SMS

Overview

Use SMS in Campium to send short, one-way text updates to families when you need their attention quickly.

Where to find SMS

Open SMS from the main navigation:

1. Go to Communications.
2. Click SMS.

The SMS page shows three main areas: Settings, Recipients, and Logs.

Create and send an SMS

Use this workflow when you want to compose a new text and send it now or schedule it.

What success looks like

• The SMS appears in Logs with a sent time.
• The recipient list in Recipients matches your intended audience.
• Families report receiving the text on their phones from (551) 209-2312.

Tabs: Settings, Recipients, Logs

The SMS screen is organized into three tabs. Use each tab for a different part of your workflow.

Settings tab

The Settings tab controls the content of your SMS and when it goes out.

SMS message

Type the text you want families to receive in the SMS message box.

Keep your message focused on one topic, such as a schedule change, arrival reminder, or weather update.

Insert link and account setup link

Above the SMS message box you can:

• Insert link - Opens Insert a link. Enter a full web address that starts with https://, then click Insert. Campium shortens long links to your parent portal address when the message sends, and the character counter already counts those shorter links.
• Insert account setup link - Inserts a personal setup placeholder. Each recipient gets their own short link that signs them in to set up their account. It works once and expires after 14 days.

Helper text under the message box always includes: Long links are shortened to your portal address when the message sends. When the message includes an account setup link placeholder, an extra note explains that it becomes a personal short link for each recipient, works once, and expires after 14 days.

Start with your camp name

On Settings, leave Start with your camp name checked (it is on by default) so each text begins with your camp name. The hint explains that families can tell who the text is from, and that the character count includes the prefix. Uncheck it only when the message already names your camp. The same checkbox appears on Text this group from reports. The prefix is added when the message sends; it is not stored inside the draft body.

Text families from a report

On Reports → System Reports → No Primary Payment Method and Wait List Management, use Send Text (or Send Text To All Wait Listers) to open a Text this group modal. Write the message, review who has a cell phone, then click Send Text and confirm with Yes, send it. Open in full editor continues in Communications → SMS. You need permission to manage email (the same permission used for Email this group on those reports). See Families Without Primary Payment Method and Waitlist Report.

Rewrite with AI

Above the message box, use Rewrite with AI to open AI Text Rewriter. The modal opens already running Shorten, which is usually what you want for SMS length. Other actions include Improve, Simplify, Fix Grammar, Friendly, Professional, Formal, and Expand. Compare Original and Rewritten (with character and message counts), then click Use This Text to replace the draft, or close without applying.

When to send

Use When to send to choose whether the SMS goes out now or at a scheduled time.

• Choose to send later, then set Send at to the date and time. Times use your configured send timezone.
• Leave the schedule blank and click Send to send as soon as you confirm.

Scheduling is helpful for early-morning reminders or evening updates you want to prepare in advance.

Also send to

Use Also send to to add any extra phone numbers that are not already in your camper or parent list.

• Enter phone numbers as a comma-separated list.
• Use this for staff or special contacts who should receive the same message.

Check your extra numbers carefully to avoid sending to the wrong person.

Also send to campers

Select Also send to campers if you want campers themselves to receive the SMS as well as their parents. The checkbox hint explains that Campium sends a copy to campers who have a phone number, not only their parents.

If you leave this unchecked, Campium sends the SMS only to parents (Guardian 1 and Guardian 2 phone numbers for camper recipients) and any numbers you added under Also send to. After send, the Settings summary shows Campers as Included or Parents only.

Save

Click Save to store your current message and settings without sending.

• Use this to create drafts ahead of time.
• Return later to review, update, or send the saved SMS.

Saving before sending is a good way to double-check wording and recipients with your team.

Send

Click Send when you are ready for the SMS to go out.

• If you did not set Send at, Campium begins sending immediately.
• If Send at has a value, Campium queues the SMS to send at that date and time.

Sending progress

After you send (or when a scheduled send is delivering), the Settings tab shows Sending this SMS with how many messages are delivered so far, a progress bar, and an estimated time left. Text messages go out in batches and keep going after you leave the page. When delivery finishes, that panel is replaced by How this SMS performed (how many were sent, plus a note when some were not delivered). Use the Logs tab for per-recipient detail.

Recipients tab

Use the Recipients tab to control who receives your message.

On this tab, you generally:

• Search for specific individuals or groups.
• Use filters to narrow the audience to the right families or sessions.
• Review the list to ensure it matches the group you intend to notify.

Aim for the smallest accurate group you need, such as a single session, age group, or bus route, instead of the entire camp, to keep your messages relevant.

Skip people without changing filters

When you open the recipient list for a mass text, a Send column lets you uncheck anyone who should not get this SMS. Helper text: Uncheck anyone who should not get this text. Unchecking a camper skips both guardians. Changes save right away. The summary shows how many people are unchecked and will be skipped. Skipped people are left out of the send and out of the sent count.

Logs tab

The Logs tab shows the history of SMS activity.

On this tab, you can typically:

• View when an SMS was sent or scheduled.
• See which recipients were included.
• Confirm that a message you expected to go out appears in the history.

When people were unchecked before send, Logs also shows Skipped (N) with columns Name, Unchecked by, and When. Helper text: Unchecked in the recipient list, so they did not get this text and are not counted as sent.

Use Logs when:

• A family asks whether a message was sent about a specific event.
• You want to check the timing of past alerts.
• You are reviewing communications for a particular day or session.

Best practices for SMS

Thoughtful SMS use helps families stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.

• Be clear and concise. Lead with the main point: what is happening, when, and what action (if any) families should take.
• Use SMS for time-sensitive updates. Reserve texts for information that families need quickly, such as last-minute changes or urgent reminders.
• Respect timing. Avoid very late-night or very early-morning messages unless truly urgent.
• Avoid over-sending. If an update is not time-critical, consider email instead, or combine several minor updates into a single SMS.
• Respect opt-outs and preferences. If a family asks not to receive texts, keep a note in your records and choose other communication channels for them. When someone replies STOP to the carrier, Campium turns off SMS Subscribed on matching profiles so they are not texted again. Turning SMS off yourself in Campium is separate from a carrier opt-out. A later START reply can resubscribe profiles that were turned off by a carrier STOP.
• Match tone to the situation. Use a calm, straightforward tone, especially for weather or safety-related updates.

Used well, SMS in Campium helps families feel informed and confident about what is happening at camp.