Summer Camp Welcome and Information Letter

Welcome Campers and Families,

Summer is almost HERE! We are so happy you have chosen The Pathfinder School’s Summer Camp for your child's summer camp adventure! This letter outlines our weekly schedule, what to pack, and important camp policies. 

CAMP LOCATION

The Pathfinder School Campus

11930 S. West Bayshore Dr

Traverse City, MI 49684

COUNSELORS

We have a wonderful group of highly qualified counselors this year, including 8 returning counselors. All of our counselors are thoroughly dedicated to provide a wonderful experience for every camper. 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

  • Camp Check-in is every morning from 9:00-9:20 am in front of the Administration Building (Lower Campus). Please feel free to arrive a bit early, but no earlier than 8:45 am. The camp will then continue from 9:30 am-4 pm

  • Camp runs each week Monday-Friday from 9 am – 4 pm

  • For half-day campers, the day ends at 12:00 pm. Pick-up is at the Lower Campus Pick-Up Pavilion.

  • For full-day campers, the day ends at 4:00 pm. Pick-up is on the Lower Campus at the Pick-Up Pavilion. Please see the section below on pick-up logistics.

  • Each Friday we ask that parents/guardians pick up their child at 3:30. This allows our camp staff to clean the campus and reset for the next week.

  • Before-Camp Care is from 7:30 am-9 am. Please drop your campers off at the Camp Office. Please confirm the days you will need before-camp care on your Active account. There is no before-camp care on Mondays. 

  • After-Camp Care runs from 4 pm to 5:30 pm (Mon-Thurs).  There is no after-camp care on Fridays. Please confirm the days you will need before-camp care on your Active account. Campers are to be checked out with after-care staff. 

CHECK-IN AND OUT

Families must always check their camper in and out with a camp staff member. If someone who is not listed on your child’s enrollment forms will be picking them up after their program, please inform The Pathfinder School ahead of time (via email, call, text, or at drop off). We will not release children to someone who is not authorized to pick up your child.

PICK UP PROCEDURES

  1. Pick up from camp is at 4 pm every day except for Friday. It is 3:30 on Fridays. If you need to pick your child up early, you must let counselors know at drop-off or call the main office well ahead of pick-up. 

  2. At the end of the day pick up, please follow the map below (cars pull into the driveway, turn right in the parking lot, and then create two lines at the end of the curve). 

  3. Stay in your car & please place your name card on the front windshield or side window where we can read it easily. We ask that you please stay off your cell phone when in the carline. 

  4. A staff member will bring your camper to your vehicle and help them get in. 

  5. Please do not move your vehicle until the Camp Counselor with the "STOP" sign turns it to "SLOW" - we will dismiss the line when the first 8 vehicles are good to go (seatbelts fastened and car doors closed). We will do our best to keep the line moving, and we ask you to please be aware of campers moving around vehicles and getting them buckled quickly.

ONLINE CAMP PAPERWORK

Please complete all forms and payments through your Active account prior to your child’s first day of camp.  We must have all paperwork completed for your child to join us at camp.

WHAT TO PACK

Please read carefully and make sure to have all the following items daily. We really appreciate your attention to this list. Please put your child(ren)’s name on their belongings. 

  • Small day pack/ backpack in which all the following items fit :

  • Healthy, packed lunch (note – please no food that needs to be heated or prepared at camp)

    • We will provide an afternoon snack, though extra snacks are a good idea 

  • Water bottle filled 

  • Swimsuit/trunks

  • Spare Clothes

  • Towel 

  • Comfortable shoe to be worn – gym shoes recommended (hiking sandal or hiking boot will do)

  • Life jacket (All Young Explorers, Explorers, and Discovery Campers are required to wear lifejackets. Adventure Campers will be given a swim test on Mondays to be exempt from this rule.) All campers are required to wear life jackets when canoeing or kayaking. Water wings do not count as a life jacket.

  • Raincoat (if needed)

  • SunBlock – please make sure to apply sunblock to your child each morning and label the bottle that you send with them. Counselors will help re-apply throughout the day.

  • Insect Repellent – please also label the bottle

PLEASE NOTE

  1. Wear clothing that can & will get dirty. 

  2. Make sure to have the camper’s name clearly written on all personal items!! (sunblock, life jacket, towels, shoes, etc). This is important to make sure all of your items return home with you, plus keeps our valued attention on your camper and not on their gear. 

SWIMMING

Each day, campers head down to Cedar Lake for free swimming, face painting, and beach fun on our sandy shoreline.  Our waterfront on Cedar Lake is supervised by certified lifeguards at all times.

Adventure campers who have swimming experience will be allowed to take a swim test on Mondays. If they pass, they are able to swim without a life jacket in the deep swimming area. All other campers must wear life jackets when at the waterfront. Campers are able to leave their swim gear in the boathouse for the duration of the week, to go home with them on Friday.  If your camper needs their swim gear for evening fun, it is their responsibility to take it home (counselors can help remind younger campers).

CAMP BEHAVIOR POLICY

Pathfinder summer camp is a place in which every child is accepted for who they are and encouraged to be their fun, goofy, and unique selves. We set a high standard of respect for peers and counselors and will hold our campers accountable to this level of respect. Our counselors are trained to create a supportive environment and manage camper behavior. We do take behavioral incidents seriously, as it can impede the camp experience and safety. In the event that a camper physically harms another camper or a staff member, the parent/guardian will be called immediately and asked to pick the child up. If the incident is repeated, a child may be asked not to return to camp. We also take negative verbal behavior seriously and this could result in a parent pick up as well. All situations are treated with care on a case-by-case basis. 

BUGS BUGS BUGS

Campers will be playing in the forest all day and bugs are a normal part of that. If you have a specific bug spray preference for your child, please feel free to send it with them in their backpack and we will happily assist them in using it. If you are looking for another way to keep bugs away, we recommend treating your child’s clothing with permethrin, which can be bought in spray form and applied directly to clothing instead of onto the skin. We understand that ticks are a concern. We recommend doing a full tick check of your child at the end of each day. 

ACCIDENTS & EMERGENCIES

Small bumps and bruises are a basic tenet of being a kid, but we will make every effort to keep our campers safe through active supervision and teaching our students about proper risk assessment. We have a team of counselors who are certified in CPR and First Aid, and we always carry a robust first aid kit with us. Minor injuries will receive appropriate first aid. If an emergent injury or illness occurs, parents are contacted immediately, and a plan will be made to get the child to medical care as quickly as possible. If immediate care is necessary, EMS will be contacted prior to parent communication. Because of this, we need to have up-to-date contact information for our families, so please let us know of any changes in your contact information or if you will be unavailable during camp hours.

See you soon!

David McCoy

Pathfinder Summer Camp Director 

camp@thepathfinderschool.org

Main: 231.995.3800