What Every Camp Should Know About Marketing in 2026

If you think you can get away with the same old camp marketing, well, 2026 is here to shake things up. Families aren’t just scrolling or reading emails. They’re joining communities and listening to real voices. So, what should your camp be doing to keep up? Here’s what we’re seeing for the year ahead:

1. Hyper-Niche Micro-Communities

Families are leaving broad social feeds and gravitating toward interest-based groups where trust is higher. Camps can win by joining these spaces. Discord servers for hobbies like LARP, robotics, Minecraft building, or cosplay; Reddit micro-subreddits; Facebook super-local parent groups; or niche Slack groups for parenting advice. Small communities mean more visibility at a lower cost and a bigger impact when you show up genuinely.

2. “Unpolished” Founder & Director Videos

Social media videos in 2026 favor being real and relatable. Parents and teens respond to low-production videos. Examples include a director answering one parent question per week, a 60-second camp hack, staff intros filmed on a phone, or camper POV clips. These unpolished videos build trust and perform well.

3. Low-Tech Experiences Are the New Luxury

Screen-free and unplugged camps are not new, but what has changed in 2026 is that parents are actively seeking this for their children more than ever. Families are overwhelmed by devices and want a meaningful escape for their kids. Marketing your camp as a place where children can play and enjoy hands-on experiences positions your program as a rare and valuable opportunity in today’s digital-heavy world.

4. Geo-Targeted Digital Ads

Small, highly targeted digital ads are becoming a go-to strategy for reaching families where they already spend time. These ads can be aimed at parents when they enter stores like REI, Michaels, Barnes & Noble, kids’ clothing shops, or even local gaming and robotics spaces. Hyper-local, low-budget campaigns ($5–$10 per day) get your camp in front of the right families at exactly the right time.

5. UGC (But from Parents, Not Teens)

User-generated content is expected, but parents are the true influencers. Ask them to share one-minute “camp wins” videos, before/after confidence stories, or testimonials like “My kid is shy, and camp works for them.” Repost, highlight, and even run small paid boosts. This kind of social proof carries real weight with families making decisions.

6. Surprise Trend: Email Newsletters Make a Comeback

The classic newsletter is quietly returning as one of the most effective tools for staying connected with families. Thoughtful, story-driven newsletters that share behind-the-scenes peeks, camp updates, or quick tips help families feel engaged and connected. They also pair perfectly with the other trends above, keeping your camp top of mind all year.

2026 will reward camps that embrace change and stay up to date with the trends. We get it—running a camp is a full-time job. That’s where we come in! With over 30 years of experience, Campfire Creative Marketing works exclusively with camps, and we’d love to help you make this your best year yet. Let’s chat before summer sneaks up on us.