How to Market Your Parkour Gym’s Summer Camps Effectively
Summer camps provide a massive revenue boost to parkour gyms during the typical "summer slump" when new member registrations drop and current members pause their billing during the holiday break.
The challenge is that many gym owners struggle with marketing, making filling every summer camp spot a challenge.
With the right strategies and enough time spent marketing before summer hits, parkour gym owners can fill summer camps with eager students while strengthening your gym’s reputation.
Note: This article doesn't explain how to run summer camps, just how we market for our camps. We won't be talking about camp structure, themes, or camp programming here.
This article will explain the main tactics we use at our parkour gyms, Freedom in Motion, to fill our camps year after year.
1. Use In-Gym Signage to Create Awareness
One of the easiest and most effective ways to promote your summer camps is by using large-format posters inside your gym. A well-placed, eye-catching 24-inch by 36-inch poster near the front desk or main training areas will constantly remind parents and kids that summer camp enrollment is open.
Why it Works:
Many parents make registration decisions based on what they see repeatedly. A visible poster acts as a constant nudge.
Coaches and front desk staff can refer to the sign when answering questions about camp.
The earlier you put these signs up, the better. Start as early as November of the previous year to allow families to plan ahead.
Action Steps:
Design a bright, engaging poster that highlights summer camp dates, benefits, and a clear call to action (“Sign Up at the Front Desk Today!”).
Print and hang these posters in high-traffic areas inside your gym.
Keep signage up until your camp is full.
2. Personal Invitations from Coaches and Staff
Parents trust the recommendations of coaches and gym staff. When a coach personally invites a student to summer camp, it makes a stronger impact than just seeing an ad. At the end of each class, have coaches briefly remind parents about camp and connect today’s class experience to what their child can expect at camp. For example:
“Hey, Alex had a blast playing our obstacle course challenge today! Our summer camp is packed with awesome games like this, plus some special challenges we only do in the summer. I think Alex would love it! Have you thought about signing him up yet?”
Why it Works:
Personal invites feel exclusive and create urgency.
Parents often have questions—this is a great opportunity to address them directly.
Kids get excited when their coaches recommend it, increasing the chances parents will register them.
Action Steps:
Train coaches and front desk staff to casually mention summer camp at the end of each class.
Connect the best parts of class (fun games, new skills, challenges) to summer camp.
Follow up with families who express interest but haven’t signed up yet.
3. Running Paid Facebook Ads
Facebook ads are one of the best ways to reach new families. Create short, engaging videos that showcase the fun and skill-building aspects of summer camp, and make sure the ad tells parents to register now by clicking a button that takes them directly to a sign-up page.
Why it Works:
Facebook allows you to target parents of kids within a 15-mile radius of your gym.
A direct link to the registration page eliminates extra steps, making it easy to sign up.
Video ads perform better than static images—show kids having fun, learning, and making friends at camp.
Action Steps:
Create a 30-60 second video that highlights camp activities and includes a call to action.
Run targeted ads for parents with kids ages 5-14 within a 15-mile radius of your gym.
Direct all ad traffic to a dedicated summer camp landing page (not just your homepage).
4. Create a Dedicated Summer Camp Landing Page
Your gym’s website should have a specific page just for summer camps, separate from your general programs. This page should include:
All camp details (dates, times, cost, age groups, activities).
A FAQ section answering common concerns.
A clear, easy-to-use registration form with payment options.
SEO keywords like “summer camp,” “kids,” and your city name to improve search rankings.
Why it Works:
A dedicated page prevents visitors from getting distracted by other programs.
It builds trust by answering all potential questions upfront.
SEO optimization helps more parents find your camp through Google searches.
Action Steps:
Build a dedicated summer camp page (use Freedom in Motion’s summer camp page as inspiration: https://www.freedominmotiongym.com/summercamp
Ensure the page is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
Test the registration process to ensure it’s simple and fast.
5. Running Google Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Ads
Google ads help you capture parents actively searching for summer camps in your area. Target keywords like “summer camp [your city]” and “kids summer activities [your city]” so your camp appears at the top of search results.
Why it Works:
Many parents search for summer camps in early spring—this puts your camp in front of them when they’re ready to register.
You only pay when someone clicks on your ad, making it a cost-effective strategy.
Action Steps:
Set up a Google Ads campaign targeting local parents searching for summer camps.
Use keywords specific to your city and surrounding neighborhoods.
Direct ad traffic to your summer camp landing page for easy registration.
6. Email Marketing to Your Gym’s Contact List
Your gym’s existing members are your best customers. Sending twice-weekly emails about summer camp can significantly boost sign-ups. Some emails should be visual, with posters or videos, while others should be plain text for better engagement.
Why it Works:
Repetition keeps summer camp top of mind.
Different email formats (visual and text-only) reach a wider audience.
Parents are busy—frequent reminders help ensure they don’t forget to register.
Action Steps:
Schedule emails twice a week promoting summer camp.
Use a mix of engaging images/videos and text-based reminders.
Include testimonials or stories from past campers for social proof.
7. Social Media Marketing
Use Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to showcase fun moments from past camps and highlight what’s coming up. Make sure all posts include a clear call to action directing viewers to the camp registration page.
Why it Works:
Parents and kids use social media daily—keep your gym in their feed.
Visual content sparks curiosity and builds excitement.
Direct links to the landing page increase conversions.
Action Steps:
Post videos, photos, and testimonials about summer camp at least 2-3 times a week.
Use captions that encourage engagement (“Tag a friend who should join you at camp!”).
Include a direct link to the summer camp registration page in every post.
Final Thoughts
Marketing your parkour summer camp is all about consistency, visibility, and making it easy for parents to register. You can fill your summer camps by using in-gym signage, personal invitations, paid ads, email marketing, and social media while strengthening your gym’s reputation. The key is to start early and keep reminding families until camp is full.
Remember, most people in your city DONT KNOW YOU, so you must be aggressive with your marketing efforts. Most kids' activities businesses offer a summer camp, so use your marketing and paid ads to stand out from the crowd
If you follow these steps, your parkour summer camp will become the go-to choice for families in your community!
Of course, if you want more help, book a call with Motion Mentors and let us help you make this the strongest year for enrollments yet.
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