eCamp

eCamp is a shared planning app for camp teams that need to schedule activities and prepare printable plans. It is aimed chiefly at youth associations and Y+S camp and trekking groups, while also serving school camps and other groups. Its focused camp-planning tools are useful, but it is not a task manager or a complete course-planning option.

Overview

Several people can work on the same camp, with activity scheduling and staff roster management alongside printable schedules. That makes eCamp a better fit for group preparation than a tool built around one organizer. Its focus is the camp plan itself; teams that need a running list of todos will have to manage that work elsewhere.

eCamp runs on DigitalOcean managed Kubernetes, with user content and personal data stored in Frankfurt, Germany. The maker says it keeps encrypted longer-term backups on AWS S3 in Paris, while DigitalOcean retains backups for seven days. The service is operated on a best-effort basis, with no guarantee of uninterrupted availability. Its source code is public on GitHub under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0.

Key features

Activities with context

Activity templates can include a storyboard, story context, and safety considerations. That helps a team carry useful preparation details with an activity rather than treating the schedule as a list of names and times. Materials can be assigned to an activity or camp period, giving organizers a way to account for what the plan requires.

Schedules built for printing

The PDF and printing process is optimized for producing camp plans. A3 printing and a day overview for print are also included in the July release notes. These tools favor groups that need to share or post a clear schedule, though the app does not support direct file uploads; linked files must be hosted elsewhere, such as Google Drive or Dropbox.

Languages and sign-in

The application is initially available in German, French, Italian, Romansh, and English. Supported login options include MiData, CeviDB, jubla.db, and Google, useful for groups whose members already use one of those accounts.

Pricing

eCamp v3 costs nothing, billed free of charge. There is no paid tier described, so groups can use the camp-planning product without a subscription. The important qualification is scope: course planning was not yet implemented when the listed MVP: Camp plan was described. Groups choosing eCamp specifically to plan courses should not assume that capability is covered.

Platforms

eCamp is available on Android, iOS, Linux, web, and Windows. Its purpose is described as a web app, while the supported platform list also includes the mobile and desktop systems above.

Who it's for

Youth associations and Y+S camp and trekking organizers are the clearest fit, especially teams that plan together, need activity context and material assignments, and produce printable schedules. School camps and other interested groups can also use it. It is a weaker choice for groups that depend on built-in task lists, direct uploads, or course planning.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free camp planning: The free plan makes shared scheduling and staff roster management accessible without a subscription.
• Detailed activity templates: Storyboards, context, safety considerations, and material assignments support more complete preparation than a bare schedule.
• Printing and language support: Optimized PDF and print workflows, including A3 and a day overview, pair with five initial languages for groups with different planning needs.
• Open source: Public code under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 may matter to groups that value software transparency.

Cons

• No todos: eCamp v3 lacks task lists, so teams need another way to track follow-up work.
• No direct uploads: Files must be linked from an external service, adding a separate step to sharing documents.
• Course-planning gap: Course planning was not implemented when the MVP: Camp plan was described, limiting its fit for groups seeking that function.
• No uptime guarantee: Best-effort operation may not suit groups that require guaranteed uninterrupted access.

Alternatives

For a broader set of camp-management options, browse Camp Management Software.

• Simply Camps is worth considering if a paid option with a free plan and trial better fits your needs; its free plan charges a 2% platform fee on payments, and a listed tier costs $99 a month for up to 250 enrolled campers.
• SixSevenBall Camp Management is a more specific fit for coaches managing teams and saved plays: its free web plan covers one team, up to 12 players, three saved plays, and a sample drill pack, while Pro Coach costs $29 a month.
• Camp Network is an alternative for pay-as-you-go registration, online payments, and bank transfers; its free Standard plan charges about 3.95% plus 30 cents per transaction, typically paid by the participant.
• nextRec is another paid camp-management option.
• ACTIVE Camp & Class Manager may suit readers seeking a paid camp and class manager, with custom pricing.
• AMES is an alternative with a free plan and trial, and a Standard transaction fee starting at 1.25% per contact on successful payments collected through AMES.
• Arly is an alternative for readers seeking a learning-experience product with custom pricing.
• CampOrganizer is another option with a usage-based fee of €0.25, paid once, billed €0.25 per participant per event or €1.00 per participant per day.

Verdict

Choose eCamp if your camp team needs free, shared activity planning with detailed templates, material assignments, and printable schedules. Its strongest case is a focused set of tools for collaborative camp preparation without a subscription. Look elsewhere if your workflow depends on todos, direct file uploads, guaranteed availability, or the course-planning capability described in its purpose.