Camp Walden Parent-Orientation Guide

Camp Walden
Parent-Orientation Guide
We are delighted that you and your child have chosen to make Camp Walden a part of your
summer!
Our top priority is to provide your camper with a safe and memorable overnight camping
experience. In order to do that, we need to familiarize you with how camp runs and how
best to prepare yourself and your camper for his/her session at Walden. This guide seeks
to answer many questions that parents have—especially those new to Walden.
Some of the information provided is straight-forward, such as laundry service and our
bathing-suit policy; other information—regarding emotional issues, for instance—comes
from our observations as directors, from other camping professionals, and from the
feedback of Walden campers and parents, past and present.
As this guide is updated annually, it is important that even parents of “veteran” Walden
campers read through it thoroughly. We regularly add topics and alter the way we address
others. You’ll find the packing list, directions to camp and Do Not Bring list included at the
end.
Also included herein is the WALDEN PARENT/CAMPER CONTRACT, a form for you and
your son/daughter to read, sign and return to us by May 15.
If there is anything we’ve missed—and surely there will be!—please do not hesitate to call
us for answers or guidance.
Here’s to a summer of sunny weather, lazy mosquitoes and happy campers!
Liz and Scott
CONTACT US:
Winter—through June 1
Summer —through August 19
2335 Mistletoe Avenue
5607 South River Road
Fort Worth, TX 76110
Cheboygan, MI 49721
Phone: 817-923-9536
Fax: 817-923-7992
Phone: 231-625-2050 Fax: 231-625-2600
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Table of Contents
Summer 2015 Important Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3
Typical A-B Day Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3
Areas & Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4
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Arts & Crafts
Athletics
Horseback riding
Media
Outdoor Life
Performing Arts
Waterfront
Other Programs
Procedures and Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5
CampInTouch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Packing for Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Laundry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lost and Found. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electronics Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Communicating with Your Camper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Online photo gallery, letters, one-way email, phone-calls home)
Sending Care Packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Personal Spending Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Our Mess Hall, i.e. Food at Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Visiting Day Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Off-Season Staff/Camper Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Your Contact info/Refund Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page 5
Page 5
Page 6
Page 6
Page 7
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 9
Page 10
Page 10
Page 11
Page 11
Emotional Well-being and Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 12-14
Homesickness, Bullying, Swearing, Participation, Graffiti
Health and Medical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 15-17
Medical Forms, Infirmary Procedures, Medications, Braces/Glasses,
Arriving Healthy, Staying Healthy
Directions to Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17
Pre-Camp Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18
Packing List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 19
Do Not Bring List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 20
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Summer 2015 Important Dates
Saturday, June 13—Staff Week begins.
Office staff will begin answering camp phones on Sunday, June 15.
Between June 1 and June 13, Liz and Scott are reachable on their cell phones:
248-225-1256 and 817-253-0722. After June 14, please call the camp office to contact us.
Sunday, June 21—CAMP BEGINS. First Session and Mini Session campers arrive
(NOTE!!) FRIDAY, July 3—Mini Session campers depart
Saturday, July 18—First Session campers depart and VISITING DAY
Sunday, July 19—Second Session and Two-week campers arrive
Wednesday, July 29—Mini-Mini Session campers arrive
Saturday, August 1—Mini-Mini Session and Two-week campers depart
Saturday, August 8—CAMP ENDS. All campers depart
Typical Day Schedule
8 a.m. WAKE-UP BELL
2:30 p.m. THIRD PERIOD
8:30 a.m. BREAKFAST
3:45 p.m. PUNCH AND COOKIES—Snack
and Mail Call in the Meadow.
CLEAN-UP – Every one back to the
cabin! Counselors will assist and
supervise the clean-up of your
cabin and surrounding grounds.
Dress for 1st and 2nd periods.
4:15 p.m. FOURTH PERIOD
5:30 p.m. WASH-UP
6 p.m. DINNER
7-8 p.m. TWILIGHT—Campers may
choose from a list of activities that are
‘open.’
10 a.m. FIRST PERIOD
11:15 a.m. SECOND PERIOD
8:15 p.m. EVENING PROGRAM—With
Unit Group.
12:30 p.m. WASH-UP for LUNCH
12:45 LUNCH
1:30 to 2:30 REST PERIOD—One
counselor per cabin accompanies
campers back to the cabin area for
quiet activities.
9-9:30 p.m. EVENING SNACK
9:30-10:30 p.m. BEDTIME/LIGHTS-OUT—
Determined by age group.
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Activity Areas
Your camper will choose his/her own activity schedule for two weeks at a time. We’ll make sure it’s well-rounded and
fulfills any requests that you might have (e.g. swim lessons). Here are classes that are regularly part of the offerings.
Arts & Crafts
Visual arts come alive through ceramics (hand-building and wheel), drawing/painting, cartooning, copper enameling,
jewelry (string and beads/metals), tie dye, batik, lapidary (shaping and polishing rocks), screen printing, black & white
photography, digital photography, puppet-making, weaving and product design/model-making.
Athletics
Walden fills two sprawling athletic fields and other buildings with classes in individual and team sports: archery,
fencing, gymnastics, fitness, tennis, yoga, golf, basketball, lacrosse, softball/baseball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee. Special
unit/cabin programs can include kickball, ga-ga-ga, flag-football and dodge ball. Inter-camp sports competitions, golf
and tennis trips, the Walden triathlon, and off-camp run/walk events fill out the offerings.
Horseback Riding
Our riding program focuses on English-saddle techniques, taught in the school ring; and the occasional Western ride.
Riders may also participate in trail rides, Adopt-a-Horse classes, and other special activities at the stables.
Media/Science
This area encompasses video (making movies for our YouTube channel) and radio (playing music and hosting shows
on WLDN), and drawing and writing for the Walden Pond, the daily camp newspaper.
Outdoor Life
Outdoor life is a general heading for nature, animals, gardening, and outdoor cooking. The Walden farm houses
rabbits and kittens, and the occasional “found” turtle or frog! In these classes, campers learn to care for
animals; identify the trees, flowers and birds of Walden; plant and care for herbs and vegetables; and cook
over an open campfire. Our half-day Hikes and Trips classes explore sites around Northern Michigan.
Performing Arts
Campers interested in drama can participate in improvisational theater class, set design, and join the cast of the play.
Dance classes include hip-hop and poms, (ballet and tap dependent on staff). Walden counselors teach guitar and
drums, and lead a ‘jam session’ for musicians and singers.
Tripping
Overnights of 1- to 2- nights (and longer for more advanced campers) travel to a variety of scenic locations in the
Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Campers will have the opportunity to join a cabin trip and/or sign up individually for day
and overnight excursions. We will generally take “tent trips” of 1-3 nights at approved camp grounds where we are in
contact with Department of Natural Resources personnel. All trips are voluntary; we assure that the campers going
on trips are physically prepared, have the proper equipment, and take part in a pre-trip orientation. Trips remain in
areas where there is an emergency medical facility within 45 minutes, unless a certified Wilderness First Aid staff
member accompanies the trip. Trippers carry cell phones and are trained in emergency procedures.
Waterfront
Walden offers a huge array of boating activities: Canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, windsurfing, sailing,
waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing, plus fishing. Campers can earn Red Cross certifications in sailing and
swimming. Campers who pass the swim test may participate in all waterfront sports and activities. When campers do
not pass the test, we encourage them to sign up for swim lessons and retake the test as many times as they need to!
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Procedures and Policies
Your CampInTouch Account
CampInTouch is your portal to your camper’s experience: medical forms, transportation and financial
information, and the camp photo gallery are some of the items you’ll find here. You can pay your
outstanding balances in CampInTouch and send your camper email from this portal. (CampInTouch also
offers parents the ability to upload PDF forms directly to your camper’s account).
Every Walden family has one or more CampInTouch accounts. When you registered your camper online, you
created a password that, along with your email address, provides you access to this account. To see your
account, go to our Web site and click on “Login.”
If another parent/guardian would also like an account, make sure his/her email
address is in your account contact information. Upon request, we will happily
send an email with a link to create a new account. You should also contact us if
you forget your password. Please don’t give your personal password out to
friends and relatives. However, you can create guest accounts that allow them
access to photographs and email.
Packing for Camp
The Walden Packing List can be found both in your CampInTouch account, at
the end of this document, and also on the Parent page of our Web site.
A few suggestions: You should not need more than two Large/Jumbo duffels
for each camper (please avoid Brody’s “Big Bertha”; it is much too heavy when
full). You might pack clothes and odds ‘n ends in one and save the other for
bulky items such as bedding and towels. Two-week campers will need a 13-day
supply of clothes; all others, a 10-day supply. WALDEN logo apparel can be
purchased at Brodys in West Bloomfield, MI, www.brodysonline.com, 248-8516232, or Perfect Trading Co. in Bloomfield Hills, MI, 248-792-5949.
Walden’s
Bathing Suit Policy
We do not allow
“string” bikinis or
“tube” tops
Bathing suits that tie, OR
APPEAR TO TIE, to keep
them in place on top or
bottom, are not worn at
Walden. Nor are “tube”style tops with no straps.
Swimwear that your
camper brings with him/her
should be appropriate for
athletic waterfront
activities. Girls may choose
tank-style bathing-suit tops
or anything with secure
fasteners. Please see the
Parent Page of our Website
for pictures. Boys are
expected to wear midthigh-length swim trunks.
Other packing tips:
 If your camper is taking the bus, s/he might want to pack a small carry-on
with travel games, water bottle, a small snack, and travel pillow.
 Walden will provide 1st Session and 2nd Session campers with a string
backpack for the trip to Mackinac Island. Campers will NOT be allowed to
bring other bags.
 Refrain from sending area rugs for use next to your camper’s bunk. Rugs
trap dirt and mildew, and are usually piled in the dumpsters at camp’s end.
 Plastic-drawer storage units take up too much floor space and are a sure
sign that your camper is over-packed. These, too, end up left at camp and eventually go to the landfill.
 Don’t worry about not sending enough. If your child runs out of clean underwear or another wardrobe
component, we will wash the item or, if you would like, purchase an inexpensive replacement in town.
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Transportation
Come March, you’ll find detailed information about getting to and from camp in your CampInTouch account,
under “Transportation Information.”
By Bus
 First Session: Walden provides charter bus transportation, on June 21, from suburban Detroit
(Farmington Hills), suburban Cleveland (Beachwood) and Chicago, and back to these cities on July 18.
 Two-Week Mini Session: We will have a bus returning to Farmington Hills on July 3.
 Second Session: Walden has charter bus transportation from Farmington Hills to camp on July 19,
and from camp to both Farmington Hills and Chicago on August 8.
Campers taking the bus to camp may pack a small snack and reusable water bottle in a backpack, along with
items to entertain themselves, such as cards or books. We do not allow phones or electronics on the bus ride
to or from camp. Candy and/or snacks must be eaten by the time your camper arrives at Walden.
By Car
Many Walden campers travel to camp by car. DROP OFF BEGINS NO EARLIER THAN 10:30 AM on the
first day of First and Second Session, June 21 and July 19. Besides the fact that our gate will be closed
until then, our staff is extremely busy preparing. If you arrive early, we will not be able to offer you the
undivided attention that you need and deserve! Pick up times vary. Please see the Travel Information 2015
document in your CampInTouch account for detailed information.
By Plane
Pellston Regional Airport (PLN) is the closest commercial airport to Walden—a 35-minute drive. Our staff will
pick up campers at Pellston at no additional charge on the day their session begins.
If your child is flying alone, please make sure that you, and we, are aware of all of the airline’s rules and
restrictions regarding “unaccompanied minors.” When possible, pre-pay the unaccompanied minor fee and
provide camp with the receipt.
Should my camper ride the bus?
It is our belief that, for most first-time campers, taking the bus to camp is the easier way to acclimate to
camp. Saying goodbye to parents is often less daunting in a semi-familiar suburban parking lot than it is in
the foreign surroundings of a camper’s new bunk. The hours on the bus allow a gradual digestion of the
separation from mom and dad. Plus, taking the bus offers the opportunity to start making friends right
away, to listen to the anecdotes of returning campers, and maybe even to learn some Walden songs!
Laundry
Walden provides laundry service for all campers registered for longer than two weeks. Our laundry service picks up
your child’s dirty laundry bag from his/her cabin porch on Thursdays and returns the laundry to the office the
following Wednesday. This is why your camper needs two laundry bags, both of which should be washable.
It is essential that you label every item of clothing, every towel, and every piece of bedding that your camper
brings to camp.* Otherwise, you can be guaranteed that your camper’s property will end up in someone else’s
clean laundry or in the “no name” package of clothes that comes back to us each week. (And there is no easy way
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to locate the owner of a pair of unlabeled underwear!) *Walden works with Mabel’s Labels, a Canadian company,
www.mabelslabels.com. Please let them know that you are from “Camp Walden MICH” when placing your order.
Lost and Found
Walden’s Lost and Found Box is located next to the Mess Hall in the middle of the main Punch and Cookie
benches. Items left behind at activities and events are brought here. Items that remain at camp AFTER your
camper’s departure will be shipped to you and the charge added to your invoice. Please think twice before
allowing your camper to bring an expensive item to camp, be it clothing, an eReader, sports equipment,
etc. When things go missing we try hard to locate them, but better to leave valuables at home.
Electronics Policy
Walden is a “screen-free” community! We forbid cell phones, hand-held video games, DVD players, iTouches
and anything else with the capacity to play video. We adhere strongly to the belief that campers need a
break from these items. While we do use computers for digital photography, radio and video classes; pull out
the TVs for major sporting events; or provide popcorn and a movie as a cabin reward, camp remains almost
entirely out-of-reach of the mass media. (See our Web site’s Parents Page for related articles.)
Walden allows MP3 players without screens for the purpose of listening to music. Nook and Kindle eReaders
without videos and without Wi-Fi capability are okay, but such expensive items should be a last resort for
campers who are voracious readers. Walden has a nice lending library of children’s books.
Cell Phones
Most parents are relieved to know that their campers will have little to no access to computers and TVs at
Walden. But the ban on cell phones causes some parents great angst. After all, many of you text and talk to
your children throughout the day on mobile phones. Communicating with them is how you know they are
safe. But camp is a different environment. It requires you, and them, to “let go” of the hi-tech tether.
Aside from the fact that cell phones are expensive and can get lost or stolen, there is a fundamental problem
with campers having phones at camp: Trust. Sending a cell phone to camp is like saying to your child that you
are not entirely comfortable with them being in our care.
When campers come to Walden they—and you—are making a leap of faith, placing the responsibility for
their health and wellness with us and their counselors. The independence that children experience from this
temporary separation is an important way they develop greater resilience, and learning to trust caring adults
and solve their own problems is also among the most rewarding outcomes of camp.
So please do not put your camper in the uncomfortable position of asking him or her to bring a phone to
Walden “just in case.” If a situation arises at camp for which you need to be contacted, we will surely do so.
Nor should you look the other way when your teenager “secretly” packs his or her phone. When we find
them, we take them and mail them back home at your expense.
Thanks for your understanding!
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Communicating with Your Camper
Letters to Campers
Parents have several options when it comes to sending “news from home:”
 Write the traditional letter and put it in the mail to: 5607 S. River Road, Cheboygan, MI 49721
 Fax a letter to camp, 231-625-2600
 Email your camper through your CampInTouch account (CampInTouch charges $1 per). Please do not send
emails meant for your camper to our “summer@” business email.
Faxes and emails that arrive in our office before approximately 11 a.m. will be delivered to your camper that
day. On the first day of camp, you will receive an email confirming your child’s safe arrival and also telling you
his/her CABIN NUMBER. Include this designation (B-7, G-15) next to his/her name on all correspondence.
Please refrain from telling your camper that you “miss them unbearably” and “can’t have fun without
them.” These sentiments will only serve to make your camper anxious about YOUR well-being. If you have
bad news to share while your child is at camp, please let the directors know before informing your camper.
We will work with you to decide the best way and time to deliver this information.
Letters from Campers
Remember that no letters from your camper usually means that he is having too good a time to write!
However, we do strongly encourage campers to show up with some missive home on Letter Days, twice a
week. It helps to send younger children to camp with self-addressed, stamped envelopes. This way they are
not deterred by having to remember all those numbers and where to stick the postage. If you have not
received mail in a while and are concerned (or frustrated!), do not hesitate to contact us.
Alternatively, you may receive a letter that your child wrote during a sad or lonely moment, especially in the
first week of camp. This is normal, as campers tend to write more when feeling glum than when they are happy
and busy. By the time this letter arrives, your child has most likely conquered the melancholy and moved on.
Pictures
CampInTouch also offers what has become the most popular “parent portal” to camp: the photo gallery.
Our camp photographer Mark Goodine shoots dozens of pictures on most days. Photographs from the
current day usually arrive online the following morning. However, Mark does take a day off each week! In
addition, we will not post cabin photographs—those special pictures will arrive with the hardback yearbook.
Phone/Skype calls
Campers are prohibited from using the phones at camp, except under special circumstances. If a situation
arises in which we feel it would benefit the camper to speak with you, we will certainly allow a traditional or
Skype call. Campers who have birthdays while at camp may receive a call* on that day, at a predetermined
time. Campers may also receive a call on the birthday of an immediate family member: mom, dad, sister or
brother. Sorry—grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and pets do not count as immediate family! Because
we have only two phone lines over which to conduct all of camp’s business, we must limit calls from home to
10 minutes. Our Skype address is camp.walden
Please note:
Campers will not be able to call OUT from camp for birthdays, only to RECEIVE your call.
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Sending “Packages”
Campers love receiving mail, and, of course, the bigger the better. However, the ever-growing quantity of
large packages arriving in the mail creates a variety of problems. For that reason, like many other camps, we
have changed our policy:
o Mail must be no larger than approximately 10”x 13” padded envelope, except birthday packages.
o Birthday packages must be marked as such and no larger than 500 sq. inches (the size of a medium
Priority Mail box.
o Please refrain from sending more than one large envelope a week. Ask that grandparents and other
family/friends stick to the same general rule.
o Sending food is prohibited. Food taken from campers who bring it to camp will NOT be returned when
they leave.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD TO CAMP!
o
o
o
o
o
We have children at camp with life-threatening allergies—to dairy, nuts, eggs, sesame seeds and
other common ingredients. It is imperative that we keep these campers safe.
Food in cabins attracts bugs and animals, and creates unsanitary conditions.
Candy, chips and/or crackers end up replacing healthier camp meals.
Campers can stay hydrated by bringing a reusable water bottle to camp and refilling it at the Mess
Hall and at camp’s five drinking fountains throughout the day.
Food will cause friction between campers who have it and those who don’t.
For all of these reasons, FOOD IS FORBIDDEN and will be redirected to the local Senior Center. As an
alternative, companies such as Sealed with a Kiss, Mirth in a Box, and Camp Pacs create entertaining nonfood packages for campers. Sending games, books, comics or novelty toys is always your best bet!
Personal Spending Money/Camp Store
Last summer, we debuted our camp store with great success! “Wald-Mart” sells Walden logo apparel, teddy
bears, water bottles, magnets, bug spray and other necessities and knick-knacks. Wald-mart will not sell
food. You may fund your camper’s store account by sending a check made out to Walden, with “Camp
Store” on the memo line. You may also fund the store account online.
Campers going to Mackinac Island will also need some personal cash. Thirty dollars is enough for a camper
to purchase a meal ($7-$10), buy fudge ($7-$10) and take home a small souvenir or two ($10). You are
welcome to send more, especially if your child wants to purchase gifts for family members. Mini Session
campers not going to Mackinac Island might use their own money on other out-of-camp excursions (Mill
Creek or an athletic excursion into Cheboygan or Harbor Springs, etc.) at our camp Trading Post event (a
fundraiser for charity). Ten dollars is sufficient, especially for young Mini Session campers.
Camper money will be kept in a locked cabinet in the office. We cannot be responsible for money kept in
cabins! To send money to camp, put cash or check in an envelope (make checks out to “Camp Walden”),
write your camper’s name and the amount on the outside of the sealed envelope. Deliver it to us in one of
three ways:
o
o
o
Give the envelope to a camp administrator at the buses.
If dropping child off at camp, bring the envelope to the camp office.
Mail us your camper’s spending money ahead of his/her arrival at camp.
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Our Dining Room, or “Mess Hall”
Meals
For a detailed description of food at camp, and sample menu, see the Parent Page of our Web site.
Camp Walden serves three meals and two snacks daily. Meals in the Mess Hall offer a variety of choices—hot and
cold cereals and a “breakfast bar” serving muffins, yogurt and fruit; a salad bar with greens and toppings at
lunch/dinner; soup; bread and butter; plus vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives. Campers who still do not find
an appealing option can request a soy-nut butter and jelly sandwich. The Mess Hall is peanut and tree-nut free.
Besides water and cow’s milk at every meal, we make soy milk available.
Snacks
Campers receive snacks at 3:45 p.m. and before bed each evening. Despite its name, Punch and Cookies more
often means fresh fruit! Nighttime snacks consist of bagged items, such as baked chips or Smartcorn popcorn.
Food Allergies
As mentioned previously, a growing number of Walden campers have severe food allergies. Our Mess Hall is
prepared to handle peanut/tree nut allergies, as well as allergies to gluten, shellfish, sesame seeds, and legumes.
TThis is why it is vital that you DO NOT send food to camp!!
If your camper has special dietary needs or food allergies, and you have not made us aware of these yet, please
contact us right away. The online Health History form provides the opportunity to explain in detail what your
child’s allergy is and how you handle it at home.
Visiting Day Policies
Our annual Visiting Day occurs on the last day of First Session (Saturday, July 18). Parents of two-week campers
may also spend time touring camp on the final day of that session (Friday, July 3; Saturday, August 1). These
mornings are very busy times with lots of moving parts! Parents picking up two- or four-week campers, and those
visiting seven-week campers are asked to respect our designated pickup times. You’ll find those in the Travel
Information 2015 document in your CampInTouch account.
WE WILL ONLY RELEASE CAMPERS TO PARENTS/LEGAL GUARDIANS. IF YOUR CAMPER WILL BE LEAVING
CAMP, AT ANY POINT, WITH RELATIVES OR FAMILY FRIENDS, WE REQUIRE YOUR WRITTEN PERMISSION.
PETS: We love dogs but must prohibit your pets in camp during mid-session pickups/drop-offs—July 5, August 2—
or any time camp is IN SESSION. You may be confident of their sweet disposition, but an incident presents a
liability for camp. If there is no way around having your dog accompany you to camp on pickup/drop off days, we
ask that the animal remain in the car for most of the visit. Dogs MUST be on a leash when out of your vehicle.
On pickup days, you are welcome to leisurely wander through camp and join us for lunch. On July 18, parents may
take seven-week campers out of camp overnight, returning no later than 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Campers who do not
have visitors on this day will take a short excursion out-of-camp with Walden staff.
Overnight accommodations at camp are not provided for visitors. But there are many nearby options. For a
listing, please refer to the Forms and Documents section of your CampInTouch account. Make your reservations
early: Northern Michigan is a popular summer vacation spot!
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Off-Season Staff-Camper Contact
It is not unusual for strong bonds to develop between campers and their college-age counselors. These
relationships are healthy, fun and beneficial to campers and staff alike. However, this inevitably means that some
children/teens will want to keep in touch with staff over the winter—by phone, visits, email or social-media sites
such as Facebook and Instagram. Not only would it be impossible to prohibit interaction between these groups,
we also don’t believe that this interaction is inherently negative. However, our official policy is to PROHIBIT the
exchange of contact information of any kind between campers and our staff.
As part of their training, we tell our staff that they are barred from communicating with campers after camp has
ended. We also prohibit hired counselors from “friending” campers or parents on Facebook while employed by
Walden. (We have set up a Walden group site on Facebook, WALDEN FAMILY, where staff and campers can
interact publicly without having access to each other’s private information.)
At Walden our foremost responsibility is to put your children in the company of the most trustworthy and
appropriate young adults we can hire. However, by hiring staff, we do not implicitly recommend them as babysitters, nannies or child companions outside of camp. Our counselors work with your camper in the context of a
visible, well-scrutinized community that has many built-in checks and balances. Counselors are supervised by
senior staff and are guided by clear, firm policies regarding behavior. We hire our staff for the camp season and
do not take responsibility for their behavior off-season.
In the end, it is up to you how much interaction your camper has with Walden staff after camp. If you as a parent or
legal guardian wish your child to exchange contact information with a camp staff member, that is, of course, your
right. However, by doing so, you understand that you accept full responsibility for overseeing that interaction.
Your Contact Information
We need to know how to reach you at all times. If you are moving or vacationing during the time your child is
camp, please let us know this. Parents who will be traveling during their camper’s session must leave camp with an
intinerary and instructions of how to best contact you. Walden sends out mail in the winter, too. If you relocate and
wish to continue receiving, for instance, the winter/spring Walden Pond, please change your address, phone
numbers and/or email in your CampInTouch account.
Refund Policy
As a summer camp, our biggest expenses are fixed costs, and a camper’s late-spring decision not to attend does
not lower those expenses. As stated on the Camper Application, campers whose registrations are cancelled
before January 15 will receive a full refund of tuition. Cancellations between January 16 and March 14 will result in
a refund of deposit less a $300 cancellation fee; between March 15 and May 15 will result in a refund of deposit
less a $600 cancellation fee. After May 15, deposits will not be refunded.
We cannot refund any part of the tuition of campers who are sent home for behavioral issues. Please make
certain that your camper is prepared for the experience of a residential camp and has a thorough understanding
of our behavior policy, on the following pages and in our Parent/Camper Contract.
“Walden Days, Walden Nights
There’s nothin’ to do back in the city…”
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Emotional Well-Being and Behavior at Camp
Homesickness
Homesickness is the top concern of new campers and their parents. Indeed, most children have some mild
homesick feeling when they are away. Don’t be surprised if you receive a “come and get me” letter a few
days into camp. Fortunately, this feeling has almost always passed by the time you receive the mail: Campers
become busy at activities, establish friendships and soon understand that the entire camp staff wants them
to succeed. Rest assured, if we are unable to help your child adjust to camp life, we will contact you.
The best thing you can do to decrease the likelihood that homesickness will disrupt your child’s experience
at camp is to be proactive. The following is from the American Camp Association (ACA) Web site:
Phillips Exeter Academy psychologist Dr. Christopher Thurber studied homesickness in 329 boys between the
ages of 8 and 16 at resident camp. According to his results, homesickness is the norm rather than the exception.
A whopping 83 percent of the campers studied reported homesickness on at least one day of camp. Thurber and
the ACA suggest the following tips for parents to help their child with homesickness:

Encourage your child's independence throughout the year. Practice separations, such as sleepovers at a
friend's house that simulate the camp environment. Your child should be comfortable sleeping out of
his/her house before arriving at camp.

Involve your child in the process of choosing a camp. The more that the child owns the
decision, the more comfortable the child will feel being at camp.

Discuss what camp will be like before your child leaves. Consider role-playing anticipated
situations, such as using a flashlight to find the bathroom.

Use a calendar to show exactly the amount of time a child will be away. Predictability and perspective
on the length of separation is important whenever possible.

Send a note or care package ahead of time to arrive the first day of camp. Acknowledge, in a positive
way, that you will miss your child. For example, "I am going to miss you, but I know that you will have a
good time at camp."

Don't bribe. Linking a successful stay at camp to a material object sends the wrong message. The reward
should be your child's newfound confidence and independence.

Pack a personal item from home, such as a stuffed animal, special pillow or blanket.

Speak positively about your child’s upcoming camp experience and avoid exposing your camper to your
own anxiety or ambivalence. Even comments such as, "I hope you'll be okay," or "What will I do without
you?" can leave a child worried and make her preoccupied with thoughts of home.

Don't make a "pick up plan" or a deal with a child to bring him home if he doesn't like the experience
of being away! This undermines the camper's sense that his parents have confidence in his ability to be
on their own, and sets him up to expect that he won't like the new experience.

Talk candidly with the camp directors to obtain their perspective on your child's adjustment.

Don't feel guilty about encouraging your child to stay at camp. For many children, camp is a first step
toward independence and plays an important role in their growth and development.
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
While most incidents of homesickness will pass in a day or two, Thurber's research shows that
approximately seven percent of the cases are severe. If a camper is not eating or sleeping because of
anxiety or depression, it is time to go home. However, don't make your child feel like a failure if his/her
stay at camp is cut short. Focus on the positive and encourage your child to try camp again next year.
Please remember that we have a no-phone-calls-home policy, and cases of homesickness are no exception.
Hearing your voice at the other end of the phone line magnifies the distance between you and your child,
and intensifies emotions. Only in rare cases, and after we have thoroughly discussed the situation with you,
might we allow a phone conversation to take place.
The good news is that it is unusual for a Walden camper to leave camp early due to homesickness. The vast
majority of campers overcomes these feelings and enjoys the camp experience. Walden owns numerous
copies of Dr. Thurber’s DVD-CD set, The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success: How to Have the Most
Fun with the Least Homesickness. We also highly recommend Michael Thompson’s new book, Homesick and
Happy. We encourage anxious new campers and their parents to take advantage of these resources
between now and the summer.
Bullying
In 2015, we know much more about bullying than ever before—it’s causes, detection, prevention. As a
summer camp, we are extremely sensitive to this issue, knowing that being bullied at camp can be an even
more troubling experience for a child than being bullied at home.
That is why we spend a significant amount of time training our staff about bullying: how to recognize and
approach incidents; why it is important for “bystanders” to speak up; why speaking up isn’t “tattling”; and
the difference between bullying and meanness or insensitivity. We want campers and staff to be
comfortable alerting us to problems while at camp and to bullying issues that arise when camp is over.
Because we take bullying so seriously, we make it a point to share our policy with campers in our literature and on
the FIRST DAY OF CAMP. Our program for Units II and III girls, Walden T.R.U.E. (Trust/Respect/ Unity/Empathy),
addresses “relational aggression” head-on through role-playing and team-building exercises.
The result has been very, very few cases of chronic bullying at Walden since we began using this multifaceted approach. Parents also played a vital role by:
 discussing bullying with their campers, specifically in the context of camp;
 stressing Walden’s intolerance for it;
 and informing us, before camp, of any past incidents or behaviors. If your child has been a target
of bullying, LET US KNOW! Counselors should be aware of this so that they are especially vigilant
about helping your child make friends and adjust well to camp. If your child has been a
perpetrator in the past, LET US KNOW! No parent wants to paint a negative picture of his/her
child, but by having this information we can specifically prepare your camper’s counselors with
methods for channeling those impulses, stressing empathy, and harnessing your camper’s
leadership skills in a positive way.
iChronic bullying behavior may warrant a camper’s removal from camp,i
iwith no refund of tuition..
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Swearing
Swearing and other offensive language is not allowed at camp. By campers, counselors or administrators.
Period.
We are aware that most campers know these obscenities and some probably use them, depending on age,
in or out of your earshot at home. However, in seeking to make camp a place where children of all ages and
backgrounds feel welcome and comfortable, we prohibit it. Swearing makes most campers uneasy and is
just plain ugly.
The vast majority of campers use appropriate language. However, if a camper exhibits a persistent swearing
habit, we will call home. Like bullying, chronic swearing is a behavioral issue that may warrant a camper’s
removal from camp with no refund of tuition.
Participation
We hope your camper is coming to Walden to be busy! By allowing campers to choose what they do most of
the day, we are assuming that they will pick activities that interest them and enthusiastically attend those
activities! If they find they have registered for an activity that they do not enjoy, we offer the opportunity to
switch into something else.
Skipping activities is forbidden. When a Walden camper is a “no-show” for an activity, his/her absence sets in
motion a time- and energy-consuming string of events: counselors are sent to look for him or her, the office
is notified and, if the camper cannot be located within minutes, we initiate a full-fledged “missing camper”
search. This is serious business! Please stress to your camper the importance of being where they are
supposed to be at camp!
Two days a week and each evening, your camper will participate in group programs designed by the camp
directors, program director and unit programmers. Not everyone is a die-hard kickball fan or looks forward
to a challenging scavenger hunt. But experience has shown us that campers who participate nearly always
end up enjoying the activity. Programs that involve the entire camp, especially, are designed to have
multiple components to engage kids of all interests and abilities: athletic, intellectual and artistic!
Therefore, we expect your child to join all of these group activities unless a very good reason exists for
him/her not to.
Graffiti
Walden takes great pride in its facilities and natural beauty. We forbid writing on building walls, beams,
mattresses, bed frames, or carving into trees. Campers who leave their autographs or other marks on our
facilities will be billed for the time and effort it requires to remove those marks. Campers may not bring
permanent markers to Walden; we can supply those when necessary, for autographs and the like.
Goodnight, Camp Walden, we’ll miss you,
Had a great summer, we’ll be back next year
Now we gather ‘round the campfire for the last time
So let’s all raise a smile not shed a tear
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Health and Wellness at Walden
Medical forms
In order to fully provide for your child’s medical well-being, we require three items, all of which can be found
under the “Forms and Documents” section of your CampInTouch account.
1) A complete ONLINE health history for your camper, including mental-health history. This would be a
good place to include any information about past bullying incidents. You will submit this
electronically and do not need a doctor’s signature.
2)
A doctor-signed physical-examination form. This physical must be less than a year old. You will send
this form to us—via email, fax, mail or upload the PDFs to your CampInTouch account.
3) An immunization record, also signed by the doctor’s office. You will send this form to us via email,
fax, or mail, or you can upload the PDFs to your CampInTouch account.
iWE MUST HAVE THESE FORMS AT CAMP PRIOR TO YOUR CHILD’S ARRIVAL!!
State law requires that we have your camper’s medical forms before s/he can participate in ANY camp
activities. Forms for both First and Second Session campers are due May 15. The directors and Walden’s camp
health officers need time to read through these forms and prepare for potential health issues BEFORE the
campers arrive. Please make completing the health forms early a top priority.
Infirmary
Walden employs two or three camp health officers (CHOs) and/or RNs/LPNs, and houses rotating doctors-inresidence who change weekly. Our infirmary is stocked to handle common camp medical issues: bites,
bruises, colds and sore throats, e.g. The camp doctor oversees “sick call” immediately following breakfast
and dinner for campers with medical complaints. You will receive a call from the Infirmary staff if:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Your child spends the night in the Infirmary due to illness.
The camp doctor deems it necessary to prescribe a medication for your child.
The camp doctor/nurse believes your child’s medication regimen should change for any reason.
The camp doctor/nurse deems it necessary for your camper to seek additional treatment or tests at
the McLaren-Northern Michigan hospitals in Cheboygan or Petoskey, or at the office of a specialist.
Medications--NEW!!
Prescription and over-the-counter meds no longer come to camp with campers. They will be pre-packaged
and delivered to camp by CampRx. Please stay tuned for further instructions in early spring.
STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT ALL MEDICATIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
EMERGENCY INHALERS AND EPI-PENS, BE KEPT IN THE INFIRMARY. This includes OVERTHE-COUNTER pain killers, inhalers used daily, herbal remedies (such as melatonin), and allergy and cold
medicines.
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The camp health officers will deliver morning medications at breakfast, so no trip to the infirmary is
necessary—this includes daily asthma “puffers” and multi-vitamins. If your camper takes a regular dose of
medication any other time of the day, s/he will need to visit the infirmary. CHOs distribute bedtime meds at
the infirmary between 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., following evening program. Counselors will accompany younger
campers on this errand.
Braces and Glasses
If your child wears braces and has a problem during the summer, we will either take him/her to the local
dentist for treatment or determine whether a visit to the orthodontist is necessary. If your child wears
glasses, please be sure to send either an extra pair or the prescription (or both!).
Arriving Healthy
It’s vital that you send your children to camp well-rested and illness-free! Group living situations provide a
mecca for contagious illnesses and infestations. A child who arrives at camp in poor health puts many others
at immediate risk. We ask that you let us know if your child has been exposed to any communicable
diseases in the weeks leading up to camp (flu, chicken pox, head lice, etc.) Our health officers visually
screen all campers within 24 hours of their arrival.
Staying Healthy
There are certain habits that your child will need to practice at Walden that they don’t necessarily need to
practice at home. Our counselors will assist younger campers with these new routines and remind older
campers of them. But discussing with your camper the following issues BEFORE CAMP will go a long way
toward preparing them.

Your camper will use a lot of energy during his/her days at camp. Remind children about the importance of
staying hydrated and eating properly. Let them know that if they do not see food to their liking at a
particular meal to ask their counselor, unit programmer or a director. We will find them something!

Sunscreen is vitally important at camp. The Northern Michigan sun is particularly strong, and
campers should be in the habit of applying a 30+ SPF sunscreen several times a day to exposed
areas. Rash guards, hats and other protective clothing are a good idea. Our athletic fields and
waterfront have sunscreen on hand for campers who need to reapply. The Skin Cancer Foundation’s
recommended products can be found here: http://www.skincancer.org/products/categories

Showering and daily hygiene are a new responsibility for some younger campers. We do not require
campers to shower every day, but please discuss with your 2nd through 5th graders that keeping clean
includes brushing their teeth in the morning and evening, brushing their hair, and changing clothes each
day. Make sure your camper is comfortable with showering (as opposed to bathing in the tub) before
camp begins.

Mosquitoes are part of life in the woods. Please send your child with bug repellant. Whether it is DEETbased, Picaridin-based or herbal is up to you. Talk about the importance of using it daily and covering up
when doing activities under the trees: nature/animal care, outdoor cooking, and fencing all take place in
wooded parts of camp. Most evenings at Walden are cool enough that campers will be comfortable in long
sleeves and long pants, which help to protect against mosquitoes during their dusk meal time.
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
Ticks are an uncommon occurrence at camp, but a concern nevertheless. Practice a “tick check” with
your camper, stressing these areas of the body: under the arms; in and around the ears, hair and
hairline; inside the belly button; behind the knees; in the groin area; and around the waist.

Parents of children who regularly wet the bed at night should let camp know ahead of time that this
might be an issue. If so, pack a protective mattress cover and an additional set of sheets; some
campers will bring pull-ups to wear while sleeping. If a camper should wet the bed, a counselor will
change the camper’s bedding when all of his/her bunkmates are at breakfast. Dirty sheets are
delivered to the office for washing that day or the next. We train our staff to treat this often
embarrassing issue with great sensitivity. However, campers are often hesitant to let anyone know
about a bed-wetting incident. Remind them that their counselors are there to help and that sleeping
in a soiled bed is unsanitary and unhealthy.
Counselors will be watching your camper closely for signs that something might be physically amiss:
persistent scratching, refusing food, acting unusually tired, etc. But some ailments are harder to see and
easier to hide. Stress to your child that s/he should never hesitate to seek out an adult for help when feeling
unwell!
Directions to camp
GPS devices have been known to get parents lost on their way to camp! We suggest following these specific
directions or referring to the Google map on our Web site.
1. Take I-75 North
2. Take exit 313 (Hwy 27) and turn right toward Cheboygan.
Drive approximately 15 miles (you will pass through Topinabee and
hug the shore of Mullett Lake for part of the drive.)
3. Turn right at the blinking yellow light. This is Hwy 33.
Drive approx. 3 miles.
4. Turn left at Orchard Beach Road. Drive approximately two miles.
5. At the stop sign, turn right onto South River Road. Drive two miles.
Camp will be at the top of the hill on your right. (You’ll see our riding rings and stables.)
6. If you reach the entrance to Michakewa Shores, on the right, you’ve gone
a quarter mile too far.
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Pre-Camp Checklist
I have logged into my CampInTouch account and …










Filled out the ONLINE “Camper Health History” form.
Uploaded or sent to camp my child’s “Physician’s Exam” and “Immunization” forms,
signed by his/her doctor (if after May 30, I have sent these to the Cheboygan address).
Consulted the “Travel Information 2015” document for details regarding bus, car and plane
travel to camp.
Completed the “Camper Transportation” form, letting camp know how my child will be
traveling to and from camp.
Downloaded and read the “Parent Orientation Guide!”
Printed out, and discussed the items on, the “Parent/Camper Contract” with my camper.
We have each signed this form, and emailed/mailed it to camp.
If so desired, signed up for a hardcover 2015 yearbook and/or horseback riding lessons on
the “Additional Options” form.
Listed no more than two other children with whom my camper would like to be in a cabin
on the “Bunk Requests” form. (We can only acknowlege the first two friends requested.)
Uploaded a photograph of my camper in the “Camper Photo” section.
Re-checked the “Packing List” and “Do Not Bring List” and labeled everything my camper
is taking with him/her.
If necessary, I have also…


Made Walden aware of any travel plans that I have during my child’s session and delivered
a written itinerary, with dates and locations, to camp.
Taken a deep breath, knowing that Walden’s directors and staff will do their utmost to make
sure that my child is safe, healthy and enjoying camp!
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CAMP WALDEN 2015 Packing List
This is a suggested list. For instance, if your child tends to go through clothes rapidly, then pack a bit
more than what is noted. If s/he loves sports, probably best to send two pairs of athletic shoes. Please
remember: We will not send out laundry for two-week campers. These campers will need a 13-day
clothing supply. All other campers should have a 10-day clothing supply. For trips out of camp, such as
Mackinac Island, we request that campers wear a Walden T-shirt and/or sweatshirt for easy
identification.
Clothing
____ 6 pr shorts
____ 4 pr jeans/athletic pants
____ 10 long- and short-sleeve T-shirts,
incl. one green or grey that says “Walden”
____ 3 sweatshirts (1 “Walden”)
____ 2 pr pajamas (1 for cool weather)
____ 10-14 pr underwear
____ 10-14 pr socks
____ 3 swimsuits (please note our swimwear
policy earlier in this Parent Guide)
____ 1 raincoat or poncho
____ 1 mid-weight (i.e. fleece) jacket
____ 3 beach towels
____ 1 pillow
____ 2 pillow cases
____ 2 fitted cot sheets
____ 2 flat cot sheets
____ 2 blankets
____ 1 sleeping bag (may be unzipped and used
as a 2nd blanket)
Miscellaneous
____ Flashlight and batteries
____ Kleenex
____ Toilet articles in box/case
____ Sunscreen and bug spray
____ Cards/games/books
____ Stationary/stamps
Shoes
____ 1 pr water shoes (not flip flops)
____ 1-2 pr athletic shoes
____ 1 pr hiking shoes (a sturdy athletic shoe
can often substitute)
____ If horseback riding: 1 pr hard-sole shoes
with small heel, or riding boots
Optional Items (*available at camp)
____ Cot-sized mattress cover
____ Disposable camera(s)
____ Tennis racket, Archery bow, Lacrosse
stick*
____ Softball glove*
____ Musical instruments
____ Dance shoes (Tap, Ballet, Etc.)
____ Board games*
____ Riding helmet*, Riding Breeches or Boots
Bed and Bath
____ 2 washable laundry bags
Mini Session campers: 1 laundry bag
____ 4 bath towels
____ 4 wash cloths and/or hand towels
____ 2 large duffel bags (please avoid jumbo-size
bags; they become too heavy when filled!)
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FOOD! FOOD! FOOD!
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