At 09:49 AM 04/17/2003 -0400, Amy West at Higgins Armory wrote:
>
>I was hoping that the museums out there with camp programs could mail me a
>copy of the brochures that you send out. My boss likes to have me break
>down each days activities *months* in advance into a grid specifying what
>we will be doing at specific times each day. And that is mailed out as part
>of the brochure before kids sign up. I haven't seen anything like this in
>other camps pre-sign-up mailings.


Can I respond to this as a parent rather than a museum professional?  I'm
not sure what age group you are targeting this at (8 and up, maybe?), but
too much structure can be just as much of a turn-off as too little.

It's great to give parents (the real customers) a good sense of the
activities that will be involved, but when you present it in a grid, the
impression that can be left is one of rigidity and lack of creativity.  And
parents, mindful that Johnny and Joanie can be variable in their own
schedules, consciously or unconsciously reject the camp in favor of
something that looks like more "fun."

You might try simply listing the various activities, and maybe add a couple
of quotes from satisfied youngsters:

  "It was awesome when we made our own armor out of a refrigerator box and
practiced jousting!--Charlie, Age 9"

Given the demographics of Worcester County (all the new families with kids
moving into Holden, Grafton, etc.) and the surrounding areas, with the
right marketing, you'll soon have a waiting list!

Susan





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Susan Cronin Ruderman, Ed.M., Vice President
VERITAS INFORMATION SERVICES, 9 Alton St., Arlington, MA  02474
(781) 643-7811; (781) 643-1136 (fax) mailto:[log in to unmask]
Fundraising Research Consulting http://www.veritasinfo.com
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