I'm not understanding how it's a waste of money? All the summer camps run around the same amount (in the $500's). Those are typically for a single college to see you and your mixed in with girls that can and/or can not play AND it's usually a hundred or more girls to be seen. This is 2 days of playing nothing but games, it's 75 girls per grade...and the list of many colleges attending is impressive (and YES, they do attend). Yes, there are clinics that are less expensive ($200-$300) but that is only 2-4 hours of running short drills, etc..
Why would you apply for something knowing what the price is going to be going in? Why would your club "dictate" you applying but then not attend?