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2026 Summer Camp Fee Structure & Program Enhancement TO: West Seneca Town Board, Supervisor, and Council Members FROM: David Cox, Director of Recreation DATE: April 13, 2026 SUBJECT: Proposal for Transitioning to Fee-Based Summer Camp Programming 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The West Seneca Youth & Recreation Department is seeking Board approval to implement a modest fee structure for our primary summer "Camp" programs: Intro to Sports, Summer Play, and Summer Fun. Historically, these programs have been offered free of charge since 2022. While well-intentioned, this model has led to high "no-show" rates, which prevents hundreds of children on waitlists from participating. By introducing a nominal fee, we will ensure registrant commitment, improve program quality, and provide a data-driven foundation to expand our department's offerings. 2. HISTORICAL CONTEXT & PROGRAM EVOLUTION It is important to note that charging a fee for summer camp is not a new concept for the Town of West Seneca; rather, it is a return to a sustainable operational model. • Pre-2020: The Town successfully operated fee-based summer programming for years. • 2020: All in-person programming was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • 2021: Full-day camps were offered at a rate of $260 per week for a 5-day program. • 2022–2025: In an effort to restart programming post-pandemic, the transition was made to half-day camps. To offset the change in service, these programs became free. However, this transition also required a reduction in service hours to just 2.5 hours per day, 4 days per week. The proposed 2026 fee structure remains significantly lower than the 2021 rates while allowing us to restore the quality and reliability that West Seneca residents expect. Page 99 of 251