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When can I register for camp? Camp Registration for Members opens on 1/15/2024. Can I register my child for multiple weeks? Yes! You can register for as many weeks as needed. You can be here for 1 week, all 9 weeks, or mix and match according to your schedule. When does camp run? Camp operates Monday-Friday 9:00 am-3:30 pm. Pickup begins at 3:00 and ends at 3:30 pm. We have before and after care available for those who need additional care. Before care: Monday-Friday, 8:00-9:00 am Aftercare: Monday-Friday, 3:30-6:00 pm *Registration and payment are required for before and aftercare. How many campers are within each camp group? All 4-5 year old camper groups have 18 children per group overseen by 3 educators and 1 CIT. There are 3 groups in this age range: Wiggly Worms, Crawling Caterpillars, and Slimy Slugs. All 6-9 year old camper groups have 16 children per group overseen by 2 educators and 1 CIT. There are 3 groups of 6-7 year olds: Dashing Dragonflies, Amazing Ants, and Busy Bees. There are 2 groups of 8-9 year olds: Radical Raccoons and Wild Wolves. The 10-12 year old camp group has 16 children per group overseen by 3 educators. There is 1 group of 10-12 year olds: Adventure Trekkers. My camper and their friend/family member/etc want to be in the same group. What should I do? All age groups between 4-9 years old are split into smaller groups. To ensure your camper and their buddy are in the same group please communicate with that child’s adult that you are both selecting the same group during the same week(s) when you register. Example: All Wiggly Worms will be together. All Radical Raccoons will be together. Who will be overseeing my child’s camp group? Camp groups are supervised by adult environmental educators. Each age group has one coordinator to assist with group-specific needs. One teenage volunteer (CIT) will be paired with each group to assist the educators. What activities occur during the week? Children ages 4-5 will grow and learn while immersed in nature. A typical day includes exploring ponds and streams, observing tadpoles and butterflies, and building knowledge and relationships. Getting messy and having fun through unstructured, imaginative play. Campers ages 6-7 will hike, canoe, create, and investigate while learning about the natural world. Enjoying a mix of environmental education and unstructured free play. A typical day includes crafts, games, guided hikes, and incredible discoveries that will make learning about nature fun and create wonderful lasting memories. Campers in the 8-9 age group will delve a bit deeper into environmental topics while spending plenty of time exploring, hiking, canoeing, and playing. A typical day includes environmental stewardship projects, helping to develop their knowledge, community and team-building, and a lifelong appreciation of the natural world. Campers ages 10-12 will be challenged to improve their outdoor knowledge and skills in a supportive setting with instructors and outdoor guides. As each week’s destination and focus changes, campers will engage in a wide variety of activities and habitats. Campers start the week bonding at our home base. Every Tuesday, we will go off-site to explore the Wissahickon. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, we will take day trips offsite to nearby state parks, natural areas, and cultural institutions. The day trips vary each week, depending on the theme. On weeks with an asterisk, campers will spend Thursday night camping at the Schuylkill Center. Will I receive additional information? Yes, after camp registration, you will receive a confirmation email with a receipt of the order. We will also reach out via email on April 1st, 2024 with the required documents needed for camp and we will ask for the completion by April 17th, 2024. Approximately one week before your child’s scheduled camp week, you will receive a Camp Itinerary via email outlining general camp activities and general reminders. How do I drop off and pick-up for camp? Drive down our driveway and into the parking lot. Meet your groups at the designated home base and check in with camp staff. Children will only be released to their guardians and individuals named in the child’s files as approved for pick-up. Families must check in with their child’s counselors when picking up and signing their child out on the daily attendance sheet. Children will not be released to unauthorized persons. If a family would like to add or remove names from this list, they may do so by contacting Beatrice Kelly at beatrice@schuylkillcenter.org or 215-853-6249. Staff is encouraged to check IDs if someone they do not recognize comes to pick up a child. Therefore, all adults should bring a form of ID to pick up, even if they are on the authorized pick-up list. What should my child wear to camp? All campers should be in comfortable clothing for outdoor nature play. Clothes that they are comfortable getting dirty or wet in. Closed-toed shoes are required. Please no flip-flops or Crocs! What should my child bring to camp? Campers should arrive each day with a backpack containing a reusable water bottle, a healthy lunch, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, and an extra set of play clothes (Labeled). No food will be provided. Personal items including toys, games, cards, etc, should be left at home. What if my campers’ items get lost? All items brought to camp by participants should be clearly labeled with the camper’s name. Items left in public areas will be placed in lost and found, located at the front desk in the Visitor Center. Items not collected within 2 weeks will be discarded. Electronics, cell phones, and toys are not permitted at camp. The Schuylkill Center is not responsible for personal items that are misplaced, stolen, or broken at camp. What if it rains? Camp will continue! Campers have the option to gear up and head out for rain play and exploration. If the rain is posing a safety issue, including but not limited to thunderstorms, heavy winds, etc. We will move each group to their indoor location. What about heat or Air Quality Index (AQI)? Please check out our Policy on Extreme Weather. What if my child is sick? If your child is not feeling well please refrain from bringing them to camp. This can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, new and persistent cough, etc. Please let us know in advance through phone call or email. What about poison ivy or ticks? Our educators are trained to avoid hazards like poison ivy and perform tick checks. We will work with our campers to learn these skills as well. However, be sure to check your child for ticks thoroughly after each camp day. Where should I park? Please park in our parking lot at the end of the driveway. Please refrain from parking on our blacktop during camp hours. Where can I read more about camp? Please refer to our 2024 Camp Handbook and Policy Guide for an in-depth review of summer camp. |