SIXTH GRADE CAMP FITCH MANUAL Wickliffe Middle School OCTOBER 26 30, 2015
Dear Parents/Guardians: It is time once again to start gearing up for our annual sixth grade camp adventure. The staff and I are very excited to be able to give your children a wonderful camp experience they will remember for many years to come. Camp Fitch is owned and operated by the Young Men s Christian Association of Youngstown, Ohio and is located in North Springfield, Pennsylvania. The camp is arranged on a beautiful 300 acre site along the shore of Lake Erie. A mile of lake frontage, a picturesque inland lake, winding streams, woods, meadows and marsh make up one of the most beautiful outdoor education centers anywhere. There are seven fully winterized buildings and lodges that allow for a year-round capacity of approximately 150 people. Each building has modern toilet and shower facilities within and is heated and comfortable. The children will come to school on Monday morning, October 26, with their clothing and equipment for the week and a bagged lunch for that day (see clothing and equipment list). Students will be transported to Camp Fitch by Wickliffe school busses. They will leave the middle school at 9:30 A.M. and arrive at camp at approximately 11:00 A.M. The students will return to Wickliffe on Friday, October 30, and will be dropped off at WMS at approximately 1:00 P.M. All students must be picked up on time. Your child will be well-supervised during the week at camp. In addition to their sixth grade teachers and cabin parents, there will be a staff of six college-trained staff members working with and supervising them as well. A registered nurse will be present the entire week to take care of any medical needs that may arise. If your child will need to take medication while at camp, please see the camp medication forms and information on the WMS Camp Central website. In the event an emergency does arise, your child will be transported to the medical center in Girard, PA, which is approximately 15 minutes from camp, or to Brown Memorial Hospital in Conneaut. You will be notified as soon as possible. While your child is at camp, they will have five one-hour classes each day. Classes will include nature studies, crafts, horsemanship, horseback riding, candle making and butter churning. The great variety of activities outside of class time will provide a camping adventure for each child from 7:00 A.M. 10:15 P.M. (see daily schedule).
The cost of camp is $225.00 per child. I realize that we are all in difficult economic times, but the fee is the most reasonable of any five-day camp in the area. Each year, we have approximately twenty-five parents who volunteer to spend a week at camp with the children. The parents do a great deal to make the camping program a success. If you would like to volunteer to be a chaperone, please contact me at the middle school. You must be fingerprinted and the results must be returned before we leave. Please arrange for fingerprinting to be completed ASAP if you are interested in serving as a volunteer. Fingerprinting is done at the Wickliffe Board of Education office. Volunteer parents assist with supervision in classes, during meals and at night. It is always an enjoyable experience for the parents. Please have all money and the signed medical/permission form turned in by Monday, October 19th. Checks should be made payable to Wickliffe Middle School. If you have any questions about camp, please don t hesitate to reach me at (440) 943-7743. Sincerely, Ms. Glau Assistant Principal/Camp Director Mailing address: Camp Fitch 12600 Abels Rd. North Springfield, PA 16430 *Please send your child mail a few days before we arrive on Monday. Mail time is a very special experience at the camp, and your child will feel left out if mail is not sent for him or her. **Please ensure that your child brings a packed lunch to school on Monday, October 26.
CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT LIST Bedding: Clothing: Toiletries: Equipment: Sleeping bag or sheets and two blankets, pillow and pillow case One pair pajamas Daily change of underwear Enough socks for 2-3 pair per day 3 4 pairs of trousers or jeans Heavy and light shirts Warm jacket and sweater Raincoat or poncho One pair of boots waterproof (MUST BE WORN ON THE BUS) One pair of tennis shoes One stocking cap Gloves Shampoo Deodorant Toothbrush and toothpaste Soap, towel and washcloth Comb and brush Kleenex Flip-flops (for shower room) Flashlight Stationery and stamps Pencils and notebooks Optional: Compass Pocket magnifying glass Binoculars Nature identification books Camera and film PROHIBITED ITEMS THAT WILL BE CONFISCATED IF FOUND: Radio Money ipods Candy Firearms Knives Gum Food Axes Hatchets Saws Cell phones Archery Equipment Electric blankets Proper clothing is of utmost importance to the campers health, safety and comfort. We recommend that several layers of medium weight clothing be worn instead of one heavy coat. This arrangement allows for adjustments to be made as weather conditions warrant and is much warmer overall. We also recommend that wool and the newer, warmer manmade materials be used as much as possible. Cotton and the light synthetics are not as
warm and should be used sparingly during this time of year. Major items of clothing and equipment should be marked with the owner s name. Your child will be responsible for all of his or her belongings. WE ADVISE PACKING EVERYTHING IN DOUBLED, HEAVY- DUTY GARBAGE BAGS, DUFFLE BAGS, OR SOFT LUGGAGE WITH NAMES CLEARLY MARKED ON THE OUTSIDE. BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS While this is a new experience for the 6 th grade students, the same general rules that apply at WMS will be followed at Camp Fitch. Students are expected to show respect at all times towards their classmates, adults and the property of others both inside and outside of the cabins. Consequences may include but are not limited to: Verbal warning(s) from camp staff, teaching staff, and /or parent chaperone Removal from one activity, class, option time or evening program Phone call home Removal from camp & parent pick-up If a student has to be removed from camp as a result of misbehavior, the camp fee will not be refunded.
DAILY SCHEDULE 7:00 8:00 EARLY RISERS, ACTIVITY, FISHING 8:00 FLAG RISING 8:10 BREAKFAST SET-UP 8:30 BREAKFAST 9:00 9:45 MORNING DUTIES 9:45 10:00 MORNING THOUGHT 10:00 11:00 CLASS 11:00 12:00 CLASS 12:00 12:30 LUNCH SET-UP 12:30 1:15 LUNCH 1:30 2:30 CLASS 2:30 3:30 CLASS 3:30 4:30 CLASS 4:30 5:30 OPTION TIME 5:30 6:00 WEATHER STATION & DINNER SET-UP 6:00 6:45 DINNER 6:45 7:30 GET READY FOR EVENING PROGRAMS 7:30 9:00 EVENING PROGRAMS 9:00 9:30 SNACK 9:30 10:15 PREPARE FOR BED