8 Ways Camps Can Use Text Messaging
The school year is almost over and soon kids and teens all over the U.S. will be attending summer camps, day camps, sports camps, swim camps — all types of camps. If you have been relying on email, paper bulletins or social media for your camp communications, now is the time to consider a more effective channel: text messaging.
With text messaging, everyone gets the message. Open rates are as high as 98% and the many other benefits of text messaging make it a great choice for camp communications. Here are 8 ways camps can use text messaging this summer:
1. Camp Registration and Information
Drive people to your camp registration page using text messaging. Parents would simply text your custom keyword to a short code like 72345 and get a text autoreply back with link to your camp registration form. You could do the same thing with camp hours, contact information or online marketing information for your camp.
2. Camp Jobs Recruitment
Looking for qualified staff for your camp? Use texting as a recruiting tool. Promote a text call to action like “Text CAMPJOBS to 72345 for information and application” at job fairs, college campuses or print materials. You can also keep track of who texts in and follow up with them if they seem like a great fit.
3. Camp Text Alerts for Parents
Hitting traffic on the way home from your day trip to the beach? Send a mass text message to all parents letting them know your ETA, so they don’t end up frustrated and worried waiting at the camp site. Texting is also a very quick way to get the word to parents in case of emergencies.
4. Camper Notifications
Teenagers come glued to their phones. If your teenage campers have phones, texting is an ideal way to communicate with them. Broadcast texts to remind them to bring a swim suit for the day, or money for entrance fees to the amusement park. With social media posts, getting a time sensitive or urgent message is hit or miss. But with texting, you can be sure your campers see your message.
5. Camp Staff Coordination
Managing and organizing a large team of camp counselors, food prep workers, drivers and volunteers can be a challenge. Text messaging allows you to quickly round staff up for meetings, send reminders or simply deliver a note of thanks for all their hard work.
6. Camp Attendance Check-in
Text messaging can be used as a way for parents to check in every day so you can track attendance. Every time someone texts in to your keyword, you can get notified by email or text. Or, have every check-in automatically recorded in a spreadsheet for you to easily print out at the end of the day.
7. Camp Scavenger Hunts
If you’re involved in planning camp activities, why not add scavenger hunts to your list? Text messaging is a great way to get scavenger hunt clues out to teams after they’ve solved a particular challenge. Plus, you don’t need to use waste paper to deliver clues.
8. Camp Surveys
At the end of the summer, you want to make sure everyone is a happy camper. Distribute a link by text to a short survey and get the feedback you need to make sure next year’s camp even better!
Interested in learning how TextMarks could help with your camp communication needs? Call us at 800-696-1393, email tmsales@textmarks.com or sign up for a free 14 day trial at www.textmarks.com.
