TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — First Commerce Credit Union has launched Camp Connector, a free online database designed to help families find summer camps and overcome some of the challenges that can make enrolling children in programs difficult.
The tool allows parents to search for camps by location, camp type, date range and cost, providing a centralized resource for families navigating what can often be a fragmented and competitive process, WTXL reported.
According to WTXL, research from the Afterschool Alliance found that the biggest barriers to participation in summer programs include affordability, transportation and a lack of information about available opportunities.
For some parents, finding the right camp can be a challenge.
“By the time we started looking for programs, a lot of the programs that we wanted to get our son into were already booked up,” parent Vicky Bruns told WTXL.
‘A Little Bit of a Challenge’
First Commerce officials said the platform was developed to simplify the search process and help families identify programs that fit their needs.
“There are a lot of great memories for kids when it comes to summer camps, but we know, for mom and dad, it presents a little bit of a challenge, and so how can we help maybe alleviate that?” Doug Luciani, director of growth and innovation at First Commerce Credit Union, told WTXL.
The credit union launched Camp Connector in April and, according to Luciani, the site has already attracted thousands of visitors. Bruns told WTXL she was among the parents who successfully found a camp through the database.
“That has been really helpful for us instead of having to piece together multiple summer camp puzzle pieces,” Bruns said.
Could Become Year-Round Resource
Luciani said the platform could eventually serve as a year-round resource, helping parents locate child care and programs during spring, fall and winter school breaks as well.
“I think one of the biggest things that we are hearing is that, ‘Oh finally, there’s somebody who listened, finally somebody came with a solution that helps me tackle this,’” Luciani told WTXL.
