Homeschool benefits and savings in Winter Garden

The City of Winter Garden awards a limited number of scholarships toward its summer day camp, which costs city residents $150 a week, to families that meet its income eligibility guidelines. The 2026 round ran from February 16 to March 20, 2026, so ask the Recreation Office for the next application.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Who qualifies

1. Meets income guidelines

   Scholarships are based on the city's Income Eligibility Guidelines. The page does not publish the income limits, so ask for them with the application.

2. Is the right age for camp

   Summer Day Camp serves children entering 1st through 7th grade, and School Holiday Camp serves kindergarten through 8th grade.

3. Applies in the spring window

   Scholarships are limited. In 2026, applications became available February 16 and had to be returned by March 20.

What camp costs

These are Winter Garden's 2026 camp fees; the city does not publish how much each scholarship covers.

Summer Day Camp, one week (resident)

$150

Summer Day Camp, one week (nonresident)

$180

All 9 weeks of summer camp (resident)

$1,350

School Holiday Camp, one day (resident)

$26

School Holiday Camp, one day (nonresident)

$32

Half of the summer camp total is due at registration, and weeks are canceled if the minimum is unpaid, so ask how a scholarship is applied to that deposit.

From applying to keeping it

1. Early in the year

   Request an application

   Contact the Recreation Office or email recinfo@cwgdn.com. In 2026, applications were available starting February 16.

2. By the March deadline

   Return the application

   The 2026 deadline was March 20, and scholarships were awarded March 30.

3. April

   Register for camp weeks

   In 2026, resident registration opened by grade the week of April 6 at 8:00 a.m., and nonresident registration opened April 20.

4. Before camp starts

   Confirm and attend

   Confirm your camper's information with Parks and Recreation and attend the parent information meeting at Jessie Brock Community Center.

What it pays for

Covered

• Help toward Summer Day Camp fees
• Camp weeks from June 1 to July 31

Scholarships are limited, so the number of awards depends on what the city has available each spring.

Who to contact

The Recreation Office hands out scholarship applications and answers camp registration questions.

recinfo@cwgdn.com 407-656-4155 Camp registration

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Florida

You must file the initial written notice with the county superintendent within 30 days of starting. You must file a termination notice and the annual evaluation within 30 days of ending the program.

Florida sets these rules:

• Subjects: Parent-directed instruction; Florida law does not prescribe a specific curriculum for a home education program.
• Testing: Provide an annual educational evaluation using one statutory method; a portfolio review is one option, and an alternate method requires agreement with the district superintendent.
• Records: Keep a portfolio with an activities log made as instruction occurs, reading-material titles, and work samples. Preserve it for two years and make it available for inspection on 15 days’ written notice.
• Teachers: Florida does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.

Florida also has two education savings accounts that home-educated students can use.

• The Personalized Education Program funds a Florida K-12 student's approved education costs through a scholarship organization, with income and priority rules. It is separate from registering a home education program with your district.
• The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities funds approved education and disability costs for a student with a qualifying disability, including one in a registered home education program. The award depends on the disability and its services.

Read the Florida homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Florida

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