Just about everyone who leaves home for a while will miss it—even adults—so you won’t be alone! But you’re likely to feel better after a few days of having fun at Camp. And if you need to talk with someone about anything, there’s always someone—tentmates and counselors— around to listen and help you.
We set aside electronics at Treetops, so the best way to keep in touch with your family while you’re at camp is by writing them a letter, and everyone gets to do that on Sunday mornings. You can also write letters during rest hour. If you have your birthday while at Camp, we will arrange a phone call with your parents.
Besides getting a call from home, if you have a birthday during Camp you will celebrate with other July and August birthdays when we sing and share a giant birthday cake that you get to help decorate! You and your tentmates may also make your day special with a cookout meal, toasting marshmallows, or some stargazing!
Your living space at Camp will probably be a little different than at home where you may have your own room or share one with a sibling. At Camp, you’ll be sharing your tent or cabin with two or three other campers. In that space, you’ll have your own bed and shelves where you can put your belongings. You’ll also have your own space in the washhouse to keep your clothes. Each washhouse has bathroom stalls for your privacy, and each shower area has private stalls as well.
Since everyone swims most days of the week, we don’t need as many showers as we might take at home. Every Sunday, everyone is scheduled for a shower. Showers are often offered during evening activity time, so you may choose to take one then and you’ll probably shower after some of your trips when you’ve gotten sweaty or muddy.
All campers have a swim lesson every day (except Sundays which are a little special), and most campers have a weekly riding lesson. Other than that, each day you’re pretty much able to choose from a variety of fun activities.
We’ll do our best to help you stay healthy while you’re at Treetops, but if you do come down with a cold or don’t feel well, we have a wonderful nurse in each camp. They will find out what’s the matter and help you feel better, so you can get back to having fun with your friends at Camp.
We have a Camp store with many things you might need like toothbrushes, combs, batteries, or flashlights. If there’s something from home that you need, we may be able to call your parents and have them send it to you–as long as it’s not food (we don’t want any chipmunks nibbling in your tent)!
All of our meals are served family style at a table with five campers and one counselor. Much of the food you will eat comes from our own farm. Who knows, perhaps you’ll see the carrots that you harvested or the eggs you collected that morning on the table. There’s always a vegetarian option for people who don’t eat meat. If you get hungry between meals, there’s a big bowl of fruit available in the dining rooms. Each afternoon, everyone takes a break to have juice and crackers, which is a great time to see friends and siblings and to have a little snack.
There are many opportunities for you to see your sibling throughout the day—time to share hugs and stories about what you’re both up to at Camp. There are also opportunities to invite your sibling to eat with you at most outdoor suppers on Wednesday and Sunday nights.
Campers head to bed about the time the sun is going down, a bit later for campers who are older. Since we get up early and have very active days, most campers–and staff!–have no trouble falling asleep at night. Your counselors will read and sometimes sing at bedtime to help you be ready to nod off.
While you’re not allowed to bring pets from home, there are always some very friendly dogs at Camp. And on our farm you’ll have a wide array of animals to learn about and enjoy: horses, goats, pigs, sheep, chickens, and probably a barn cat!
Of course! We encourage you to bring a few of the small, favorite things that will make your tent or cabin feel like home. Besides a favorite stuffed animal, you may want to bring a picture or two, your favorite pillow, or a few books you’re excited to read (or re-read!). You probably shouldn’t bring items that are very fragile or would cost a lot to replace if they got knocked off your shelf. Before you come, we’ll send you a list of clothing and other things that would be great to bring to Camp.