Everglades Youth Conservation Camp

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PARENT INFORMATION

Lost and Found
For any items that may have been lost during the week, please check the table in the pavilion. Please examine your child’s belongings before leaving. Ask the group leader about missing items.

Telephones
Cell phones are not permitted and will be confiscated if found.

Your child will not have access to a telephone. We encourage you to write and provide writing materials for your child to write to you. There are times when camp administration will contact parents. We will call you for the following reasons:

1. Child is injured and we feel he/she needs to be taken to the emergency room.
2. If the child is running a fever over 102 degrees or vomiting for more than a day.
3. Child is having an unusual reaction to an insect bite, food or allergy not recorded on the health sheet.
4. Parents will be called if the child is experiencing a persistent feeling of homesickness. We will notify the parents as to the severity, times of occurrence and how we are dealing with the child. Rarely is the child put on the phone. Experience has shown that parental contact can worsen the anxiety your child is having. Parents may call and speak with the camp administration to receive information regarding their child. Please read the page on homesickness to help your child deal with separation from home.
5. Any time a child has a severe or unusual reaction, illness or injury.
6. If your child is having continuous behavior problems, expect a call. We have a three strike policy. If a camper is brought to camp administration due to failure to respond to instructional staff or group leaders, the camper will first discuss any problems and appropriate solutions with the camp administrator. On the second visit to the administrator, the parent will be called to discuss the problem and possible solutions. If the camper continues to have problems, the parent will be called to pick up the camper. If you are called to pick up your child for disciplinary reasons, you will not be eligible for a refund.

E-mail & Faxes
E-mails and Faxes to campers are not available.

Tips/Gratuities
Staff members are not allowed to accept gifts or gratuities.

Emergency Evacuation
In the event of an emergency evacuation of the camp facility, campers will be taken to:

Frontier Elementary
6701 - 180th Avenue N
Loxahatchee, FL  33470
561-784-4100

Directions to Frontier Elementary: From Northlake Blvd. go south on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road to Orange Blvd. Turn right onto Orange Blvd. Turn left onto 180th Avenue and go approximately two blocks.

Sample Weekday Schedule

Homesickness
Homesickness is a normal phenomenon experienced by most campers in varying degrees. This phenomenon is the distress or impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from home. Homesick feelings are good in the sense that they reflect the attachments one has for things at home. Getting over homesickness is a normal process that helps a child develop independence and self-confidence. Severe homesickness is rare. There are many things to think about and do before leaving home to lessen homesickness.

  WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD WITH HOMESICKNESS

1. Eight weeks of no school! Your child has plenty of ideas of how to spend the summer. Have your children help in the planning process. They do need to understand your work schedule, but try to select camps that best suits your child’s activity level and interests. Your child will feel better about participating in an activity if he/she feels they have a part in the decision process.
2. Plan for camp. After you receive your confirmation packet use a calendar to plan the shopping of supplies, doctor visit, completion of the forms and the departure from home to camp.
3. Homesickness. Most children will experience homesickness to some degree. Talk to your child about homesickness and offer some strategies to help alleviate it.
4. Exactly how long will I be gone? Use the calendar to count the days from drop-off to pick-up. Have the child recall a fun time of the same duration such as a vacation trip, spring break or a visit to Grandma’s house and how quickly the event was over.
5. Keep doubts to yourself. Try not to say things that will make your child worry about how you’ll feel when he’s away at camp. Let your child know that you love him/her and will miss him/her but you know he will have a great time at camp. Don’t tell him that you don’t know how you are going to survive without him/her while he is gone. You have just given him/her something to worry about – how you will survive.
6. Practice. If this will be your child’s first experience away from home, practice with some shorter nights away from home.  Have your child spend the night at a friends or a weekend with relatives.
7. Mail Call. The campers love getting mail. Mail your letter early so your child gets the letter early in the week. Encourage other relatives to write as well. Your letter should be supportive and positive. Let him/her know all the things that you are doing so he knows you are keeping busy also.
8. No deals about early pick-ups. Telling your child that you will pick them up early if they are homesick, guarantees that the child will be homesick and most likely end up going home. Please do not tell your child that they can call home or that you will call them. Campers do not have access to the telephone.
9. Be aware of traumatic events. Emergencies/Accidents happen and are unavoidable. If a family emergency takes place prior to your child’s arrival to camp, determine if now is the time to send him/her away. How your child will be affected at camp depends on the severity of the event and personality of the child. Try to avoid things you can control such as planning a big move, parental separations and parent vacations without the kids. Please don’t use your child’s time away to make major family changes.
10. Is my child crying all day?  Usually, when the campers are busy with the day’s activities, they are fine. The worst times for a child to experience emotional homesick feelings is at meal times and bedtime. (Times most families are together.) Help your child understand that keeping busy or talking to others at these times will help to alleviate the problem.

WAYS KIDS HELP THEMSELVES WITH HOMESICKNESS

1. Be positive about the camp experience.
2. Parents need to know you are looking forward to the experience.  (They will miss you too.)
3. Research the camp you plan to attend and the programs available.  Select programs that suit your interests.
4. Come with a friend.
5. Bring something special from home.
6. Remember your camp stay is only a week.  Bring a small calendar and mark off the days until you go home.
7. Get involved in an activity to take your mind off being homesick.
8. Talk with someone about how you are feeling.  

Supply List (Downloadable PDF Document)

Please Note:

• Clothing should be modest and appropriate for a co-ed group of children.
• Please send old clothing and inexpensive items.
• Your child will come home with wet and muddy clothing.
• Do not send watches, necklaces, or jewelry.
• Pack in a sturdy container.
• Open toed/open heeled shoes only appropriate for bathroom and water activities.
• Label everything

Bedding and Towels
___ Twin bed sheets and blanket or sleeping bag      
___ Pillow with pillowcase
___ Hand towel and washcloth
___ 2 to 3 large beach or bath towels

Toiletries
___ Toiletry bag to take back and forth to bathroom
___ Deodorant
___ Shampoo, soap
___ Toothbrush (in holder) and toothpaste
___ Feminine hygiene products (if necessary)            
___ Insect repellent (non-aerosol)
___ Lip balm
___ Sunscreen (30+ UVB and UVA protection recommended)                                                                 
Clothing - All Programs
___ 6 to 8 shorts (length and fit so underpants don’t show)
___ 6 to 8 shirts (halters, minis or t-shirts with inappropriate print advertising alcohol, tobacco products, profanity or sex are not permitted)
___ 1 to 2 pair of jeans or long pants (low slung/tight jeans are not recommended)
___ 1 to 2 long sleeve shirts
___ Underclothing (6 to 8 pair)
___  Raincoat or poncho                                                                   
___ 2 bathing suits (Girls – one piece only, Boys – boxer style only)

Explorers and Trail Blazers
___ Sleeping bag and foam ground mat
___ Mess kit with silverware            
___ Flashlight
___ Backpack

Mariners
___ Extra Sunscreen
___ Aqua shoes/socks
___ Snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins)

Headgear
___ Hat – strongly recommended
___ Sunglasses – inexpensive pair

Other gear
___ Laundry bag
___ Water bottle or canteen

Footwear
___ 2 - 3 pair of sneakers (all old- one to get wet)
___ Water shoes (for swimming, canoeing, showering)
___ 10 or more pairs of socks

Optional
___ Writing paper/envelopes/stamps            
___ Camera
___ Books/Magazines (camp appropriate)
___ Flashlight

DO NOT PACK
The following will be confiscated & returned upon checkout

• Food or Beverages (Call if child on special diet)
• Make-Up/Hair Dryers
• Fishing Gear (provided by camp)

The following will also result in a call home

• Electronics (games; CD/Tape players; cell phones, etc…)
• Anything that can be used for practical jokes: shaving cream, extra toothpaste, stink bombs, etc…(EYC 4)

The following will also result in automatic dismissal

• Tobacco/Alcohol/ Drugs
• Weapons/Flammables/Explosives

Forms (Requires Adobe Acrobat)

• Refund Form
• Mariner Form
• EYCC 1 - 5 Camper Forms
• Camper & Parent Packet
• Hunter Form