How Camp Works A-Z
Please read through the handbook information below.
A-Z Menu
Behavior Expectations for the Campers in Our Care
Clothing and Dress
Contact Information and Communication
Drop-off and Pick-up
First Aid Procedures
Lunch and Snacks
Swimming
Behavior Expectations for the Campers in Our Care
Children becoming responsible members of our camp community is an integral part of our program.
Goals for our Camp Community:
- We want our campers to feel safe, valued, and free to grow and change.
- We want the campus and all its elements to be cared for, explored, and treasured.
- We want our children to develop the behaviors that will make them contributing, trusted members of the community.
- Our commitment is to help each child meet these goals in developmentally-appropriate ways. What can be expected of a 4 year-old is different that what a 10 year-old can do.
We expect the children will:
- treat each other with care and respect, not demeaning a person nor destroying the work of others;
- treat the environment with care;
- work cooperatively when participating in group activity;
- seek help by asking for it;
- include others in play and settle disputes in non-violent ways;
- seek an adult for help when a conflict cannot be resolved or when dangerous or abusive behavior is occurring;
- not use offensive language;
- stay within the boundaries of the play area; and
- take responsibility for their behavior.
Going over these goals and expectations with your camper will help support your child’s camp experience.
Clothing and Dress
The dress at MDC is quite informal. We require CLOSED TOE SHOES (*sneakers, crocs, Keen-type shoes) and recommend that children dress for the weather in washable play clothes that will stand abuse. This is an outdoor camp so clothing and towels will get muddy, and feet will need protection. All clothes should be marked with your child’s name.
You will receive a tote bag for your child’s belongings, which should be marked with his/her name and bunk. On the first day of camp, please send a complete set of extra clothes to be kept at camp.
Since campers swim and/or play in water everyday, we strongly encourage them to wear their bathing suits to camp. However, if you’d like for your child to change at the end of the day, just let us know.
We do not permit items of a personal nature, such as cards, handheld games, cell phones, radios/mp3 players, toys or jewelry at camp. Camp is not responsible for any lost, missing, broken, or stolen items.
We have a lost and found that is sorted weekly and labeled items are returned. At the end of each session, unlabeled items are donated to a local aid organization.
Contact Information and Communication
The camp office is located in the school office building by the creek in the center of campus. The office is open Monday to Friday each week camp is in session during regular business hours, 8 AM to 5 PM. The summer office telephone number is 610-828-1231. It is best not to call during arrival and dismissal (at 9 AM and 3 PM when we are busy helping children transition in and out of camp). The camp does not permit the use of cell phones by campers or staff during the camp day.
After-hours, you can reach camp by emailing campdirector@miquon.org. The camp director reads and responds to email communication before 8am and after 5pm each day. Families will also receive an after-hours contact number for a lead counselor.
Notes & Letters:
Counselors will check bags of young campers each morning and forward notes to the proper person. It is suggested that notes be pinned to the outside of the camp bag.
A bunk blog will be emailed weekly. Please contact the office if you cannot read this communication.
We want to hear from you. You and your child are important to us. We would like to know of any problems or concerns that you may have during the camp season. If you are especially pleased with a particular activity or situation, we would like to hear that also.
Drop-off and Pick-up
- Drop-Off
- Please pull your vehicle into the camp driveway and proceed to the drop-off location where you will be met by a staff member. You MUST follow the traffic path, counterclockwise around the circle. There will be a car line, and we ask that you remain patient and understanding as we safely move campers into the day. Please plan your schedule accordingly.
- K1-1C campers can be dropped off starting at 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- 2A – 5 / 6 campers can be dropped off starting at 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Parents and guardians should not get out of the car except to unbuckle their camper.
- At each drop location, a staff member will open the car door, take the camper’s temperature and inquire about other symptoms and exposure. If the camper’s temp is over (100.4º) we will have you take the camper home. Once cleared by the counselor, the camper will be escorted to their bunk by our staff.
- Each family will be emailed a placecard to indicate drop off times, camper name, and bunk.
If you have more than one child at camp, you can drop off at the oldest child’s timeframe listed above.
Late Drop-Off
If you are late dropping off, please call the camp office at 610.828.1231 when you are 10 minutes away (Bluetooth) so a counselor can meet you at the parking lot and we can take / record temperatures.
Pick-Up
- Please pull your vehicle into the camp driveway and proceed to the pick-up location where you will be met by a staff member. You MUST follow the traffic path, counterclockwise around the circle. There will be a car line, and we ask that you remain patient and understanding as we safely move campers to go home. Please plan your schedule accordingly.
- K1-1C campers will be picked up starting at 3:00 PM
- 2A – 5 / 6 – campers will be picked up starting at 3:25 PM until 3:50 PM.
- Parents and guardians should not get out of the car unless they need to buckle their child. Campers will be brought to the parent/driver, who can get out of their car to help seat their child in the car.
Early Pick-Up
Early pick up MUST contact the office before arriving.
The camper will be brought down to the parking lot by a staff member.
Parents/guardians must show ID which matches the name given to our office staff. The latest a parent can do an early pick up is 2:00 pm. Please plan accordingly.
First Aid
We have a nurse on staff during camp hours and a local pediatrician available for consultation. In an emergency, if we feel prompt medical attention is required, and we cannot reach you or your child’s doctor, we will take your child to the emergency room at Chestnut Hill Hospital.
Allergy medicine or other special medications that your child requires should be given to the camp nurse. Please provide accurate directions or in some cases doctor’s orders, and written consent allowing the nurse to dispense the medication to your child. Only the nurse may dispense medication.
Lunch and Snacks
Campers will bring their lunch to camp every day, except Wednesdays when the camp provides a hot dog BBQ. Lunches that are not packed in insulated totes will be refrigerated.
Lunch boxes/bags should be clearly marked with the camper’s name and group. Morning snacks and lunchtime beverages are provided daily.
Swimming
The Miquon Swim Program has two components:
- Each week every camper has three to four extended swim periods.
- Each swim period has instructional swim, designed to help campers improve their swimming ability and become more relaxed and confident in the water, to contribute to health and physical fitness, and to increase the camper’s awareness for safety in the aquatic environment.
- Each swim period has a “play swim”. Groups engage in cooperative aquatic games, play with equipment, ring toys, etc., and learn safety skills, such as the use of PFD’s. This child-centered component is very popular with campers and also helps to reinforce many of the skills that are learned during the week’s instructional periods.
These components combine to achieve our two primary objectives for the swim program, to help every camper improve his/her ability in the water and enjoy learning swimming skills.
