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CAMP
WHIP-POOR-WILL DETAILS
Dear
Parents and Campers,
As our summer of adventure and wonder awaits us, we thank you for choosing
Camp Whip-Poor-Will. We promise an enriching and an exciting summer. Visit
us anytime without notice. Please check in at the office for your name
tag upon arrival.
The Camp Details highlights camp information at CAMP WPW.
What You Should Bring
- Bring lots of enthusiasm for learning and enjoying the many activities planned for you in the great outdoors.
- Bring lunch and beverage every day. Please remember that there is no refrigeration available.
- Bring a snack for mid-morning (if desired). Snacks such as fruit, cheese, crackers, etc. are recommended. Pack this separately from your lunch bags or boxes or label snacks. Cool water and/or beverages & snowcones will be provided daily by the camp.
- Bring an extra set of clothing, shoes and rain gear. Rubber boots are needed for creek exploration. These can remain at the camp throughout the week in case they are needed.
- Bring money only on days assigned for Camp Store.
What You Should Not Bring
Do not bring money
except for the Camp Store on the purchase day assigned to your group.
Do not bring knives, toys, or anything extra to keep up with unless
requested by your counselor in writing. Preschool children who need
to bring something special may do so, but with the understanding that
while counselors will do their best to keep up with these items they
cannot be held responsible for lost items except in the "grieving process".
With the varied activities available and no pool, do not bring swim
suit or towels unless requested.
What You Should Wear
Wear comfortable
"not so good" camp clothes. Dress as cool as possible for the hot weather.
Tennis shoes are requested because sandals make walking difficult on
the camp terrain. Velcro (no-lace) tennis shoes are greatly appreciated
by the counselors. Hats or caps will help shield you from sunlight.
Arriving on Time
Parents are encouraged
to be on time in the morning and afternoon for the safety of their children.
Every effort will be made for the bus to be on time also. Children's
other activities should be scheduled after camp so as to avoid the need
to leave early.
Full Day Camp:
Bus Departure: 8:15 - 8:30 a.m. from Providence United Methodist (be present no earlier than 8 a.m.).
Bus Arrival: 3:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Car Arrival at camp: 8:45 - 9:00 a.m.
Car Departure from camp: 3:00 - 3:15 p.m.
Bus Stop Procedure
Our arrival and
departure procedure has been planned in the best interest of your child's
safety and is requested for all ages. With an extreme measure of time
and effort on our parents' part and the staff's part we can hopefully
make less the growing number of missing children, as well as provide
better parking lot safety as cars and buses arrive and depart. Please
allow ample time.
The bus is for Full Day Camp children only.
Arrival Procedure
When arriving at bus stops:
- Please walk with your child to the bus. Do not leave your child with Bus Driver. Wait until counselor is present.
- Please wait with your child until the counselor checks off your child's name and places a name tag on your child.
- Please advise the bus counselor who will pick up your child. Should this change due to an emergency the camp must be notified by calling 704-843-9541.
- Please advise the bus counselor if the child will walk home. The child walking home must await the counselor's permission to leave.
- If you arrive with other children, not attending camp, please do not permit them to play in the parking lot. This can be dangerous, as cars arrive and depart.
When arriving at camp by car:
- Drive to lodge
- Remain in your car while counselor marks camper present and counselor asks who will pick up.
Pick up Procedure
- Please walk to the bus (form a line)
- Give your child's name and your name to the bus counselor, who will then call your child's name and check off your child's name.
- Be sure to check side of bus (at luggage hold) for crafts.
- If picking up at camp by car, please stop at car pavilion. Give your name & child's name. Remain in your car.
Bus Schedule & Location
Providence United
Methodist Church at Corner of Sharon Amity
**Enter from Providence or Ferncliff at lower lot. Be present by 8 a.m.
Depart: 8:15 - 8:30 a.m. Arrive:
3:30- 3:45 p.m.
Note: No child will get off the bus until the designated person to pick
up the child arrives and makes the request. The person picking up the
child must be the person whose name has been previously given to the
bus counselor. If your child is scheduled to ride the bus, he
must ride the bus Monday through Friday (for continuity). No Changes.
Car Procedure
Persons bringing
a child to the camp by car may follow the signs to the carpool area
where counselors will receive your child. They will greet you and open
and close the door for your child. This helps to keep the carpool line
moving. Please do not delay at this area as this delays all other parents
waiting behind you. The counselor will mark your child present and record
who will pick up your child. Note: If you do not come through
the designated area, there will be no one to mark your child present.
For your child's safety, PLEASE so not drop off your child in any other
area, and do not leave unless you are certain we have marked your child
present. If you wish to visit the camp, drop your child off
according to procedure. Then park your car in the lot and visit the
camp. Visitations are best prior to camp opening.
Directions to Camp
The camp is located
at 7123 New Town Road. Take Providence Road (16 South) towards Waxhaw.
Turn left at Ennis Road, left onto New Town Road (if you miss Ennis
go to stoplight at New Town Road and turn left). Drive 2 miles on New
Town Road. Watch for the first bridge crossing. Turn right at the first
driveway past the bridge. A Camp Whip-Poor-Will sign is located at the
entrance.
Home-in-the-Woods
The children's
home-in-the-woods is like their home away from home. It is their group
place in a cleared wooded area with shade and cool air. This is where
groups will begin and end their day; have lunch and snacks, and enjoy
decorating their outdoor classroom. In case of inclement weather an
assigned area of the log cabin lodge area is available for each group
for activities.
A Hot Summer?
In cases of very
extreme heat many outdoor activities will be curtailed. Well planned
activities indoors or in the shelter of the shade will occur. There
are cool wooded areas at the camp and a log cabin lodge with approximately
10,000 square feet of covered space. Decisions will be made daily based
on weather conditions. Parens and children are encouraged to contact
staff with any weather concerns.
Special note about skin care: If your child needs sunscreen or bug spray , please apply before camp. If needed throughout the day, please tell your child to inform their counselor for help applying as others may be allergic. Please label the bottle clearly.
Insects
Parents are encouraged
to check children for insect bites, ticks, etc. upon their arrival home.
(We will be checking also). During the day children are requested to
make counselors aware of bites or stings so that they may be treated
quickly and appropriately. While all walking trails and H-I-W are cleared,
occasional poison ivy is present in areas, usually avoided by groups.
Please check your children. Leave book bags, etc. outside your home
until you have checked thoroughly for insects.
Name Tags
Parents are requested
to pin paper name tags with a safety pin on the child's clothing each
Monday. On the name tag please include name, age, grade entering, phone
number, and parent's name. The Camp will also provide a Tag that the
child will receive each day. This tag can then be kept at the end of
the week for a camp souvenir! A new Camp Tag will be given each week.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding
is for all campers. There will be a "Horse Orientation" with opportunities
to see, touch, feel, groom, sit upon and ride as determined safe for
varying age levels. Children will wear hard hats provided by the camp
when riding. Groups participate 1-3 times per week.
Animal Farm
The camp will have
an animal farm with various kinds of animals to provide the opportunity
to learn more about each animal and to pet the animals. Groups participate
1-3 times per week.
Camp Store
A camp store will
be available for children to enjoy. If your child wishes to make a purchase
please send a check (do not send cash as it is readily lost in the out-of-doors)
in an envelope with the child's name. Please support the camp through
your purchases for gifts, etc. A counselor will assist your child in
his purchase. Your Camper's store day and information will be announced.
Camp Spaces
Share Camp Whip-Poor-Will
with a friend. Some spaces are available in our camping weeks. Please
call for add-on weeks or applications for friends.
Camp Project
Project Peanut
Butter (for ages 4-12): This year's project is for the Second Harvest
Food Bank, serving Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. Your are invited
to participate by bringing to the camp any size container of peanut
butter to be shared with others.
An additional project of the camp is donating through a part of Camp Stoke purchases to Smile Train. Smile Train provides surgery to children who have cleft palates and are unablle to afford such surgery.
Lost Articles
Lost articles will
be left in a Lost and Found department at camp. Children will be asked
daily to check the area for lost articles with their counselors prior
to leaving. If properly labeled, lost articles will be returned. After
September 10th these items will be donated if no contact is made.
Visitation
Parents may visit
the camp at any time. During camp hours there will be a gate across
the entrance. Please park at the entrance and walk to the camp area.
This gate will provide safety for the children. During arrival and dismissal
times the gate will be opened.
Childcare
If childcare is
needed prior to or after camp, please contact the camp office. Pickup
from childcare is at the camp.
Telephone
During the camp
days all staff will be with the children. You may leave messages on
the camp phone. Every effort will be made to return calls after 4:00
p.m. on the day the call is received. Efforts will be made to check
the messages for urgent calls through the day.
Transportation
Honor your pre-arranged transportation. With only five days of camp, please do not change your child’s transportation. If coming by car to camp, child must come and go by car. If coming by bus, child must come and go by bus. Your requested transportation has been given to counselors and other staff. For your child’s safety, we appreciate you honoring your original request. DO NOT rearrange transportation of campers visiting each other, but using different transportation.
Food & Water
Encourage your child to eat and drink at camp. Leftover lunches will be returned in lunch boxes so you will be aware. With small groups counselors supervise lunches, but cannot force children to eat. Please encourage! Water is available for campers. Water breaks between activities are offered.
Needs
Encourage children to express their needs at camp to their counselor. Children are heard in this camp. There are bugs, ticks, and bees at camp. We are watching your child carefully, but please check each day for ticks and bug bites. Encourage your child to wear a hat to camp since ticks can fall from trees.
Groups
Groups range from 8 – 12 (never over 15) in number with Sr. staff member (college or older, or experienced younger staff) and a Jr. Staff member (mostly eighth-tenth grade). At some activity areas there is a resource leader. These three remain with you child’s group during the activity periods throughout the day.
Name Tags
Name Tags will be removed daily by bus counselor or car counselor and put on again each morning. On Friday your child may keep his/her name tag.
Schedules
Schedules are varied each day. Each full day group participates in activities during the week, depending on the event, at least 1 – 3 times. Children enrolled in part day enjoy 1 – 2 times at their activity program areas. Take home crafts are offered everyday. Be sure to pick these up from bus luggage area. In the case of extreme heat, there is an indoor facility that will be used as necessary, and outdoor activities can be curtailed.
Bus Behavior
The following information needs to be shared with your favorite camper: Riding the bus requires good behavior for safety and enjoyment. Good behavior means: remain seated at all times. Stand only to get to bathroom with staff assistance. Absolutely no hitting. Total quiet during roll call both at arrival and dismissal time. When parents arrive for pickup, children remain seated until name is called.
Who is Picking Up Child?
Please Remember to walk your child to the bus and communicate who will pick up your child each day. Please follow this procedure also if coming by car. Do not let a child get out of a car at camp until the Car Counselor is there to mark him/her present. Please keep moving so that others can check in their children.
Bus arrival
8:00 a.m. Be present for pick up by 3:30 p.m. as times vary depending on traffic.
Car arrival
Full day. 8:30-8:45 a.m. Pick up 3:00-3:15.
Bus leaves at 3:00 p.m. due to road work on Providence. Thus carpoolers are ready to leave a little earlier
Part day. Arrival 9:30 am. Pickup 1:30 p.m.
“Let Me Finish What I Begin”
Please try to schedule other activities so that a child can complete the full week of camp without being taken out for other activities. With such a short week, he appreciates the opportunity to complete his week.
Visit
Parents are welcome to visit the camp at any time with or without notice to the camp. Please check by the office for a name tag so that we know you are on the premises.
Project
The Camp Project this year is called “Project Peanut Butter”. Children may bring any size jar of peanut butter to contribute to the Metrolina Food Bank, which serves 18 counties of non-profit agencies. The children coming for several weeks may wish to send only one jar, or children often collect in their neighborhoods. Please contribute as you and your family feel comfortable. Children each year show a great deal of enthusiasm for their Project!
Camp Store
The Camp Store is open daily for full day campers and has camp T-shirts, varied games, and toys. Prices range from $3.00 up. Children may bring their camp store money on their designated day(write checks only for the amount you wish A child to spend as no change is given and the full amount will be Used ). Send a note if you wish a camper to purchase a camp shirt .Counselors will assist them in their purchases. These purchases help the camp with its needed equipment and facility purchases. Also from camp store purchases, a donation from the camp is made to Smile Train. This is an organization that provides surgery for children with cleft palates so that they too, may smile, just as our campers.
Birthdays at Camp WPW
Birthdays are very special and many birthday choices are made available throughout the year for the activities of the birthday child. Inquire for through the year birthday celebrations or summer birthdays at campwpw@yahoo.com. For additional information and a personal conversation and personalized planning for your child's birthday.The goal of birthdays at Camp WPW is to make the birthday child VERY SIGNIFICANT in the midst of small celebrations of friends and close family.
Important Information!