HE NEW BAUERCREST FAMILIES! We are so excited to welcome your boys to the Hillside! There’s just nothing better than watching a camper experience his very first Bauercrest summer. Thinking about camp is my full-time job. I’m pretty lucky, right? I get to work at a place where our biggest selling point is happiness. That said, it’s not all fun and games. Okay, it’s mostly fun and games. But there is more to it, especially in the days, weeks, and even months leading up to Opening Day. This little guide will help you prepare for camp… but the most important thing you need to remember is that we’re here for you every step of the way. We’re always just a phone call, text or email away, so please don’t ever hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all. The second most important thing you need to remember is that camp isn’t just for your boys… It’s also your ticket to a well-deserved break and some much-needed adult time! We know you have other responsibilities, but we’re about to significantly lighten your load of laundry, cooking, cleaning, scheduling, and carpooling. While we’re giving your boys a summer they'll never forget, go make memories of your own and have yourselves some serious fun!!! See you soon! xo, Stacy, Camp Mom LLO,
DIRECTOR ken@bauercrest.org 508.251.9811 Ken Cotton
Jen Block ASSISTANT DIRECTOR jen@bauercrest.org 339.203.9332
Camp Bauercrest
978.388.4732 17 Old County Road Amesbury, MA 01913
Stacy Pollack
HEAD NURSE Liz Shorter liz@bauercrest.org HEALTH CENTER # 978.388.0990
CAMP MOM/ DIR. OF COMMUNICATIONS & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT stacy@bauercrest.org 781.205.9625
IMPORTANT DATES:
New Camper Orientation: Saturday, May 18th from 1-3:30pm
Mini Camp 1:
Sunday, June 30th - Saturday, July 13th (2 Weeks)
Full Season:
Mini Camp 2:
Sunday, June 30th - Sunday, August 18th (7 Weeks)
Sunday, July 21st - Saturday, August 3rd (2 Weeks)
Session 1:
Visiting Day:
Sunday, June 30th - Saturday, July 20th (3 Weeks)
Saturday, July 20th from 11am - 4pm
Session 2:
Training Camp 1:
Sunday, August 18th (4 Weeks)
Sunday, July 14th at 8:30am to Monday, July 15th at 8:30am
Extended Session 2:
Training Camp 2:
Wednesday, July 10th - Sunday, August 18th
Sunday, July 28th at 8:30am to Monday, July 29th at 8:30am
HOMESICKNESS DOES NOT MEAN CAMPERS AREN’T HAPPY
In the same way they come in all shapes and sizes, first-time campers will approach this new experience in many different ways. Your son may want to talk about camp all the time... or not at all. He may not be able to contain his excitement as you order all his Bauercrest gear, then turn pale at the sight of those giant duffel bags. This is all completely normal. Pre-camp jitters are a part of the process. If your camper is having doubts, he’ll look to you to make them go away, or at least put them in their place. If you are struggling with doubts of your own, share them with us... that’s what we’re here for! We’ll talk you through it so you can be brave enough for both of you. While there are countless things you can say if your son is feeling nervous, there is one thing that we strongly urge (beg) you NOT to: Please, please do not ever tell your child that you’ll pick him up early if he wants to come home. There are so many reasons for this, but the two most critical are:
1. This tells him that you’re not sure he can do it, when the truth is that... 2. He can totally do it.
IN THE MEANTIME, YOU COULD: • Show him videos of campers his age having crazy fun and remind him that they were all first-time campers once, just like him. • Help him recall other instances when he was afraid to try something new, then ended up being so happy he did. • Tell him how proud you are of him, and that you are so excited for him to make new friends and have all kinds of adventures with them. • Promise him that his counselors and the entire leadership staff will be there for him, and that he should never be embarrassed to ask for help or tell us how he’s feeling. • Reassure him that it’s ok to miss home. Home will be waiting for him when camp is over. And when he is back home, he will miss camp in ways he can’t begin to imagine. • Get us involved so we can figure it out together!
If you have a favorite stuffie, bring him to camp!
HOMESICK AND HAPPY
This book by Dr. Michael Thompson is a wonderful tool for preparing families for their first overnight camp experience. It’s an insightful look at the magic of summer camp and why it’s so important for children to be away from home. We highly recommend it!
NO FOOD, NO PHONES!
Bauercrest is a peanut- and tree nut-free environment , and we have campers with other serious food allergies as well. Parents may NOT bring or send food into camp, except for water bottles and Gatorade. The Mess Hall is open all day. If your camper gets hungry, he can get a snack there. Because you know who really loves snacking in the bunk? Our tiny (and sometimes not-so-tiny), furry, four-legged neighbors. So let’s not give them a reason to visit. Campers (with the exception of our oldest campers) are NOT ALLOWED to bring cell phones, iPod Touches, or any other devices with Wi-Fi connectivity. All unauthorized devices will be held by administration until pick-up. All first-time Bauercrest families will receive an email from me on the first night of camp with a photo and update on how your camper is settling in. Throughout the summer, you are welcome to communicate with me, Ken, Jen, and our nursing staff. This will allow the counselors to focus on their most important task: keeping your kids safe and happy. : ) We do not allow phone calls with your child while he is at camp; but in addition to writing him letters the old-fashioned way, you
can email him using Camp Stamps. These purchased in your Camp In Touch account and shared with friends and family. Emails are printed every day and delivered with the rest of the mail. Please note that your child will not be able to email you back; this option exists purely for your convenience. No screens for him except the ones on the windows... just pens and paper, like in the olden days. Please provide your camper with stamped envelopes addressed to anyone you’d like him to keep in touch with. If you’re hoping for six letters while he’s away, tell him that… and address six envelopes to yourself so he knows to fill them! We’re always reminding them to write letters, but expectations are different in every family and really need to be set by you!
You are welcome to send packages to your camper (we keep our Amazon drivers very, very busy those seven weeks we’re in session), but remember… NO FOOD OR CANDY! For safety reasons, we open all packages before we deliver them to the bunks, and all food and candy will be confiscated! Photos will be posted daily and can be accessed through your CampInTouch account. Please understand that you will not see your camper in photos every day, or even every other day. With that said, if you find that it’s been a while since you last saw his smiling face, email stacy@bauercrest.org and we’ll take care of it!
Log-in to your online account in CampInTouch, where you can purchase Camp Stamps to email your camper. It's also where we post our online photos. New Camper Families: Please upload a photo of your child to your account!
FIELD TRIPS, BIRTHDAYS & CAMPER CASH Our campers and staff look forward to out-of-camp field trips every summer! Whether it’s an all-camp day at an awesome amusement park, or an age- specific outing to play mini golf and splash around in bumper boats, field trips are a great opportunity for our campers to have tons of fun together in a new and exciting setting! We will provide campers with money for food when a meal is not provided outside of camp. If you would like to provide additional funds, you may do so in the amount of $5/10/15/20 per field trip. Cash (small bills please!) can be given to the office on Opening Day. If you would prefer that we charge your credit card on file (with a 3% transaction fee), please fill out this Google Form. Paper forms will be available on Opening Day as well. BIRTHDAYS FIELD TRIPS CAMPER CASH
All campers celebrating a birthday at camp will do so with the best birthday treat on the planet: a Hodgie’s Ice Cream Cake to share with the bunk! (If you haven’t yet had the
life-changing experience of a Hodgie’s ice cream, just wait. You’ll see.) Non-dairy options available upon request.
Here’s a list of what you should pack for camp PACK HACKS!
CLICK HERE 10.0...040628 FOR DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP TIMES
www.Bauercrest.org | 17 Old County Road | Amesbury, MA 01913 | 978.388.4732 |
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