eCamp
ecamp3.ch
What it is
eCamp is a free web app for planning camps, scheduling activities, and producing printable plans. It is aimed at youth associations and Y+S camp and trekking offers, while also being open to school camps and other groups. Multiple people can collaborate on the same camp. Users can create activity templates with storyboards, story context, and safety considerations, and assign materials to activities or camp periods. Its PDF and print process includes A3 output and a day overview. The app is initially available in German, French, Italian, Romansh, and English, with login options including MiData, CeviDB, jubla.db, and Google. Users cannot upload files directly, but can link to files stored on services such as Google Drive or Dropbox. eCamp v3 does not include task lists or todos, and course planning was not yet implemented when the listed MVP: Camp launched. The service runs on DigitalOcean managed Kubernetes, with user content and personal data on servers in Frankfurt, Germany. The maker describes availability as best-effort and does not guarantee uninterrupted service. Its source code is public on GitHub under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- eCamp is a web application for planning youth, sports and other camps and courses, with collaborative programme planning and printable plans.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Purpose
- eCamp is a web app for planning camps and courses, with tools to plan activities and create printable plans.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Intended users
- It is aimed at youth associations and Y+S camp and trekking offers, and is also open to school camps and other interested groups.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Support
- Users can send questions through the support form, and the team says it will try to answer as soon as possible.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Activity planning
- Users can plan camp activities and assemble a detailed programme for printing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Activity templates
- Users can create activity templates with storyboards, story context, and safety considerations.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- API architecture
- The backend uses Symfony API Platform and exposes an API, with a Vue.js frontend and additional services.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Autosave
- Many input fields save changes automatically while users work.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Availability
- The service is operated on a best-effort basis and the maker does not guarantee uninterrupted availability.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Availability limitation
- Hosting and support operate on a best-effort basis without guaranteed uninterrupted availability or timely fixes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Backups
- Encrypted backups are stored regularly on Amazon S3 in a Paris data centre.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Collaboration
- The app is optimized for multiple people collaborating on the same camp.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Current status
- The public status page reported frontend, backend API and print services as operational when opened.Read 14 Oct 2026 · status.ecamp3.ch
- Custom templates
- Users can create templates for activity types including story context and safety considerations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Data hosting
- The hosted instance runs on DigitalOcean managed Kubernetes with user data stored in Frankfurt, Germany.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Developer documentation
- The repository provides a wiki covering API, architecture, installation, deployment, testing, operations and migrations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Development model
- The core team consists of six computer-skilled scouts and develops and operates eCamp voluntarily.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- External API status
- The project documentation says external API clients are not yet supported and API breaking changes remain possible.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- File storage limitation
- Users cannot upload files directly and can instead link files hosted on services such as Google Drive or Dropbox.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Funding
- Operating costs are funded by the Swiss Guide and Scout Movement.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Languages
- The application is initially available in German, French, Italian, Romansh, and English.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Legacy migration
- Data from eCamp v2 is not migrated to v3, and v2 becomes read-only from September 2026 before planned retirement in spring 2027.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Licence
- The source code is released under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3.0.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Limit: file uploads
- Direct upload of images and files is unavailable; the team recommends linking external storage such as Google Drive or Dropbox.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Limit: J+S checks
- Automatic checking of J+S regulations is not currently implemented.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Limit: scope
- The project explicitly says it is not intended to be the single tool for participant management, budgets, menus and all other camp administration.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limit: tables
- Direct table insertion is unavailable because of current PDF-export constraints.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Limit: task lists
- The v3 application does not provide task or to-do lists.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Login integrations
- Login can use MiData, CeviDB, JublaDB or Google OAuth accounts.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Material management
- Materials can be assigned to activities or camp periods.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Materials
- Users can assign materials to an activity or camp period.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Multilingual interface
- The application offers German, French, Italian, Romansh and English interfaces.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Open source
- The ecamp3 source code is public on GitHub under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- PDF and printing
- Printing and PDF output were optimized to reduce blank pages and overflowing text, with filters by activity and day.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Printing
- The PDF and printing process is optimized, and the July release notes A3 printing and a day overview for printing.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Programme collaboration
- The application is optimized for multiple people collaborating on the same camp plan.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Repository activity
- The public GitHub repository showed 159 stars, 73 forks and 211 issues when opened.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Responsive use
- The interface is mobile-first and usable on mobile phones and other screen sizes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Security and hosting
- The application runs on DigitalOcean managed Kubernetes, with user content and personal data stored on servers in Frankfurt, Germany.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Security limitation
- The volunteer team provides no guarantee that the service is completely secure at all times.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Self-hosting
- The project publishes Docker installation instructions for Linux and Windows with WSL2, plus Kubernetes deployment documentation.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Support model
- Support is offered through a contact form, GitHub issues and a community Discord server, with no service-level agreement.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Target users
- The service is aimed at scouts, youth associations, school camps, music camps and other organizations planning camps.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Task list limitation
- eCamp v3 does not support task lists or todos.Read 8 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Team permissions
- Team management was redesigned around permissions and is less specific to scouting workflows.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Technology stack
- The repository describes a PHP/API Platform backend and Vue.js frontend for the web application.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Transport security
- The service states that browser traffic is protected with TLS using the strongest level supported by the browser.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
- Usage milestone
- A June 11, 2025 release reported more than 20,000 activated accounts and hundreds of camps planned with v3.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
Plans and prices
eCamp v3 Free free of charge camp planning MVP · course planning still being developed · best-effort availability Read 14 Oct 2026 · ecamp3.ch
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free camp-planning web app
- Supports multiple collaborators on a camp
- Activity templates include safety considerations
- Offers A3 printing and a daily print overview
- Public source code under GNU Affero General Public License v3.0
Limits
- Direct file uploads are not supported
- Task lists and todos are not supported
- Course planning was not implemented in the listed MVP
- Availability is best-effort, with no uninterrupted-service guarantee
Who it suits
eCamp suits youth associations and groups organizing camps that need shared activity planning and printable schedules. School camps and other interested groups are also within its stated audience.
eCamp in depth
Read the full write-up
eCamp is a free camp-planning app for teams that need to build activity schedules and prepare print-ready plans together. It is especially suited to youth associations and Y+S camp and trekking groups, though schools and other groups can use it too. Its focused planning tools are useful; missing task lists and direct file uploads make it a poor fit for teams that need broader coordination in one place.
Overview
Several people can work on the same camp, schedule activities and manage a staff roster. Activity templates can hold a storyboard, story context and safety considerations, while organizers can assign materials to an activity or camp period. That structure helps a planning team preserve context and practical requirements alongside the timetable, rather than treating a camp as a sequence of time slots alone.
eCamp is centered on camps and printable plans, not general-purpose project management. Although its purpose includes planning courses, course planning was not yet implemented when the eCamp v3 MVP: Camp plan was described. Groups organizing courses should verify that the current version covers their workflow before committing to it. The service operates on a best-effort basis and does not guarantee uninterrupted availability.
Key features
Shared scheduling and activity templates
Shared access is a practical advantage for committees and camp teams dividing preparation among several people. Templates that capture story context and safety considerations are particularly useful when activities need more preparation than a title and time. Materials can be attached to an activity or camp period in the plan, but eCamp v3 has no task lists or todos; teams that need to assign and track follow-up work will need another method.
Print-focused planning
The PDF and printing workflow is optimized, with A3 printing and a day overview for printing in the July release notes. This makes eCamp a stronger choice for groups that need to produce usable paper schedules alongside their shared plan. It is less suitable when the main need is a digital task-management system or a place to keep uploaded documents: direct file uploads are unavailable, so files must remain on services such as Google Drive or Dropbox and be linked from there.
Access and operations
The application is available in German, French, Italian, Romansh and English. Login options include MiData, CeviDB, jubla.db and Google, which may suit groups already using those services. User content and personal data are stored on DigitalOcean managed Kubernetes servers in Frankfurt, Germany. The maker says it keeps encrypted longer-term backups on AWS S3 in Paris, while DigitalOcean retains backups for seven days. Users can send questions through a support form; the team says it will try to answer as soon as possible. The source code is public on GitHub under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0.
Pricing
eCamp v3 — free (billed Free of charge). The free plan makes sense for youth groups, school camps and other teams that want shared scheduling and printable plans without a software fee. It includes activity scheduling and staff roster management, and the pricing model is free. There is no paid tier described here to unlock more capacity or features, so the key trade-off is functional rather than a quota: users must work around the absence of task lists and direct uploads, and course planning was not yet implemented when the MVP: Camp plan was described.
Platforms
eCamp supports Android, iOS, Linux, web and Windows. The broad platform range gives camp teams options across desktop and mobile devices, while the web-app format keeps planning collaborative.
Who it's for
Choose eCamp if a youth association, Y+S camp or trekking group needs to coordinate a camp schedule as a team and produce a print-focused plan at no charge. Schools and other interested groups can also use its shared activity planning. Look elsewhere if your organizers depend on built-in todos, direct document uploads, guaranteed uninterrupted availability or a confirmed course-planning workflow.
Pros and cons
Pros: Free of charge, with no stated seat or usage quota.
Pros: Shared camp planning combines activity scheduling, staff rosters, activity context and safety considerations.
Pros: An optimized PDF and printing process, including A3 printing and a day overview.
Pros: Five interface languages and several group-oriented login integrations.
Cons: No task lists or todos, so planning follow-up work requires another tool or process.
Cons: No direct file uploads; linked documents must be hosted elsewhere.
Cons: Best-effort operation without a guarantee of uninterrupted availability.
Cons: Course planning was not yet implemented when the eCamp v3 MVP: Camp plan was described.
Alternatives
For other options, see Camp Management Software. Choose Simply Camps if you need a camp-management option with a free plan and trial, or want a paid tier priced at $99 a month for up to 250 enrolled campers; its free plan has a 2% platform fee on payments. Cogran is a paid alternative for organizations that need camp and program management, with a plan at $899 a year for up to 500 annual registrations. CampOrganizer may suit groups preferring usage-based charges rather than a fixed monthly subscription: its plan is €0.25 as a one-time purchase, billed at €0.25 per participant per event or €1.00 per participant per day, with unlimited sessions, staff and parents. AMES is another freemium option, charging a 1.25% transaction fee on successful payments collected through its Standard plan. Stageo is worth considering if you want all features included with online help and email support, though its plan prices are custom pricing. ClassForKids is a paid option for activity clubs, with a Year-Round plan from £34.99 a month and a transaction fee from 2.5% including Stripe. nextRec is another paid alternative. CampSite uses custom pricing by demo or quote.
Verdict
eCamp is a strong fit for volunteer-led youth and school camp teams that want to collaborate on schedules, preserve activity context and print plans without paying for the software. Its focused planning and printing tools are the main reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if your workflow depends on built-in task tracking, direct file storage, course planning already in place or guaranteed service availability.
Verdict
eCamp provides collaborative camp scheduling and print-focused planning at no charge. Note its missing direct uploads and task lists, and that the service does not guarantee uninterrupted availability.
Where Specifiction places it
- Camp Management Software#1 of 298.4
