Frequently Asked Questions: Summer Camp Edition

Transcription

1 Frequently Asked Questions: Summer Camp Edition Contact Information: John Amschler, Program Director: ext. 1 Jamie Preira, Program Coordinator: programs@calwood.org / camps@calwood.org, ext. 7 Index Registration 2 camp offerings, registering for camp, discounts and cancellations Preparing for camp.. 3 mail, packing (including packing medications), check-in/pick up Staff... 4 training, experience, background checks, certifications, CIT s Safety. 5 fire, evacuation, communication, weather, location Facilities. 6 sleeping, eating, storage, allergies / dietary restrictions, land

2 Registration: camp offerings, registering for camp, discounts, cancellations What summer camps are being offered in 2016? We have lots of exciting summer camps! Find the perfect camp that fits your campers schedule by visiting our website: Cal-Wood Summer Camps. How do I register my child for summer camp? If you visit the Cal-Wood website, each camp page has a registration link. The direct link for registration is: orgs/calwoodeducationcenter Are summer camps co-ed? Why is registration separated by male and female registration? All camps are co-ed during the day. Camp registration is divided by male and female registrants based on our in-cabin staff ratios. Cabins are separated by gender. Where is my ACTIVE account? Here is the link to the ACTIVE website where you can find all your required camp information and paperwork: CalWoodEducationCenter. Please contact them with password or website issues. Can my child attend more than one camp session each summer? Yes, please! We strive to have returning campers from year to year, but coming back the same summer is even better. Are there discounts for families sending more than one child to camp? There is a discount for families sending more than one child to camp. There is also a multiple camp discount for those who sign up campers for multiple sessions. What is your cancellation and refund policy? If you wish to change or cancel a registration, we must receive your request in writing. Please John Amschler, Cal-Wood s Program Director. Cancellations made prior to April 1, 2016: all payments returned except $50. Cancellations made after April 1, 2016 and prior to May 1, 2016: all payments returned except $350. Cancellations made after May 1, 2016: no refund. Transfers made prior to May 1, 2016: you may transfer your camper to another 2016 Cal- Wood camp of same or lesser value. If you wish to transfer your camper to a more expensive camp, you are responsible to pay the difference at the time the transfer request is made.

3 Preparing for camp: mail, packing (including packing medications), check-in/pick-up Is it okay for a child request the same cabin/tent as their friend? We love friends that come to camp together, it s a great way to spend time with old friends and an even better way to help make new ones. We try to ensure that requests are met. Can I bring mail for my camper? Of course! Please make sure the camper s name and the date to be delivered are detailed. We are happy to deliver as many letters as you would like, but please limit packages to one package per camper per camp. What should I include in my camper s ONE package? Small games (i.e. deck of cards, travel boggle, scrabble, etc), pack of bandannas, mad libs, age appropriate magazines, disposable cameras, arts and crafts supplies. Need some ideas? Check out this website: The Wrinkled Egg. What should I NOT include in my camper s package? food/candy, spray paint, Silly Putty, anything that could get your camper in trouble What if my camper needs to leave early? We discourage campers from leaving early due to the unique nature and location of some of our camps. However, we understand that emergencies can happen and prior obligations do exist. Please, if at all possible let us know with as much notice as possible, when you will pick your camper up. Your camper will meet you at our main lodge at the desired time. It is possible for your camper to return to camp if it makes logistical sense. Is it OK if someone else picks-up my camper at the end of camp? As long as it is authorized by a parent or guardian (this is a great option for carpooling). Please remember, at Check-In and Pick-up a photo ID is required. What should I pack? We have extensive and specific packing lists for each camp, they are located on each camp s page on the summer camp section of our website. Our lists will tell you exactly what you child needs for your camp, along with some reminders for items not to bring to camp. We have a strict no food policy in the cabins, so please do not send your camper with food unless it is to accommodate dietary restrictions in which case all food will be kept in the kitchen. It is also helpful to label all of your child s items. Campers will be sharing a space in the cabins with other campers and item can easily get mixed up. Labeling all items will help your child come home with everything they brought to camp. My child has medication, what do I do? How do I pack them? Please review our Medical Information and Medication Authorization Form. Make sure to bring medication with a medication authorization form! Medication needs to be in the original container, with a doctor s note detailing the dosage and administration. If either of these components are missing, we cannot administer the medication. My child takes vitamins, are those considered a medication? Yes! Vitamins are considered medication at camp. Medications include: prescriptions (i.e. inhalers, EPI Pens), over-the-counter medications (i.e. Tylenol, Benadryl), homeopathic remedies, and supplements (e.g., vitamins, melatonin etc). These will be held and administered by a trained and certified medication administration personnel. Where and when do I drop off my camper? This is TBD. We will be sending you a camp packet with lots of good information as the date nears. Stay tuned! Can I talk to my camper during camp? We discourage campers from calling home during camp. However, we will be posting pictures and updates on our Cal-Wood Facebook Page. Like us on Facebook and stay tuned for updates!

4 Staff: training, experience, background checks, certifications, CIT s What is Cal-Wood Education Center? Cal-Wood's mission is to offer a unique outdoor educational experience to youth and adults in a manner that will carry on the vision of Roger and Oral Calvert. To this end Cal-Wood's goals are: (1) to help all who come to Cal- Wood develop a greater appreciation for the natural world; (2) to offer environmental education to those who would not otherwise experience it; and (3) to provide unique educational opportunities in a special mountain setting. Who are your staff? The camp supervisory staff are full-time professional educators, along with our college-aged counseling staff who will provide the in-cabin supervision. Our staff have diverse backgrounds focusing on education, sciences, and language. Each member of our summer staff is trained to facilitate our summer camp programs. Our staff members are all background checked and have medical certifications ranging from First Aid/CPR to Wilderness First Responder. Support for the camp staff is provided by a Camp Coordinator and Program Director who are also full-time year-round Cal-Wood staff members. What is a CIT? Each camp has Counselor s in Training (CIT s) as support staff to our Cal- Wood instructors. The CIT s are exemplary high school students and first-year college students that have applied, been interviewed, accepted and trained to work with campers at Cal-Wood. They do not replace the staff, rather supplement alongside to aid in daily camp procedures and gain experience working with campers. What is the camper to staff ratio? Our camper to staff ratios exceed strict guidelines set by Colorado Human Services, Child Care Division. For campers aged 8-10, the ratio is 1:8, for campers aged 11-13, the ratio is 1:10, and for campers aged 14+, the ratio is 1:12. Realistically, our camps have ratios closer to 1:5, or 1:6.

5 Safety: fire, evacuation, communication, weather, location Where are you located? Cal-Wood is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains (15 miles northwest of Boulder) just outside Jamestown, Colorado. We are located on a private 1,200 acre property at an elevation of 7,800 feet surrounded by the Arapaho- Roosevelt National Forest. What is the weather like? Colorado is famous for blue skies and plenty of sun. At an elevation of 7,800 feet, the average daytime temperature in the summer is about 80 degrees F. Evenings are cool, usually degrees F. Occasionally, we have an afternoon rain shower. Many of our trips into the high country camp above or near timberline and these temperatures can drop to below freezing, even in July! What happens if there is an emergency? Cal-Wood staff members are all connected by radio communication. Phone and Internet access allow us to be connected to current situations and emergency services. First Responders can reach Cal-Wood within 10 minutes, fire services within 20, ambulance within 35, and helicopter within an hour. The local fire department is informed of our camp sessions and of our emergency procedures. Before each season, staff members are trained on emergency procedures. What if my child needs to be evacuated? In the case of an emergency that requires evacuation, we maintain close contact with Lefthand Fire Protection District as to our numbers and needs as a group. If evacuation is made by vehicle, campers will be driven to a safe zone where Boulder Valley School District buses will meet the campers and transport them to a central location for pick-up by authorized family members or friends. If evacuation takes place by helicopter, campers will be taken to a safe meeting place and pick-up will proceed from there. What if I need to get a message to someone at Cal-Wood? Cal-Wood office staff is available by phone or during business hours (roughly 8:30am-5pm) Monday through Friday. Please camp@calwood.org or call (For John Amschler, Program Director, dial ext 1. For Jamie Preira, Program Coordinator, dial ext 7. For CITs or Cal- Wood Summer Staff, dial ext 6). Outside of those times, Cal-Wood camp staff may be reachable by both phone or . Messages are always checked and responded to as soon as possible.

6 Facilities: land, sleeping arrangements, eating, allergies/dietary restrictions Where are you located? Cal-Wood is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains (15 miles northwest of Boulder) just outside Jamestown, Colorado. We are located on a private 1,200 acre property at an elevation of 7,800 feet surrounded by the Arapaho- Roosevelt National Forest. Where do the campers sleep? Depending on which camp you are attending, the sleeping arrangements vary. Our Chipmunk, Cal-Wood Summer Camp, MFA, T.U.N.E., and Eco- Engineers camps stay in cabins which are equipped with bunk beds, dressers, a porch and an electric heater. Cabins are separated by gender. The lodge is a quick walk, which provides bathrooms with running water, hot showers, and our dining hall. Our Wildland Skills, Mountain Summer Camp, and Lil Trekkers camps are based in tents at satellite campsites around our property. Campers sleep in tents (with a buddy of the same gender), water and food are provided by support staff each day, and bathrooms are well-kept latrines. Trekkers and Alpine Trekkers camps spend their nights in lightweight backpacking tents in the Colorado wilderness. Campers will share a tent with 1 or 2 others of the same gender. They will spend their final night on Cal-Wood property. What is the food like? Our kitchen staff provides nutritious homemade meals. Each meal is accompanied by fruits, vegetables and a selection of baked goods or side dishes. There is a vegetarian option available for each meal, but we do need to know this information ahead of time. We prepare meals that suit every palate out there, but please refer to our Dietary Restrictions Accommodation form for more information. My Camper has food allergies, what do I do? Don t worry, our kitchen staff has years of experience and plans meals around dietary restrictions and food allergies year round. Please let us know as far in advance as possible so the kitchen staff has enough lead time to plan accordingly. That being said, we can accommodate most food allergies. If there is a severe or complex food allergy, we encourage you to pack foods your camper can eat safely. Please refer to our Dietary Restrictions Accommodation form for more information.