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Parents have questions. Lots of them. They want to know every aspect of camp, and we want you to know everything you need to know to make your child's stay as warm and as welcoming as possible. We polled parents over the past few years, and have come up with the most frequently asked question. If your question doesn't appear below, please call us! We also suggest that you review the Camper Page with your child to see details about the camping experience.
How do I register and pay for camp? How much does camp cost?
To register for camp you will need to download and fill out the Summer Camp Registration Form. Full payment is due at the time of registration. Camp fees cover the cost of housing, food and all activities during a session and are dependant on the date we receive your registrations. The fees can be found on the current registration form or on the Registration page.
Another cost associated with camp would be the refundable monies needed to open the Store Account. This amount is up to each individual parent and is opened on registration day. Campers are not permitted to carry cash on camp. For a more complete description of these fees, please refer to the Registration Section of the web site.
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Is there an Age Requirement for camp?
Camp is for all youth who have completed 3rd grade through those who have completed 10th grade.[ Return to Top of Page ]
Does my child have to be in a 4-H Club to attend Camp?
Your child does not have to be a 4-H Member to attend our camp; any youth can attend. 4-H Club members do receive a discount to attend.[ Return to Top of Page ]
Now that my child is registered, what happens next?
Once you have registered for a Session, you will be receiving by e-mail (if you supply an email address) or by mail a Parent Packet of information and a packet of important camp forms. Please take the time to read carefully through the Parent Packet. All forms are due into camp by June 1st. For those who register after June 1st, forms are due ASAP or upon registration. Once all forms are in, you will be slotted for classes and a camp bunk. You will find out this information at Check-In on arrival day. Each camping session begins on Monday. We provide directions to camp for those who need them.
Check-In is from 10:00-11:00 AM. (We cannot accommodate early arrivals.) Camp staff will be on hand to direct you through this process at the main Dining Hall. Please give yourself one hour for this process. You will need to sign your camper into camp, confirm medical information and hand in all medications, open your store account, participate in a health screening, meet your counselor and get settled into the cabin. For your child’s safety, at Check-In you will be required to name the person or persons who will pick-up your camper on Saturday morning. Please remind your pick-up person to carry ID, as it will be necessary for Check-Out.
If for some reason your child needs to leave camp early please notify the Program Director in writing. Do this as early as possible to ensure that arrangements can be properly made. It is important to understand that early pick-ups may disrupt a camper’s sense of closure at camp.
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Can I come and see camp before the summer or before I sign my child up?
Private camp tours are available any week day between normal business hours and on Saturday April 19th (10 am - 2 pm) and Sunday, May 18th (10 am - 2 pm). You must call to set up an appointment for a tour. Please contact the Program Director for Details.
What should my child bring to camp?
This is one of the most common questions parents and campers have regarding camp. We have created a very specific Packing List of items that we suggest you bring to camp, along with items that we request you do not bring with you. The packing list takes into consideration the length of the camping session and you should carefully consider what you bring as there is no laundry service available at camp. If you child has a history of nervous bed wetting we ask that you indicate this on the Health Form and the Parent Confidential and this matter will be taken care of in a discrete manner.
Please DO NOT send your child to camp with food. We have a very healthy relationship with the wildlife at camp and do not wish this wildlife to visit your child in his/her cabin. Food & Candy is very difficult to hide at camp due to our well trained ants so please do not send it. Please also refrain from mailing your child packages containing food or gum. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact the camp office.
Camp is an active place that has many tripping hazards. For this reason we ask that children wear closed toe shoes or sandals with heel straps during their stay at camp. They can bring flip flops to wear in the shower, but can not wear flip flops for camp activities.
Please label everything you send to camp. Many campers arrive with new items at camp and may not remember what belongs to them at the end of the week.Also include a list of items they brought and a laundry bag to help your child at the end of the week. [ Return to Top of Page ]
What are the cabins like and what if my child wants to bunk with a friend?
Campers are housed in traditional rustic summer cabins. There are normally between ten and fifteen campers per cabin with two counselors. The beds are bunk bed style; no linens are provided. Most campers prefer to bring a sleeping bag, pillow and one or two sheets for bedding. The bathhouse is centrally located in the cabin area and commonly referred to as the “White House.” Personal belongings should be packed in a sturdy suitcase, duffel bag, or trunk. If your child’s suitcase or trunk has a lock, be sure to give an extra key to the counselor in the event your camper misplaces their key. Click to see a detailed packing list.
A large focus of camp is on making new friends. Many campers who arrive on camp do not know anyone else and may be apprehensive about this. We take great care on the first day of camp, (and subsequent days), to help facilitate the process of making new friends. If a camper wishes to sign-up to come to camp with a friend and they wish to bunk together they should fill out the space on the registration form for a bunkmate request. Due to the popularity of long “chain” requests, bunkmate requests are limited to one. Requests should be reciprocal. We strive to meet these requests, but do not guarantee them. Please be clear on the registration form as to your child’s name, their friend’s full name, ages, and sessions attending. Cabins are arranged according to age group, therefore we ask that bunkmate requests be only for campers of similar age. We cannot honor last minute requests.[ Return to Top of Page ]
What will my child be doing each day?
The camp schedule is packed with fun & exciting activities from dawn to dusk. Campers wake each day at about 7:00 am and are busy until “Light Out” at about 10:00 PM. Some campers bring clothing and props to camp to help get into the spirit of camp. We have included a sample Daily Schedule and Activity (Class) Descriptions to give you an idea of some of the activities your camper will participate in.[ Return to Top of Page ]
Should I send my child mail?
Write your child as often as you like. Campers look forward to mail and are often disappointed if they don’t receive any. We suggest that your letters be cheerful. Please DO NOT TELL YOUR CHILD “how much I miss you” or share tragic news through the mail. This often leads to concern on the part of the child for what they might be missing at home; and further creates unnecessary homesickness.
Because mail does take two to three days, we also suggest that you mail a letter or two a few days before your child leaves for camp. This way your child will have some mail the first day of camp. In order to successfully deliver mail, please be sure to include the session number your child is attending and the cabin number if known.
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Please refrain from sending your child food or snacks at camp as these items will be confiscated. Campers are encouraged to write home at least once. It is helpful for campers if you send a self-addressed stamped envelope along with a pen and paper. If you are concerned about mail you receive from your child or have not received any mail, please feel free to contact the Program Director. Please clearly mark all envelopes with the child’s name, the cabin, and the session attending. We cannot process mail without a session number! For example:
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Susie Camper
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Cabin 4 Session 2
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Lindley G. Cook 4-H Camp
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100 Struble Road
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Branchville NJ 07826
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Can I send a fax or e-mail my child?
If you are interested in send a fax to your child, please send it to (973) 948-0735. Please understand that the fax line is typically used for business and receiving registration information, so please limit the number of faxes.
If you would like to send an email please click the link below. (This is only a one way service! They can not reply to you by email!) Please do not send camper emails to the normal camp email address. Your child may not receive it! Email and faxes can not be delivered after 12:00 pm on Friday or on Saturdays.
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Please limit your faxes and emails to one per day.
Should I send snack or candy items with my child?
NO. Our 4-H Camp kitchen provides 3 well-balanced (and tasty) meals each day. We offer a salad bar at lunches and dinners, as well as a vegetarian option at each meal. In addition, campers may daily purchase up to two food or beverage snacks at the camp store. We make sure everyone gets plenty to eat! There is no need for campers to have food items in the cabin. Be sure to indicate any food allergies or other diets on the camper’s Health Form and also on the Parent Confidential Form.
Please note that food in cabins attracts wildlife, causing a potential safety hazard. Campers may not keep food in their cabins. Please do not send your child to camp with food, and do not send food in care packages.We will ask your children on Monday to surrender any food/candy/gum at camp and we do pride ourselves on the ethical character of our children - so please do not place your child in a compromising situation by sending food to camp. Also, if we don't find the food, our well trained ants surely will.
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What happens if my child misses home while at camp?
"Homesickness" is not uncommon at camp, especially with first time campers. Here at 4-H Camp, we refer to homesickness as separation anxiety disorder, or SAD. Almost all SAD campers can have a successful week at camp with the proper staff intervention. Taking a child home from camp too soon may hinder their growth in this area. If there is a serious case of separation anxiety, the Program Director will contact you. For mild cases of separation anxiety, we may not contact you. If you would like us to handle your child’s separation anxiety in a certain way, please contact us before your arrival or make notes on the Parent Confidential Form. In any case we cannot give refunds for homesickness. We will, however, work with you and your child to determine the best course of action.[ Return to Top of Page ]
Can my child call home?
Here at camp we do not physically have the ability to arrange campers to call home. Having over 100 children call home would take up all the time we have for programming at camp! Also, most cell phones do not receive signals at camp and interfere with the camp program. We request that cell phones remain at home. For this reason we ask that children do not call home while at camp.
If you would like to check on your child, please feel free to call the Program Director for a report on how your child is doing at camp. If your child is struggling at camp due to homesickness, problems in the cabin, or other, you will be contacted by the Program Director promptly.
Children who struggle with homesickness, or separation anxiety as we call it, statistically DO NOT benefit from calling home. It is in our experience that Campers who call home invariably end up going home. The best course of action is to work closely with the Program Director to help your child have a successful away-from-home experience. Also be aware that the phones in the office are manned only during normal business hours.[ Return to Top of Page ]
Can I visit my child at camp?
In most cases, during camping sessions we discourage Parent visits to camp primarily for safety considerations. Also, many parents opt not to visit camp because they do not wish to not disturb their child by pulling them out of programs. (Because visitations may escalate other children prone to homesickness, campers are required to visit away from programming sites.) If your child is struggling at camp due to homesickness, problems in the cabin, or other, you will be contacted by the Program Director promptly. If you would like to check on how your child is getting along at camp, please contact the Program Director for a report. If you would like to tour camp during a session that your child is not registered in, please contact us for a chaperoned tour. All visits to camp during a camp session must be pre-arranged and conducted during business hours. All visitors must stop at the camp office to check-in, receive a visitor’s pass and an escort. Thank you for respecting these policies to ensure your child’s safety at camp.[ Return to Top of Page ]
What happens if my child gets sick at camp?
If your child becomes sick, the Health Director will attempt to contact you to arrange an office visit. Whenever possible, we encourage parents to take their child to their family physician. If you are unable to do so, arrangements will be made with our camp doctor. Your child’s Health Form with release and all pertinent insurance information will be provided to the attending physician at the time of the visit. Parents are responsible for all fees charged by the camp doctor or any physicians and pharmacy for any medications or services prescribed that are not immediately covered by your existing insurance.
If your child is currently on any medication that they will need at camp you will need to turn this into the camp RN during registration. All medications, both prescribed and over-the-counter, are kept in a locked closet in the camp Infirmary. Medications must be in the original container from the pharmacy, with clear instructions. Please make sure to include enough medication for the entire session. Please note that all medications that require injections must be self-administered.
The camp infirmary is staffed 24hrs per day with certified staff. A Registered Nurse resides on the property providing medical attention as needed. We are in contact with a local physician who has issued standing orders for most ailments, and is just a phone call away. We are also a short distance to Newton Memorial hospital.[ Return to Top of Page ]
How are behavior issues handled at camp?
All campers are expected to exhibit appropriate behavior at camp at all times. This appropriate behavior is outlined on the back of the Registration Form and is a mandatory form for all campers to sign before attending camp. Upon arrival, counselors outline appropriate behavior for the cabin groups. It is important for campers to know that we have a zero tolerance policy at camp regarding bullying, teasing, and any form of hazing. It is very important to encourage children to tell a counselor if they witness any of this type of behavior at camp so that we might immediately intervene. Negative behavior affects more that just the camper involved in the misconduct, it affects all those around them. Our goal is to assist in the growth of the camper through positive reinforcement and the understanding of consequences. We highly recommend you look over the back section of the registration form and go over it with your child. You must sign the parent section, and your child must sign the camper section.
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What are the counselors & staff like?
We screen our applicants and conduct in-depth interviews and criminal background checks on all staff that work at camp to insure the best possible Staff Team for your child. We provide our staff with an intensive week long pre-camp Staff Training. All staff are trained in First Aid, CPR and emergency situation response procedures. All counselors are at least 18 years of age and many are former campers and CIT’s who understand what it is like to go to camp for the first time. Many staff return to camp year after year and the counseling team is one of the main reasons that campers return to camp each year.[ Return to Top of Page ]
How safe is camp?
Many activities at camp involve a known and reasonable risk. We do everything possible to provide a safe environment for our campers. However, as with any type of physical activity, there is always risk involved and the possibility of the unforeseen. We make every attempt to make camp a safe place for children to learn and grow. During their entire stay at camp, they are always under the supervision of a staff member, whether it is during recreation time, mealtime or their cabin at night. Senior staff members patrol every evening and secure the gates at night.
We screen our applicants and conduct in-depth interviews and criminal background checks on all staff that work at camp to insure the best possible staff for your child. We provide our staff with an intensive week long pre-camp training. All staff are trained in First Aid, CPR and emergency situation response procedures. In addition to this, here at camp we use the “Buddy System.” This means that anytime campers go anywhere, they take someone with them. Our counselors & staff also follow a form of the “Buddy System” in that, barring emergencies, they are never allowed to be alone with a camper. It is very important that all campers understand this policy.
Emergency procedures are in place and practiced by campers and the staff team. The first day of camp we practice an emergency drill. In the case of an actual emergency 4-H Camp, in partnership with local agencies, has procedures to provide for the safety of campers and contact all parent's[ Return to Top of Page ]
Can my child stay over for the weekend between sessions?
We will offer one stay over weekend program between sessions 2 and 3. Stay over options will not be available for the other weekends. In order to participate, the camper must be registered for both sessions. We can not accept new campers or sign out departing campers over the weekend. The cost of the weekend $100.
A limited laundry service will be offered for an additional fee of $10.00. We will only wash essential items, such as undergarments, socks, towels, bathing suits, and a minimal amount of clothes (one bag per child) to help sustain your child for the next week. The fee will be paid at registration. We highly recommend that you send your child with enough clothes to last two weeks!
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Is there transportation to Camp?
At this time bus transportation will not be offered for the summer season due to low transportation enrollment/requests. We may offer this service in the future.
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What time do I pick up my child?
On Saturday of each session, parents may arrive at the Dining Hall as early as 9:30 AM to sign their child out of camp and pick up store refunds, parent , medications, and look through the lost and found. Parents then are encouraged to attend the Closing Ceremonies. Each camp session ends with this event that begins at 10:00 AM. (You will be directed to the location from the Check-Out station in the Dining Hall.) We encourage parents to plan to attend this special ceremony, which usually lasts about 15 minutes. This ceremony highlights the events of the camp week, accolades the winners of the Honor Camper Awards and presents the camp newspaper to the campers. All campers must be picked up directly after this ceremony. If you know you will be late, please call us as soon as possible. Please remember to have your ID ready when signing out your child.
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What Happens After Camp?
Campers will come home with tales of camp experiences and new friends. Many of the activities offered here at camp are also offered on a year round basis through 4-H Clubs. If you are interested in finding out about 4-H programs offered in your area, please contact your local Cooperative Extension Office or call our camp office. We will assist you in any way possible. We also invite you to fill out the Parent Survey to let us know how we are doing. [ Return to Top of Page ]
If for some reason I have to cancel my child's reservation for their stay, can I get a refund?
We want to provide your child with the best experience at camp. To do so, we must hire staff, purchase food and obtain supplies based upon the number of children we expect to have at camp at any give week. Some of the registration fees are used well before your child arrives.
Cancellation requests postmarks or faxed at least 21 days prior to the beginning of the camp session for which you have registered will receive a refund of the registration fee paid, less the $50 non refundable processing fee.
Cancellations postmarked or faxed less than 21 days prior to the camp session will be subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the registration fee paid.
Credits due to medical reasons must be documented by a physician & will be considered only for three (3) or more days missed.
Homesickness does not qualify for refund purposes. Campers send home due to behavior problems will not be refunded.
All cancellation requests must be in writing and sent or faxed to the 4-H Camp business office. Refunds are disbursed in the same form that payment was made.
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