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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where is Camping.OUT located exactly?
Camping.OUT takes place at a licensed youth summer camp facility in Northern Michigan. The exact location is shared only with individuals who register for the camp and volunteers who apply and are selected to participate. The information is shared with individuals registered for the camp once final payment arrangements are made either by Triangle Foundation receiving the final registration payment or the camper’s scholarship application being approved.


Is Camping.OUT licensed or accredited by any agencies?
Camping.OUT is licensed by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS). The licensing process includes a representative from DHS reviewing Camping.OUT’s policies and procedures and visiting the camp each year. Michigan DHS was also consulted in the initial planning stages of Camping.OUT. While Camping.OUT is not accredited by the American Camp Association, we do operate in accordance with most of the requirements for ACA Accreditation.


My camper has specific medications that are on a strict schedule, can you accommodate that?
All medications are dispensed at the health center by our health officer during health calls which are held immediately after each meal and, if necessary, just before going to bed at night. In addition, campers and parents meet briefly with the health officer upon arrival at camp to review the medical history/exam forms, discuss any current health or medication needs of the camper, and to collect any medications.


Do I need to be from Michigan to participate?
No – in fact youth from as far as the United Kingdom are registering to participate in Camping.OUT. The same is true for our volunteers. If you are able to get to the camp, you are eligible to apply to participate.

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Who is in charge of your waterfront?
A waterfront director, who has current lifeguard/CPR and first aid certifications (in accordance with Michigan Camp Licensing guidelines), is responsible for all water activities - swimming, kayaking, etc. This person is responsible for knowing the swimming ability of all campers and staff and to evaluate their abilities oversees swim tests for everyone during the opening days. The waterfront director also tests each staff member for swimming ability at the beginning of staff training and trains those people who will be guarding waterfront activities in correct waterfront procedures.


May campers go swimming whenever they want to?
The camp waterfront swimming area is open several times during the day for swimming. Campers and staff may not swim unless the waterfront has been opened by the waterfront director and lifeguards are in place. At each swimming activities, there will be one certified lifeguard for every 10 swimmers. In addition, campers use a buddy system when swimming. Each camper checks into the swimming area with a "buddy" and they swim together-- and watch out for each other. Lifeguards are required to do frequent formal buddy checks whenever campers are swimming.


How many staff are present? What is your staff to camper ratio? How many staff are around during activities?
Typically, a cabin group will have between 5-8 campers and two counselors.

During activities, there will usually be two staff member for every 5-8 participants and in any activity which has more than 10 participants there will be 1 additional staff member for every 10 additional campers. It is our intent to achieve the lowest staff/camper ratio practicable. Thus, activities involving 2 or 3 campers with a couple of staff present are possible and welcome.

In risk activities, staff to camper ratio is higher than in normal activities. For example, bicycle trips will have 2 staff members for each 8 campers, canoe trips will have 2 staff for each 8/9 campers, etc.

The camp also has at least one certified social worker and trained counselor onsite.

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How are your staff selected and trained?
Almost all of our staff are volunteers. Every staff member is required to fill out an application, participate in at least one interview and given a background check with includes both criminal and sex offender registries. Presenters present at the camp also undergo background checks and screenings.

All camp staff are required to attend a multiple day staff training prior to campers arriving. The training curriculum is taught by experienced camp professionals as well as the camp’s onsite social worker in accordance with camp consultants and the Michigan Department of Human Services. Every effort is made to prepare staff for matters related to emergencies, youth development, group dynamics, behavior management, positive reinforcement, creating safe spaces and diversity.


Do you have a health officer on duty at all times?
The health officer lives at camp and, when absent, designates another qualified staff member as substitute. A local physician works with the health officer and gives that person the standing orders under which the health officer works. The local physician's office is in a nearby hospital which is has a fully staffed and equipped emergency room.


My camper has dietary needs, can you accommodate those?
Lunches and dinners at camp are served family style; breakfasts are served cafeteria style. At all meals, there is usually enough variety and choice to meet everyone's needs. In addition, a vegetarian option is always available. Special diets – milk free, wheat free, etc. – can usually be provided by the kitchen with input from the parents, camper or staff member involved.

In addition, the camp menus reflect the following:

• Minimal sugar desserts
  
• Minimal sugars at breakfast
  
• Hot dogs are to be turkey or all beef products
  
• Minimal pork served
  
• A variety of breads will be served, not just white
  
• Meals will reflect "kid" preferences, yet attempt to enlarge campers' experiences with unfamiliar foods
  
• Meals will reflect a preference toward less red meats
  
• Because of the additional sugars and chemicals they contain, processed foods are to be avoided.
  
• Foods prepared "from scratch" are preferred. We attempt to avoid frozen cookie dough, frozen entrees, canned pasta with sauce, artificial dessert toppings, breakfast pop-tarts, etc. There will, of course, be some tradeoffs and some processed foods will be used.
  
• Ethnic meals are welcomed and encouraged
  

Campers also have input into menu planning and meal preparation. We will operate an open kitchen as much as possible with campers assisting with meal preparation when ever feasible. To this end, campers also serve as "cruisers" and dishwashers for at least one day each session.

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Will my child be left out if going to camp alone-- without any friends from home?
Although it is not uncommon for campers to come to camp with a friend or relative, most participants at Camping.OUT are not attending with people that they already know. Campers are usually able to make friends very quickly. We attempt to make cabin groupings that have a good mixture of former and new campers, campers from various cities, etc. We also plan a number of teambuilding and ice-breaker activities to encourage community building.


Do you have any suggestions as to what (and how) to pack for camp?

General Suggestions
Send easy care, rugged clothes. Camp is hard on clothes.

Label all belongings with camper’s first & last name, not just initials. Items with names tend to be easily returned; initialed items tend to remain unclaimed.

• Luggage
  The best luggage choice is a single, easy access suitcase or duffel bag and a smaller "carry-on" bag. Remember luggage may need to travel a long distance before it makes its way to the camper’s cabin. A footlocker or hard plastic storage box with cover (which will slide under the camp beds) and a duffel bag also work well. For ease of travel, some families ship luggage to camp via UPS; we will also ship it back to you following the session for a nominal fee.
  
  
  
• Bedding
  A sleeping bag should suffice. However, twin sized sheets, blankets, pillow and a sleeping bag (preferably one that could unzip and be used as a comforter) are also appropriate.
  
  
  
• Towels
  Towels will get wet and dirty-- so bring several towels and wash cloths. Bath towels tend to work better for most campers than big beach towels as the larger towels are more likely to be dragged in the sand.
  
  
• Laundry Bag / Laundry Service
  Please send a mesh or fabric laundry bag. Do not send a lightweight plastic bag as rip easily under normal "kid" use. Most importantly, never send a black garbage bag to be use as a laundry bag. Most black plastic garbage bags get tossed into the dumpsters without checking to see what they contain! No laundry service is available during sessions except for emergencies.
  
  
• Clothing
  Shorts, jeans, tops/shirts, sweatshirt, sweater, underwear, socks (some warm and heavy), swimming suit, cap/hat for the beach, pajamas/sleepwear, light jacket, rain gear
  
  
• Shoes
  Sneakers (a couple pair if you have them, in case one pair gets wet), shower sandals, water shoes/booties – be sure to bring at least one pair of close toed shoes (such as sneakers)
  
  
• Other stuff
  
  • toilet articles (soap, shampoo, etc) in easily carried container, such as a little plastic bucket or toilet kit
    
  • flashlight, extra batteries
    
  • disposable camera
    
  • stamped, self-addressed postcards and envelopes
    
  • pens and pencils
    
  • reading materials (books/ magazines)
    
  • playing cards/quiet (rainy day) games (we also have some available)
    
    
• Optional items
  
  • sports equipment you'd enjoy having at camp – Frisbees, swim fins, mask, hacky sack
    
  • daypack or small back-pack
    
  • costume or items for use at skit night or talent show
    
  • musical instrument that can handle life at camp
    
  • a walkman or iPod **note-- camp rules are that these devices may be used only in your cabin, during rest hour, free time or before bed, and may not be used on trips, during activities, while at the beach, etc. Remember that personal music devices tend to isolate you, the listener, and that one of the reasons to go to camp is to meet and interact with others!
    

Basically, pack from the above list according to the needs of your camper. Keep in mind that camp is informal and that most campers don't tend to need the number of clothing changes they might need at home. Pack for warm and cool days plus occasional rain-- Michigan weather is very changeable! Best advice is that if you think you are sending too much, you probably are!

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What shouldn't be brought to camp?

• Pets. Herman the hamster and Fluffy the dog have to stay home.
  
• Firearms and other weapons.
  
• Cigarettes, non-smoking tobacco or alcohol.
  
• Fireworks.
  
• No expensive jewelry, watches, expensive musical instruments or other easily damaged items.
  
• Skateboards and inline skates (there is no place to use them-- plus it's a danger that a friend of yours will "borrow" them and get hurt!)
  
• Hairdryers (this is camp-- no need to look perfect!)
  
• Radios, televisions, tape decks (camper cabins do not have electricity plus camp is supposed to be an escape from suburban/urban life)
  
• Game Boys (tends to isolate the player-- camp is to meet and be with people!)
  
• Your own private snack bar---chips, peanuts, candy, soda and all that kind of stuff. Use good judgment about snacks/food and pack only minimal amount of "treats". Minimal means no more than 8 ounces. See information on "Care Packages" for rationale.
  
  

What kind of religious association does your camp have?
There is no religious affiliation and we offer no religious services.


How can I communicate with my camper while they're at camp?
Mail is the best communication at camp as everyone likes to receive mail. In fact, both campers and their parents like to receive it! So families should often write short, newsy, letters. Keep in mind that letters will often take 3-5 days to get to camp. Consider mailing a brief note several days prior to the opening day of the session so that mail will be waiting for your camper. And be certain to send stamped addressed postcards or envelopes to facilitate production of letters home. Past experience has indicated that few letters home usually mean that a camper is having a busy, happy time.

Camper parents often use FAX or email to send brief notes to your camper. The fax is on a dedicated phone line and may be used day or night. Faxes and email are delivered with distribution of the US mail, usually late afternoon or early evening. Please include your child's first and last name on all faxes & email. Campers, though, do not have personal access to computers or fax machine, thus no email or immediate fax response from campers is possible.


Why can't my camper just call me during the week?
Because there will be 50-80 campers and staff at camp, it is logistically impossible to provide phone access for both the camp business needs and campers and staff personal phoning. Thus, telephone lines at camp are reserved for business use. Telephone communication from both home to campers and campers to home is usually limited to serious needs or emergencies.

Although cell phones are becoming very popular and many campers have their own phones, we recommend that campers do not bring a cell phone with them to camp. Camp is to be a retreat from everyday life – and cell phone call interruptions quickly destroy that quality. Sometimes parents, however, may feel more comfortable if their child has phone access while he or she is away from the family home. If this is the case, please either email or phone the Youth Initiatives office at Triangle Foundation and talk over your concerns. We usually can work out a "cell corral" arrangement that will satisfy the needs of both the camp community and the family.

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Do you have a Parent's Day? Do you allow visitations during the sessions?
We have no special visiting day. As Camping.OUT is relatively short, a stay at camp without visits from home is very feasible for most campers. Visiting days originated at camps with a single, 8 week session, thus a couple "visiting" days in the middle of the summer were both welcome and needed by parents and campers.

As most of our camper's homes are several hours (or even days) from camp, it would be unrealistic to expect parents to make the drive to and back from camp more than at the beginning and end of each session.

In anticipation of a possible visitor, a camper will tend to give up camping or out of camp trips and even key roles in skits and presentations, preferring, instead to be immediately available.

Please encourage grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc., to keep in touch with your child by letters, email or faxes and discourage personal visits except for exceptional, special cases.

Campers may leave camp with relatives/friends ONLY with the written permission of parents/guardians.

Finally, on closing day, when picking up your child, spend as much time as you wish visiting with staff and your camper's friends. Have your child give you a tour of the camp-- letting them introduce you to "their" camp. Both campers and parents will enjoy it!


I'm interested in sending my camper a care package, what should I send in it?
It is always fun to receive a care package at camp! The best care packages (from a camp management point of view) would contain a copy of a favorite newspaper or magazine, a couple of books, clothing, a small game or puzzle, deck of cards, makeup, sports equipment or similar items. Campers have received daily packages containing local sports news and weekly packages containing several current magazines. Keep the packages small-- maybe no larger than an 8"x10" padded envelope. A package or letter could contain one or two small items of food or candy as a special treat. Again, the key word is "small"-- and a 16 oz bag of M&M's, or 10-12 small packs of Skittles, or a 20 oz. package of Oreo cookies are not small items!

Please do not send packages of food and candy.

• Food packages (and wrappers, etc) kept in cabins or luggage attract chipmunks, squirrels & skunks
  
• Food package contents can be used to attempt to "purchase " friendship or group status
  
• Packages which appear to contain a large amount of food may either be
  
  • forwarded upon receipt to the child's home or
    
  • opened by the camper in the presence of the director/associate director with food items stored and then taken home at the end of the session
    

Do you do graces before meals?
We do not do graces before meals. Upon entering the dining room, campers and staff stand behind a chair where they will be seated for the meal and wait for the "thought for the meal" to be given by the meal host. A "thought for the meal" may be a short poem, prose piece, observation, or a brief comment on something that has happened that day, e.g., "Before we start the meal, I want to direct your attention to Louise and her sculpture group. They worked hard on their project this morning and you can see the great results just outside the dining room after lunch. Congratulations to them."

If you have any other questions, please contact youth@tri.org or 313-537-7000 x105.

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