Summer Guide
Pick-up & Drop-off
Our days will begin at 9am and run until 1pm. Please drop-off your child no later than 9am as we will begin our hike to base camp shortly after 9am. Please call or text Victoria at 862-220-7176 if you are running late and she will advise where is best to meet. Children will only be dismissed to parents and caregivers that have been authorized in writing. Any changes must be relayed by the guardian before the child is dismissed.
The map below shows the drop-off and pick-up location. We will meet by the park sign across from Bramhall Terrace, near to the parking spots. It is on the left side as you drive on Crest Drive.
Communication and Updates
While we plan to meet at Bramhall Terrace, there may be times we need to change our location — for example, to Tulip Springs — due to weather or trail conditions. If that happens, we will communicate any changes via email through Sawyer and, if time allows, via text message. If we anticipate the change the day before, we will also do our best to notify you at pick-up or drop-off.
If we move to Tulip Springs, your child will need:
A bathing suit (worn under clothes)
Water shoes or old sneakers for wading in the river
A small towel
We’ll also be sharing photos of our adventures throughout the week! You can view them by joining our shared album.
Families should feel free to reach out to Natalia at any time, with any questions.
Inclement Weather Plans
Our camp runs from Monday to Thursday and is held entirely outdoors. However, some circumstances beyond our control, such as weather conditions, air quality, hazardous road conditions, reservation closures or any other community concerns that may threaten the health and safety of our participants, volunteers, and staff, could lead to a delay in our start time, early release, or change of location. If we cannot meet, we will reschedule for Friday of that week.
What to Bring
Campers should arrive each morning wearing sunscreen, a hat, and bug spray. Please check the forecast daily and dress your child in clothing that is comfortable and okay to get messy, wet, and muddy! On rainy days, raincoats and rain boots are required.
Each camper should bring one labeled backpack with:
A full water bottle
A nut-free snack and lunch
Extra clothes in case they get wet or cold
On extra hot days, a cooling towel and/or pocket fan is super helpful.
Please leave toys and gadgets at home — our focus is on connecting with each other and the natural world.
What to Wear
Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Their clothing should be comfortable and allow them to move and get wet and dirty. Please note that children will be encouraged to immerse themselves in their work, and clothes could become dirty or stained.
On rainy days, rain coats and rain boots are necessary. Playing in the rain is an amazing experience when properly attired. It is important for your child to have proper footwear with rubber soles that will have a good grip for running and climbing.
Suggestions for summer dressing:
Shirt and pants from lightweight cotton fabric, a bonus if they are sweat-wicking
A hat to protect eyes from the sun.
Light weight socks that are knit with permethrin (to repel ticks) like these.
For rainy days rain boots with rubber soles are advised.
All clothes and boots can be treated with this for an extra layer of bug prevention.
A lint roller will pick up any bugs that want to take a ride home with you.
Sunscreen & Bug Spray
Children should come wearing sunscreen, a hat, and bug spray each morning. It may also be helpful to pack an anti-itch bug balm or cream in case your child gets bitten by insects during our forest adventures, like this
A helpful article for tick prevention can be found here. Please read and check your child for ticks after every class. A new study has found Permethrin to be successful with preventing ticks. We have tick tubes placed in our summer base camp.
Things We Need to Know
Please remember that South Mountain Reservation is an outdoor environment and contains such hazards as bees, ticks, poison ivy, and other irritants. While we will do our best to avoid these hazards, please let us know if your child is particularly susceptible to them.
If your child has any medical conditions or is taking medication, please let us know in writing if it was not specified in the Information and Release Form.
Please have your healthcare provider fill out this form and return to us before June 1st.
Reminders
Campers are expected to participate safely and respectfully. If a camper exhibits unsafe behavior or is physically or verbally aggressive toward other campers or staff, they may be expelled from the program without a refund.
There are no make-ups or refunds for missed classes.
We strive to avoid canceling programs whenever possible. However, in the rare event that a cancellation is necessary due to circumstances beyond our control, refunds cannot be provided.
Children should be able to separate comfortably from their caregiver in order to participate successfully in the program.
Explorers must be fully potty trained in order to participate.