Sell Out Summer Before It Starts: The Smart Gym Owner’s Guide to Black Friday Camp Sales
- Lena Urusova
- Oct 9
- 5 min read
Every year, gym owners wait until spring to plan their summer camps — and every year, they miss out on tens of thousands of dollars in early revenue.
The truth is, the most profitable gyms start their summer planning now.
Why? Because Black Friday isn’t just for leotards and TVs — it’s the perfect time to pre-sell your summer camp spots and lock in next season’s cash flow months in advance.
Why You Should Launch a Black Friday Camp Sale
Every successful camp starts long before the first day of summer. The most efficient gyms use Black Friday as the starting line for marketing and sales.
Here’s why:
Instant revenue boost: Bring in prepaid summer income right when gym traffic naturally slows down.
Better planning: Early registration helps you estimate staffing, equipment, and supply needs.
Marketing advantage: You’ll beat local competitors who won’t advertise camps until March — and some even later than that.
Parent appeal: Families are already in “buying mode” during the holidays, and early deals drive action.
Run a 15% discount (or about $75 off per week) for registrations made before December 1. That visual savings number ($75!) catches attention and creates urgency while protecting your margins.
The Numbers That Make It Worth It
The average U.S. gymnastics camp brings in about $395–$400/week for a 6-hour day. Preschool camps (ages 2.5–5.5) typically run 3 hours and range from $225–$250/week.
Even with modest enrollment, the numbers add up fast:
Example: 40 campers × $395/week = $15,800 per week10 weeks = $158,000 total summer revenue45% profit margin = over $70,000 profit
Most well-run summer camps operate at 40–55% profit margins, making them one of the most lucrative programs in a gym. Camps use your existing facility, attract new families, and require minimal new equipment — maximizing your revenue per square foot.
Camps Keep Your Staff Working (and Happy)
Summer often means reduced class hours and staff frustration — but camps solve that problem beautifully.
Running strong summer programs keeps your best coaches engaged and earning during slower months. It’s also a perfect opportunity to reward and retain high-performing employees by offering leadership roles like Camp Director or Program Lead.
If your regular class program continues through the summer, camps layer in perfectly — simply hire additional summer staff while your seasoned team members lead or direct the camps. This balance lets you expand programming without overwhelming your existing team.
When your staff feels supported, scheduled consistently, and trusted with meaningful roles, you retain great people and head into fall with a stronger, more motivated crew.
What to Offer: Camp Structure That Sells
Pricing: The national average is around $400/week for a 6-hour day — we like $395. Offer daily options for flexibility, and charge slightly more per day for drop-ins.
Age groups & structure:
Preschool Camps (Ages 2.5–5.5)
3-hour morning sessions for potty-trained littles.
Playful, themed weeks that build confidence, coordination, and social skills.
Example Themes:
Little Explorers • Barnyard Boogie • Dino Stomp • Blast Off! • Zoom Zoom! • Circus Stars • Fairy Tale Gym • Dancing Feet • Super Tots! • Parade of Animals • Splish Splash • Island Adventure
Gymnastics Camps (Ages 5.5+)
Half- and full-day options for school-age kids ready for more structured skill-building.
Example Themes:
Masters of Motion • Under the Big Top • Legends of the Hidden Gym • Wild West Showdown • Superhero Training Camp • Game On! • Mythical Beasts & Legendary Feasts • Extreme Sports Week • Mission: Impossible • Jurassic Gym • Olympics Week • Out of This World
Ninja + Parkour Camps (Ages 6+)
Perfect for energetic movers and obstacle lovers. Offer both half- and full-day options.
Example Themes:
Ninja Warrior Bootcamp • Shadow Ninja • Speed Demons • Ultimate Warrior Showdown • Urban Jungle • Code Red • Final Ninja Trials • Stealth Mode • Samurai Showdown • Storm the Fortress • Secret Agent Training • Element Masters
Sports-Specific Camps (Ages 8+)
3-hour skill-focused training sessions — these aren’t daycare-style camps; they’re active, technique-based, and perfect for older kids who want a challenge.
Tumbling for Dance
Tumbling for Cheer
Agility Training for Ball Sports
Flips & Tricks: Extreme Sports Skills
(With PlanSport Pro, your full summer curriculum rom themes to skill plans is already done. You just plug in your dates and promote.)
How to Run a Great Summer Camp Program
A great camp isn’t just busy — it’s dynamic, structured, and systemized.Keep it moving: no sitting around, no wasted time. Kids should be learning, laughing, and moving every minute.
Here’s what separates the “good” from the great:
Plan early: Themes, staffing, and marketing should start in November.
Train your staff: Confident, prepared coaches create better experiences.
Structure every day: Mix skill rotations, obstacle courses, games, and creative challenges.
Make it feel special: Add themed décor, challenges, and end-of-week awards.
This is a dynamic program that also acts as a powerful advertising tool for your gym - new families, siblings, and walk-ins will remember the energy and organization your camp delivers.
(Leave space here for a video insert or highlight reel.)
Operational Efficiency: Systemize Early to Simplify Later
The difference between a smooth summer and a stressful one always comes down to systems.
Early planning gives your leadership team time to schedule, hire, train, and organize supplies — instead of scrambling in May. With the right systems in place, your camps can run almost on autopilot, freeing you to focus on growth, not logistics.
Parent Confidence = Better Enrollment
When parents see that your gym is already advertising and organizing summer camps in November, it sends a message:
“This gym is professional, prepared, and trustworthy.”
Early planning builds brand confidence — and parents remember that. They’ll choose your camp over others that still say “Details coming soon” in March.
Your Camp Prep Starter List
Want to fill every week and stay organized? Follow this timeline:
Task | Timeline |
✅ Advertise & post online | November (Black Friday) |
💸 Run your Black Friday promotion | Thanksgiving week |
📣 Post ad for new hires | January–February |
👥 Hire your camp staff | March |
🧠 Hold staff training | Two days before camp starts |
🎯 Roles to fill | Camp Director, Lead Coach (per camp type), Support Coaches |
The earlier you start, the smoother it runs — and the fuller your camps will be.
The Long Game: Camps as Enrollment Engines
Camps aren’t just profitable in the summer — they’re a pipeline for year-round enrollment.
Families who attend camp are 2–3x more likely to enroll in regular gymnastics, ninja, or parkour classes.Every camp becomes a week-long trial that introduces your programs, your staff, and your environment to new families.
Think of your camps as paid marketing — each camper represents a potential class enrollee or sibling registration.
The Bigger Picture: Profit, People, and Planning
Well-run summer camps create a triple win:
Profit: High-margin revenue months before summer starts.
People: Staff retention, morale, and consistency.
Planning: Organized systems that prevent chaos later.
The key is starting now — not in March.
Ready to Sell Out Your Summer?
Whether you’re running your first camp or your fifteenth, success comes down to structure, systems, and great programming.
PlanSport Pro provides everything you need to run a profitable, stress-free summer:
Pre-built weekly themes
Skill-based lesson plans
Daily schedules and rotation guides
Staffing and ratio recommendations
Get your camp system ready now, launch your Black Friday sale, and walk into January with full weeks and prepaid revenue.
💡 Quick Tip: Don’t wait for summer to think about summer. Sell your camp now — and walk into January with five figures in prepaid revenue.
✅ Your 4-Step Action Plan
Decide your camp lineup and pricing this week.
Launch your Black Friday promotion by mid-November.
Post hiring ads in January; train staff in May.
Relax in June knowing every week is full.
If you need anything, find my booking page at the top of the site, I’d love to walk you through it!
Let's do this!
Lena
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