The Barrie School

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the ratio of campers to staff?

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.

2. What are the group sizes and how do we staff groups?

Lower Camp:
Eligibility: Children must be turning 4 years old in current year, a pre-Kindergartener, or entering Kindergarten.

Campers who have their 4 th birthday late in the year (June through December) are in a group of their own termed LCN4 (Lower Camp, Nursery 4).

Number of Campers: 12 per group
Number of groups: one

Other Pre-K and Kindergarten children are mixed together and are in groups termed LC (Lower Camp).
Max. Number of Campers: 18 campers per group

Number of groups: three
Number of staff per all LC groups: Each Lower Camp group has a team of three counselors assisting throughout the day. In addition, a Room Specialist (a teacher in disguise) is the coordinator of the group. The Room Specialist is in charge of setting up and running the homeroom environment and mentoring the counselors.

Middle Camp:
Eligibility : Children must be entering Grades One, Two, or Three.

Campers entering Grade One are in a coed group termed BG (Boy/Girl).
Campers entering Grades Two and Three are grouped according to the grade being entered and by gender. Therefore, there are B (boys) groups and G (girls) groups termed B2, G2, B3, or G3.

Number of Campers: 18 to 21
Approx. Number of groups: 12
Number of staff per group: 3

Upper Camp:
Eligibility: Children must be entering Grade 4 or above

Campers are grouped according to the grade being entered and by gender, as the Grade Two and Three groups above. However, Seventh and Eighth Grade groups are coed and termed SR (Senior).

Number of Campers: 18 to 21
Approx. Number of groups: 12
No. of staff per group: 3

Specialty Camps:

Eligibility: Varies by program.

Campers are in mixed age and coed groups.
Number of Campers:

Riding Camp: 11 campers
Digital Video Theater: 8 campers
All other: 18 campers

Number of groups: 9
Number of staff per group: 3

3. Can I request that my child is placed in a group with his or her friends?

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.

4. How many staff do you employ in the summer and what are their ages and experience working with children?

Each summer we have over 200 paid staff: 10 Administrators, 70 Program Directors, Specialists and Assistants, 70 Senior counselors, 40 Junior counselors and 20 Counselors-in-training. 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.

We begin interviewing new staff in February and March. Each prospective staff member is personally interviewed, fingerprinted and provides us with three written references, a health examination and health history form. All staff participates in at least 18 hours of pre-camp, on-site training and orientation. When camp is open, staff has 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.

5. How often are activities scheduled and is there any free time during the day?

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 a 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 3 1/2 year olds do have a nap after lunch.

6. Is my child eligible to go on a field trip or stay on an overnight? How do I sign up for them?

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. Field trips do not require an extra cost, however some campers like to bring a few dollars for items to be bought while on the trip.

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.

Middle Campers stay overnight in platform tents. They are provided dinner, along with breakfast and lunch the next day. On the day of the overnight and the day after, campers follow their group's regular schedule. The evening is comprised of campfire and after-dark activities that are traditionally associated with this kind of overnight experience. Some or all of their counselors from their group stay with them overnight. The In-Camp Overnight Director and an assistant supervise the counselors.

Upper Campers are taken to group campsites in State and National parks around the greater Washington area. They leave camp around 10:30 a.m. the morning of their trip and return the following day shortly after lunch. They sleep in 3 or 4 - person tents and cook their own meals. This is intended to be a true camping experience. Some or all of their counselors from the group of counselors who accompany them. The Out-of-Camp Overnight Director and an assistant plan the trips and supervise the counselors.

During the final week of each session Upper Campers have an additional, special trip. This trip is for three days and two nights to Rocky Gap State Park in the mountains of western Maryland.

7. How do I enroll my child in camp?

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.

8. 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?

To confirm enrollment, we return to you a countersigned copy of your application, Medical Forms and a brief packet of useful information. Medical Forms must be received by their due date and found acceptable by the camp nurse in order for a camper to begin the program. Campers are not permitted to participate in the camp program until their Medical Form is accepted by the camp. If there is a problem with the application or medical form we will return it to you promptly for correction. When turning in a form, please allow more time than necessary in case it needs to be returned to you. If you have questions about a form feel free to call the camp office for clarification.

9. Does my child need to be examined by a doctor before starting camp?

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. If the examination was done prior to August 15, 2007, then a new examination is required.

To ensure up-to-date information, our medical form must be completed within the six month period preceding the opening of camp – sometime after February 22, 2009. 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.

10.Will the camp staff apply sunscreen to my child?

The camp will only apply sunscreen to a camper if an Authorization to Administer Medication Form has been completed and is on file in the camp office.

11. Are there any open houses for camp?

Our camp open houses are on the following dates from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM:

Sunday, January 25th
Sunday, February 22th
Sunday, March 15th

12.When does camp usually fill up?

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 are usually the first programs to fill and might fill sooner. Riding Camp usually fills in January and Lower Camp fills sometime in March.

13.What is the camp’s FAX number?

301-576-2805

14. What is the camp’s tax I.D. number?

52-1336863