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CAMP COMMUNICATION As of June 10th, our winter office will close and we will move to camp! The new address & phone are: Camp Eagle Ridge c/o Camper Name (if you are writing to a camper) 75392 Lake Galilee Road Mellen, WI 54546 Phone: 715-274-4204 Campers may receive mail at camp and they can send mail daily. We even suggest sending a letter before your child leaves for camp so that they receive a letter right away! Campers cannot send e-mail at camp and may only receive emails through the Bunk1.com service. We strongly encourage parents to write lots & lots of letters & postcards! However, please try avoid using statements such as: “I miss you so much! I cried all the way home.“ Instead say, “I can’t wait to hear about your adventures when you get back!“ Please do not mail food, candy or gum to your camper during the summer, even if they ask you to do so. Food attracts critters! However, campers love small packages with items such as a book, comics, a little game or art items, cards, etc. All packages to campers are opened in the presence of staff and any food brought or mailed to camp will be discarded. Telephone Policy – Campers are not permitted to receive phone calls at camp. The only exceptions being a family emergency or birthday. Parents are welcome to call the camp director whenever they wish. We don’t limit this type of contact to be mean, but rather for two very practical reasons. First, there is only one phone line into camp and you could imagine what would happen if 90 kids were able to make or receive phone calls at camp! Next, one of the important benefits of camp is the self-reliance and independence that children gain during this time. Telephone calls frequently defeat this goal. We will call you if your child is in the Health Center overnight or if there are any other health concerns. We will also call you if we need to speak to you about how your child is doing at camp. Campers that are staying 4-7 weeks will be allowed to receive one phone call midway through their session. Campers are not allowed to bring cell phones or pagers to camp.
CAMP STORE Because we don’t want campers to carry cash, we allow campers to keep a camp store account. Often, we are asked what is an appropriate amount to put into their account. As that varies individually, our best answer is to think about what items your camper may want or need while at camp. The camp store sells souvenirs such as: t-shirts, shorts, hats, pants, postcards, stamps, stuffed animals, disposable cameras, camp journals, etc. The most expensive items in the store are a camp jacket ($40) or a camp blanket ($30). Other items generally range from $6-$20. New this year, we will offer ice cream novelties (ice cream sandwiches, push ups, bars, etc.) for $1.00 during free time when the store is open. We also have a patch program at camp where campers can work to achieve 10 different patches that when completely accomplished form an eagle. Each patch costs $2. There are three additional experiences that are offered at an additional fee: golf (lessons are free, trips to the driving range are $6, trips to the golf course are $20); leathercraft (the leather supplies are available for $2 – $4 per project); and canoe trips (canoeing lessons and lake canoeing are free, trips down the rivers are available for $5). Every so often we also take trips out of camp where campers are allowed to bring up to $5 of their camp store money for spending money. Having and managing a camp bank account is good experience for campers to learn to budget their resources. Although we will attempt to “guide” campers in making good choices with their account, they do have control over their own account. All remaining money in their camp store account is returned to the camper at the end of his/her session in the form of a check. HEALTH INFORMATION Each camper is required to have a signed health form on file at camp. The health form is read by the Camp Director/s and all qualified health personnel; including, but not limited to, our Health Manager, doctors, nurses, emergency responders, first aid providers and E.M.T.s. Please be honest and forthcoming with your child’s physical and psychological health history. Our goal is to provide the best care possible for each and every camper. The information on the health form may be shared with other camp personnel to provide the best care possible. If you have information that you do not want shared with particular camp personnel, you must provide that request in writing.
PACKING FOR CAMP We suggest that campers pack for 7-10 days. For our campers staying longer than a week, we do laundry together once a week. Please do not send delicate or clothing items that need special care. All laundry is done in the regular cycle in warm water. Please send a marked laundry bag and mark all personal and clothing items! We find that the large plastic tote boxes work great as footlockers and can hold all of your campers items in one container. Reminder: only 2 bags or 1 tote and 1 bag per camper are allowed on the motorcoach. Campers are not allowed to bring electronic items such as: Game Boys, Ipods, CD Players, Boom Boxes, etc. We promise – there are enough other fun things to do at camp. Plus, we don’t want campers to separate themselves from making friends. Remember, things can get lost or broken. Please do not bring things of value to camp.
We can’t be responsible for those items and don’t want hurt feelings. Obviously, items such as: knives (even pocket knives), guns, fireworks or any weapon will not be allowed at camp and bringing those items can result in a camper’s dismissal from camp.
CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT Check in is on Sunday between 2-4 p.m. Please do not arrive earlier than 2 p.m. as much of our staff has time-off until then and won’t be on hand to greet you and care for your child. During check in, campers do three things: move into their cabin and meet their counselor and cabinmates, go to the Health Center for an initial health screening, and visit the camp store, if necessary, to make a deposit or shop. At 4 p.m., we start with an all-camp welcome and introductions! Check out is on Saturday between 10:30 - 11 a.m. Please meet your child at our lodge if you are picking them up at camp. If you are late picking up your child, whether from camp or the bus, you will be assessed a late pick-up charge of $25 per hour.
VISITING Parents are welcome to visit at any time. We have no specific visiting days. Please give us a call to arrange your visit so that we can arrange to have your child in camp (not on a horse, boat or canoe trip) and so that other children are not alarmed by the presence of a “stranger” in camp. More often than not, parents do not visit campers during their session, so please do not feel compelled to do so.
DISMISSAL FROM CAMP If a child behaves in a way that we determine to be potentially harmful to themselves or others, or engages in a behavior that could be considered unlawful, it is at the camp directors’ discretion to remove and dismiss a child from camp. If that happens, a parent or guardian will be contacted to make arrangements for the child’s return home. Parents will have no more than 12 hours before their child must be off camp premises. Failure to do so could result in the child being turned over to protective or social services. Removal of a child from camp will be at the parent’s expense and no rebate or refund of tuition will be given. We hope that no child is dismissed from camp, but we will do what we believe is necessary to protect each and every child in camp from themselves or others. |
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EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMP EAGLE RIDGE... |
