Bear Grips Pro ShopsSTEM Camp Shirt Cost and Pricing for Camps and Families
- Base cost on a STEM camp tee is $19.88. Common retail is $30-$40.
- Most camps build the tee into tuition or sell as a $25-$30 add-on.
- Family bleacher and sibling tees sell at $30 retail with $10 margin.
- No setup fee, no minimum, ships in about a week.
STEM camp shirt cost is one of the more confusing line items for new camp directors. The base manufacturing cost on a cotton youth tee with a printed camp logo is $19.88 on the VIP plan. Common retail to families is $30 to $40. Most camps build the tee into tuition, which means parents do not see a separate apparel charge. Below is the full pricing breakdown: what the tee actually costs to make, what to charge families, and how the math compares to traditional screen-print bulk orders.
What a STEM camp tee actually costs
| Item | Free plan cost | VIP plan cost | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth cotton tee | $23.93 | $19.88 | $4.05 savings |
| Adult cotton tee | $23.93 | $19.88 | $4.05 savings |
| Performance wicking tee | $28.88 | $23.86 | $5.02 savings |
| Comfort Soft Hoodie | $44.94 | $36.88 | $8.06 savings |
| Sport-Tek Polo | $41.93 | $34.88 | $7.05 savings |
VIP plan ($59/month) more than pays for itself once a camp sells 15+ tees per month.
How camps typically charge for tees
- Tuition-included (most common): $19.88 tee cost rolled into the $300-$500 weekly camp price. Families never see a separate charge.
- Optional add-on at registration: parents check a box to add tees at $25-$30 each. Camp keeps $5-$10 margin per tee.
- Day-one purchase: parents buy at the registration table with cash or card
- Online shop only: tee not included, families buy through the camp shop URL, camp keeps $10-$15 margin
Recommended retail prices by item
| Item | VIP base | Recommended retail | Margin per piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camper cotton tee | $19.88 | $30 | $10.12 |
| Performance camper tee | $23.86 | $36 | $12.14 |
| Family bleacher tee | $19.88 | $30 | $10.12 |
| Sibling tee | $19.88 | $25 | $5.12 |
| Comfort Soft Hoodie | $36.88 | $55 | $18.12 |
| Womens Cropped Hoodie | $47.88 | $68 | $20.12 |
| Embroidered Rope Hat | $29.86 | $45 | $15.14 |
Comparing Pro Shops to traditional bulk screen print
| Traditional screen print (50 tees) | Pro Shops (50 tees bulk) | |
|---|---|---|
| Per-tee price | $12-$15 + setup | $19.88 |
| Setup fee | $50-$100 | $0 |
| Personalization | +$3-5 per tee | $0 |
| Reorder cost | Same setup again | Same per-piece, no setup |
| Late additions | Difficult, extra cost | Standard, no extra |
| Year-round shop | Not supported | Yes |
Traditional bulk is slightly cheaper on the first run if no personalization. Pro Shops wins on every reorder, every personalized order, and every family/sibling purchase across the year.
Tuition math for a tuition-included tee
Building a $19.88 tee into a $350 weekly tuition price costs the camp $19.88 of margin per camper. The trade-off:
- Every camper walks home in branded gear (visible advertising 12 months out of the year)
- Camper photo days look uniform and professional
- Family loyalty is built around the wearable token
Most directors find the trade-off worth it. The camp recovers the tee cost through next-year retention.
Run STEM Camp Shirt Numbers for Your Camp
Free plan or VIP, full transparency on per-piece costs and retail margins. Open in under an hour.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Why is the Free plan more expensive per tee?
Free plan has higher per-piece base price to offset the lack of a monthly fee. VIP plans cost $59/month but reduce per-piece cost by $4-$11 depending on item.
Is the VIP plan worth it for a small camp?
If the camp sells more than 15 items per month, the VIP plan pays for itself. Smaller camps can stay on the Free plan.
Can the same camp shop list both VIP-tier and Free-tier pricing?
No. The plan determines the base price for all items in the shop.
How does the camp get paid?
Weekly direct deposit to the bank account configured at signup. Markup on each sale gets deposited automatically.
