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Q
What is the ratio of campers to staff?
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A
Lower Camp (Pre-K and Kindergarten): the minimum ratio is one staff member to every six campers.
Middle or Upper Camp (ages 6 - 14): the minimum ratio is one staff member to
every seven campers.
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Q
What are the group sizes and how do we staff groups?
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A
Lower Camp: Pre-K’s and Kindergarteners
Number of Campers per Group: Eighteen
Number of staff per all LC groups: four
Middle Camp: Campers entering Grades One to Three
Number of Campers per Group: Eighteen to Twenty-One
Number of staff per group: Three
Upper Camp: Campers entering Grades Four or above
Number of Campers per Group: eighteen to twenty-one
Number of staff per group: three
Specialty Camps
Number of Campers per Group: Riding Camp: eleven campers
Digital Video Theater: eight campers
All other: eighteen campers
Number of staff per group: three
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Q
Can I request that my child is placed in a group with his or her friends?
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A
We group children together in the same group so long as they are the same age and both sets of parents agree that this is a good idea. There is a place on the Camper Application where you can provide names of children you would like to see in the same group. In order to group children together, we like to have corresponding notes from each set of parents. We will not honor requests to keep children in separate groups.
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Q
Is my child eligible to go on a field trip or stay on an overnight? How do I sign up for them?
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A
Field trips are scheduled once every two weeks for Upper campers only. The field trip director plans, organizes and attends all field trips. The counselors in the group will also attend the field trip with their campers. On rainy or overly hot days, an alternate field trip will be planned accordingly.
Middle Campers are offered in-camp overnights and Upper campers are offered off-campus overnights about once every two weeks. These overnights are optional and an additional fee is required. Eligible campers receive enrollment forms in the mail just before camp opens. Camp families do not receive enrollment forms until a Barrie Camp medical form is on file in the infirmary.
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Q
How often are activities scheduled and is there any free time during the day?
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A
Each camp group begins a new schedule for the week on Monday. The only activity occurring at the same time each day is swimming. Otherwise, schedules vary according to the availability of specialists and the number of groups in camp on any given day. Campers get most of the activities that we schedule for their age group at least once every four or five days. There are separate schedules for each of the four Special Event Days. Copies of schedules are sent home via campers.
Schedules try to balance activity time and free/rest time. Middle and Upper camp groups tend to have more activity time and less rest time than Lower Camp groups. Other than morning Flagpole, there are eight, 35 minute periods per day. On average, a group will spend about 3/4 of their day in scheduled activities and 1/4 of their time at Flagpole, Lunch, and free time. Lower Camp groups have a rest period (not a nap period) after lunch and a lighter schedule of activities than Middle and Upper campers. Children in our youngest group for young 4-year olds do have a nap after lunch.
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Q
How many staff do you employ in the summer and what are their ages and experience working with children?
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A
Specialists and Directors are at least 21 years of age with degrees in early childhood studies or training in related work. Senior counselors are at least age 18. Junior counselors are ages 16 and 17. Counselors-in-training are age 15. Each applicant is personally interviewed, fingerprinted and provides us with three written references, a health examination and health history form. All staff participate in at least 24 hours of pre-camp, on-site training and orientation. When camp is open, staff have daily, all-hands meetings. These meetings allow on-going, relevant training and orientation for staff. Staff performance is monitored and evaluated by Unit and Program Directors.
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Q
How do I enroll my child in camp?
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A
There are several ways to enroll your child in Barrie Camp. The most convenient way is to enroll online. Otherwise, if you have received a mailing from us, you can fill out a Camper Application form and mail or fax it in to our office. You can download a copy of that form from this website to save to your home or work computer. You must have Adobe Acrobat to read the .PDF file.
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Q
How will I know that my child has been accepted to camp and what forms do I need to fill out before my child begins?
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A
To confirm enrollment, we send you a Confirmation Packet that includes a copy of your child’s camp record, camp forms with instructions, and a camp guide.
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Q
Does my child need to be examined by a doctor before starting camp?
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A
The final page of our Health History, Examination and Emergency Form must be completed at your pediatrician’s office by licensed medical personnel. Information must reflect the results of the participant’s most recent physical examination, conducted within the last two year period.
To ensure up-to-date information, our medical form must be completed within the six month period preceding the opening of camp. A new form is required for all campers each summer, even for those who completed a health form for a school (including Barrie School) or another camp program. School health forms are out-of-date by the start of camp.
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Q
Will the camp staff apply sunscreen to my child?
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A
The camp will only apply sunscreen to a camper if there is a check in the sunscreen check box on the camp’s health form.
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Q
Are there any open houses for camp?
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A
There are monthly open houses on Sundays in January, February and March.
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Q
When does camp usually fill up?
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A
Although it is hard to predict, we usually have plenty of room in most groups through the end of March. Lower Camp and Specialty Camps, especially Riding Camp, are usually the first programs to fill.
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Q
What is the camp’s FAX number?
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A
301-576-2805
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Q
What is the camp’s tax I.D. number?
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A
52-1336863