teenage counselors do not get out of the phones. Yes, and children too. Employment at a minimum, rudeness, rudeness, living conditions have also deteriorated over 20 years …

“I will never send my children to the camp, because I myself worked in them and I know a lot of accidents, unpleasant situations, cases of bullying, etc.,” shared another mother. – I’d rather go on vacation with the kids.