PARENT HANDBOOK Important information about your child’s camp experience,
with answers to many of your questions.
PLEASE READ THIS NOW AND
KEEP IT HANDY ALL SUMMER.
Campus Kids Summer Camp at Blair Academy
Contact us here from June 9 to August 11
Phone: 973-845-9260 or 908-362-0062 Fax: 973-845-9262 or 908-362-0064
P.O. Box 369 Blairstown, NJ 07825
The first camper session begins Monday, June 24. Camp ends Friday, August 9. Camp is open Monday through Friday.
No change for July 4th holiday. Camp is open Thursday, July 4th. Regular camp bus schedule runs on Friday, July 5 and Monday, July 8.
E-mail: [email protected]
Page 3 —Summer Office Information —Summer Camp Address & Phone Page 4 —Bookmark these Web Pages Page 5 —Communicating with your Camper —Receiving Letters from Home Page 6 —One-way e-mail to your camper —Phone calls from your camper Page 7 —Cell phones —Settling In Page 8 —Transportation Page 9 —If You Are Picking Up/Dropping Off Your Child At Camp —Summer Office Location at Blair —Parents Visiting Camp —Visitation Restrictions Page 10 —“Home Missing” —”Camper Choice” Programming Page 11 —Making Friends at Camp —Camper Behavior —Camper Questions & Sensitive Issues Page 12 —Medications —Medical Situations At Camp —Billing for Medical Services Page 13 —In-Line Skates, Skateboard Safety Equipment —Water Guns —These Things Are Not Appropriate —Do Not Bring These Either —Music Players —Electronic Games - Not Allowed —Appropriate Clothing —”Court Shoes” Required
Page 14 —Put Name On All Belongings —Laundry —Valuables In Camp —Money At Camp —Camp T-Shirts —CK Online Store —CK Gear at Camp Page 15 —Meals and Snacks —Camp Canteen —Food Is Not Allowed in Camper Rooms —Camp Website —Camp Newspaper (“Sundial”) —Camp Shows Page 16 —Weekend Adventures —Sport Specialties —Tipping of Staff is Prohibited Page 17 —Bunk Groups —Dorms —Which Dorms for Which Bunk Groups? —Wildlife Page 18 —Ticks —Questions About Camper Progress —Extending your child’s stay —Tours for Prospective Campers —2020 Priority Enrollments —Camp Reunion Page 19 —Contacts after camp —Web link reminders Page 20 —The American Camp Association (ACA) —The Blair Academy Campus —Blair Academy Improvements Enclosures: —Summer Camp Driving Directions —One-Way E-mail Program —Laundry Request Form
Table of Contents
2019 Parent Handbook — Campus Kids Summer Camp
2019 SUMMER CAMP OFFICE INFORMATION
Campus Kids Summer Camp
BEGINNING JUNE 9
Phone: 973-845-9260 or 908-362-0062
Fax: 973-845-9262 or 908-362-0064
E-mail: [email protected]
SUMMER CAMP OFFICE DATES & HOURS The Campus Kids summer office is open in Blairstown from June 9 to August 11.
During our camper sessions (June 24 - August 9) — we are in the office much of the day and night
and we regularly pick up messages and return calls. Our official office hours are:
Weekdays 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 1:00 - 5:00 PM 7:00 - 8:00 PM*
(*except Thursday nights while we are at the camp show!
We will pick up messages after the show, about 8:15.)
We frequently answer the office phones at other times. However, you may have to leave a voice mail message
during “non office hours” and the weekends. We check messages regularly and will return your call. The office
staff will assist you in every way possible. Tom and the leadership staff spend most of their time with the campers
and staff. However, your call is important and will be returned.
During the following special times our office hours are variable, but we return calls as soon as possible:
June 9-14: camp set-up work taking place ☼ June 15-23: Staff Training & Orientation
SUMMER CAMP MAILING ADDRESS:
(name of person)
Campus Kids Summer Camp
P.O. Box 369
Blairstown, NJ 07825
Head Counselors (division leaders & activity coordinators):
Jaz Hughes* (freshmen & sophomore girls) John Kirk** (freshmen & sophomore boys)
Jenna Camacho** (junior & senior girls) Phill Smith* (junior & seniors boys)
Dani Degraw*** (super senior & “duper” girls) Zak Ibrahim*** (super senior & “duper” boys)
*Jaz & Phill, Fine Arts Coordinators
**Jenna & John, Performing Arts Coordinators
***Dani & Zak, Sports Coordinators
Some of the Campus Kids staff you might be speaking with on the phone:
OFFICE MANAGERS: Daryn Javer & Ron Hennig
Director: Tom Riddleberger Camper Support Coordinator: Alex DeFilippo Camp Nurse: Lynda Beck, R.N. (full-time)
Associate Director: Stu Lisbe Camp Nurse: Tina Droegemeier, R.N. (full-time)
Assistant Director: Jeremy Berse Camp Nurse: Alan Droegemeier, R.N. (part-time)
Assistant Director: Abi Brennan
BEFORE AND AFTER THE SUMMER CAMP SEASON, please contact Campus Kids at our year-round business office:
Tom Riddleberger, Director * Jeremy Berse, & Abi Brennan, Asst. Directors Phone: 973-845-9260
Campus Kids Summer Camp Fax: 973-845-9262
P.O. Box 8 EMail: [email protected] Madison, NJ 07940
USE THIS CONTACT INFORMATION BEFORE JUNE 9 & AFTER AUGUST 11.
BOOKMARK THESE WEB PAGES
CAMP FORMS, INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS
www.campuskids.com/Camper_Forms.html copies of everything we’ve mailed to you, including directions to camp
DAILY PHOTOS & STORIES FROM CK-NJ!
You’ll find the link to the 2019 photo galleries on our website.
The direct link is www.campuskidsnj.com . something new practically every day — 2019 gallery will open in late June
CAMP NEWSLETTER — THE “SUNDIAL”
www.campuskids.com/readthesundial2019.html
published every Friday afternoon during the summer
CK-NJ ONLINE CAMP STORE
www.cafepress.com/2267
Campus Kids clothing and gear
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Facebook: Campus Kids New Jersey ( https://www.facebook.com/campuskidsnj )
Instagram:
http://instagram.com/campuskidsnewjersey
Twitter: CampusKidsNJ
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CampusKidsNewJersey/videos
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/campuskidsnj/
Communicating with your
CAMPER
Mail: Letter mail and all U.S. Postal Service packages and Express Mail:
Campus Kids Summer Camp
ATTN: name of camper
P.O. Box 369
Blairstown, NJ 07825 EXCEPTION: non-USPS package delivery services such as UPS, FedEx, DHL
must use the following “physical address” (rather than our P.O. Box):
Campus Kids Summer Camp
ATTN: name of camper
c/o Blair Academy
2 Park St.
Blairstown, NJ 07825
IMPORTANT! Put BOTH “Campus Kids” AND your camper’s name
on all mail and packages.
Fax: 973-845-9262 or 908-362-0064
Faxes for campers are received in the camp office and delivered once a day with
the regular camper mail (approx. 5:00 PM).
Please put camper’s first and last name at the top of the page.
E-mail: One-way email (from parent to camper) is available
(see details on page 6 or the enclosed flyer).
Camper e-mail is printed out once each day (between 2:30 and 3:00 PM) and
delivered with the regular mail before “dinner bunk” (about 5:00 PM).
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RECEIVING REAL LETTERS FROM HOME IS
IMPORTANT! Even though our camp allows phone contact between campers and parents (as
well as incoming e-mails and faxes), there is nothing quite like getting “snail
mail” to make a camper happy. We suggest that you mail your first letter the Thursday or
Friday before your camper starts camp so that they get mail right away. Then, keep sending
letters or postcards. Letters should be positive and supportive, e.g., “I can’t wait to hear about
your great week,” or, “I’m happy that you are learning how to swim,” or, “Your counselor
sounds really nice.” It’s great to send faxes or e-mail to your camper. However, there is
something special about receiving a regular letter or postcard in the mail (we see it on the faces
of the campers) and we encourage you to do this also.
HOW TO SEND E-MAIL TO
YOUR CAMPER In order to efficiently process incoming e-mails for
campers, Campus Kids uses a special web page and
“camper email code”.
Follow the directions on the enclosed flyer. If you
have misplaced that flyer, you can request instructions
and your access code by writing to:
You need the access code to use this email service and
we ask that you only share it with those
relatives and friends who should send
email to your camper.
Campers receive their emails in printed
form once a day (about 5:00 PM at regular camp mail
call). We print out the day’s emails only once, be-
tween 2:30 and 3:00 PM. (Emails received after this
time will be printed the next day.) Campers are not
able to send reply emails.
This service is provided by Campus Kids at no charge
to you. You can read more details on the enclosed
flyer.
PHONE CALLS FROM YOUR CAMPER
Most summer camps have restrictive phone policies compared to Campus Kids. We allow
campers to call home and ask that you support this by following our policies and procedures.
It is expected that campers will make no more than one phone call home per day at the time described below.
If you need to have your camper call you at a different time, please call the camp office so we can arrange this.
Of course, we are flexible about the limit of one phone call per day if parents live in different locations or a
parent is traveling.
Many of our campers bring cell phones to camp (see more details on page 7). These are stored by the counse-
lors while at camp, but your camper may use this phone for their call home to you. For campers who don’t yet
have their own cell phones, some parents buy an inexpensive pre-paid cell phone. (Or maybe you have an old
phone that you could activate for the summer.) For our younger campers in particular (Freshmen and Sopho-
mores) we have some camp-owned pre-paid cell phones that we let them use free-of-charge. Counselors will
assist campers in making calls home.
Camper calls will be between dinner and Clubs: 6:40 to 7:10 PM.
(If your camper is in the Thursday night show, they probably will not have time to call you because they
must go right from dinner to the theatre.)
We appreciate your help in limiting phone calls to no more than five minutes because Clubs and evening activ-
ities (or a camper show) will be starting right after this. Let us know if you have any concerns about phone
calls. Phone calls home are optional, so you may decide not to have your camper call every evening.
Please do not ask your camper to put a counselor on the phone. Counselors are taking care of the entire group
and are organizing the start of evening activities.
If you have a question, feel free to call the camp office and we will assist you or arrange for the head counselor
(division leader) or bunk counselor to call you back.
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SETTLING IN (an option, not a requirement) You may come to camp on the Saturday morning prior to your camper’s first day — to
bring clothing and bedding and help them “settle in” to the dorm. This is optional; it’s okay
if you decide not to do this. There is room on the buses for clothing and equipment and the
staff help campers get unpacked and comfortably settled in their rooms. *See note below
about medications.
Our “Settling In Saturdays” are the following, FROM 10:00 AM TO NOON. Staff are not available at other
times.
Saturday Saturday Saturday
JUNE 22 JULY 6 JULY 20
You do not have to call ahead to tell us you are coming. During the hours of 10AM to Noon, staff will be on
duty at the front gate to direct you, and other staff will be in the dorms to assist you. Please plan to complete
your settling in between 10AM and Noon. On the first settling-in (June 22) our entire staff will be on duty
because we are still conducting our staff orientation. For the other two settling-in days, however, a smaller
group of staff will be working, so you possibly may not meet your camper’s bunk counselors on those days.
IF YOU ARE HELPING YOUR CAMPER PUT UP POSTERS in his/her room, please use the blue “painter’s
tape” that is available in each dorm (ask the counselors). Other tapes — scotch, masking, duct, etc. — as well
as tacks or pins, should not be used.
*If your camper will have prescription medication at camp, we strongly suggest that you come to the settling
in activity so that you can drop off the medication and speak to one of our camp nurses.
CELL PHONES Campers may bring their cell phone to camp only if the following guidelines are followed:
• All camper cell phones are kept in a “cell phone box” that the bunk counselors keep. They are brought out
for the after-dinner call home to parents, then stored away again. Campers are not permitted to hold onto
their phones and must let their bunk counselors store them.
• Cell phones may be used only for the call home to parents at the designated time (see previous
page).
• Campers may neither receive calls on their cell phones nor spend time checking voice mail or
sending/receiving texts, etc. They also may not access the Internet while at camp.
• Campers will not have access to our campus wi-fi.
• Cell phone batteries should not need to be charged because they are used for no more than four
brief calls during the week. If a phone needs charging, will do our best to accommodate that need.
If a camper brings a cell phone, then they may have that phone on the bus rides to and from camp.
We remind parents and campers that Campus Kids accepts no responsibility for damage
or loss of personal items. This includes cell phones, regardless of their value or what
might cause the damage or loss. If you allow the cell phone to be brought to camp, it is
completely at your own risk. Thank you for your understanding.
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TRANSPORTATION (Lots of important details here.)
Information about your specific bus stop is being sent separately.
MONDAY MORNINGS. Please be at the pick-up location at least ten minutes
prior to the designated departure time. This allows us to load the vehicle
and depart on time. THE BUS CANNOT WAIT BECAUSE IT IS MAKING OTHER STOPS!
If this is your child’s first summer at Campus Kids, the bus counselors will offer them a seat up front on
that first Monday so the counselors can chat with your camper and help them feel comfortable until they
get to camp and meet their own bunk group of counselors and campers. Of course, if your child already
knows someone else on the bus, they may choose to sit with that friend instead.
FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. It is important that you be at the drop-off location ON TIME so that the bus can
continue on to the next stop. We do not leave a camper unless the parent or other authorized adult is at the
bus stop. If the bus cannot wait, the camper remains on the bus (with the Campus Kids bus counselors)
and rides to the end of the line. You should call the camp office and we will help make arrangements for a
safe rendezvous between you and your camper.
Please help us maintain safety by doing the following.
Walk up to the bus counselor and introduce yourself every
Friday afternoon. Do not leave until the bus counselor has checked
off your child’s name on the list. Do not wait in your car for your
child to come to you. The bus counselor must know that your child is
going home with the proper person.
IF SOMEONE OTHER THAN A PARENT/GUARDIAN IS PICKING UP YOUR CHILD, WE MUST BE
NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE, IN WRITING, BY THE PARENT. We will not release your child to anyone
other than a parent/guardian or person designated by the parent/guardian. You can send us a note/email prior
to camp, on the bus Monday morning (check to be sure we actually receive it), or during the week.
Our bus schedules are timed to be as accurate as possible. We know that delays can be very frustrating.
Traffic tie-ups and rain cause delays. We ask you to bear with us under these circumstances.
IF YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE ON THE BUS,
PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY SO WE CAN TELL THE BUS
COUNSELOR NOT TO WAIT FOR YOU.
EARLY NOTIFICATION FROM YOU IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. UP-
DATED BUS ROSTERS ARE PRINTED EACH THURSDAY FOR THE FOL-
LOWING FRIDAY AND MONDAY.
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IF YOU ARE PICKING UP OR DROPPING OFF YOUR
CHILD AT CAMP — ALWAYS CHECK IN AT THE CAMP
OFFICE
MONDAYS. Please arrive between 9:00 and 10:00 AM (call us if you need an earlier time). Park in a
parking lot, but not along a driveway with yellow curbs or at a Blair faculty member’s home. Come
directly to the camp office on the first floor of Annie Hall to let us know you have arrived. Your camper
will wait there with counselors to greet the campers arriving on the buses and join his/her bunk group.
FRIDAYS. Please arrive after the busses have departed, 4:00 PM. Park in one of the parking lots, NOT in
roadways with yellow curbs or at a Blair faculty member’s home. Come first to the camp office in Annie
Hall to let us know you have arrived and are taking your child. YOU MUST SIGN YOUR CHILD OUT!
If you leave without checking out at the office we will be looking for your child. It is okay if you are
going to be later than 5:30 PM, but we would appreciate a call to tell us when you are arriving.
Thank you for your cooperation with these arrangements, which help us ensure the safety of our campers. NOTE: If your camper normally rides the camp bus and you want to change this on a particular Monday or
Friday, please let us know in advance! Contact us no later than Thursday for transportation changes on the
upcoming Friday and Monday. Switching to another Campus Kids bus can be accommodated if space is
available. However, sometimes a bus is already at full capacity; we will let you know.
SUMMER CAMP OFFICE LOCATION on the Blair Academy campus.
When you enter the Park Street gate of Blair Academy, please do NOT park at the
admissions office lot. Park in one of the other parking lots on campus. The Campus Kids
summer office is in the middle of the campus in ANNIE HALL (on “the bowl” right
by the Armstrong-Hipkins performing arts center). Use the “summer driving
directions” in this handbook to find your way over to the Campus Kids office (you’ll also
find the directions at the Forms Library of our website). Here is a helpful online campus
map: www.campuskids.com/map
PARENTS VISITING CAMP WHILE IN SESSION Parents are welcome to visit camp. Please follow these guidelines:
Do not plan a visit on your child’s first day. This is a transition day for campers and it is important to let
them settle in and get to know the other campers and staff. It would be best to visit after your child’s first
week.
Call the camp office at least one day in advance to arrange for the visit.
Upon arrival, go first to the camp office (in Annie Hall) to check in and receive a Visitor Name Tag.
Do not take your camper away from their group or out of camp without checking in at the camp office.
Parents may not go into the dorms on the weekdays.
VISITATION RESTRICTIONS
If your camper is enrolled for part of the summer but wants to visit camp during a different week, we have to
say, “Sorry, we cannot accommodate such visits.” Having campers in camp who are not enrolled for that week
puts extra responsibilities onto our staff, distracts from the attention they can give to the enrolled campers, and
presents concerns regarding safety and supervision. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
-9-
“HOME MISSING” Everybody misses their home, family, friends, pets, neighborhood, familiar routines, favorite foods, and even
their mobile phone, when they go away. This is normal, although each person expresses feelings differently.
Part of the reason for going to sleep-away camp is to experience these feelings, learn how to be
okay with them, and become a more independent, self-confident person.
Our staff is sensitive, caring and concerned about your child’s feelings and is supportive in every
way possible. We help campers make friends, keep them actively involved in fun activities, main-
tain safety, and are always present with a listening ear. We consider it part of our job to help each
camper deal successfully with feelings of missing home.
Sometimes a camper’s adjustment to missing home can be difficult. While this is hard for the
camper, it can be even more difficult for the parent at home, wondering if you have done the right
thing and if you should “rescue” your child from their dilemma. We understand your feelings and
how difficult it can be to watch this going on from a distance. Please rest assured that we do not
mind your calls to us and that we would certainly call you if anything were really wrong. We
want this to be a successful experience for your child!
We ask, in talking to your camper and writing letters, that you help your camper focus on the fun
activities and friends at camp. Tell them how much you love them, and that you are also proud of
them for taking this big step of going to sleep-away camp. Encourage them to talk with their
counselors and not to be shy or ashamed about their feelings.
We believe that it is a mistake to say, “If you can’t make it I’ll take you home.” Once you have
said that — once your child hears that the possibility exists — it becomes difficult for them to deal with
missing home. They may not even try to adjust to camp and may simply wait for your deadline to arrive when
you must make good on your promise. The next time your child tries to be away from home — whether at
another camp or at college — it may be even more difficult to deal with the separation. Please think about
whether intense feelings of missing each other are more significant for you or your child. Sometimes a child
who is actually able to deal with “home missing”, is struggling much more with the sadness they can sense in
a parent, creating feelings of guilt and responsibility.
The key to our success is trust and communication. Trust us to care for your child. Trust that we will contact
you if something is really wrong. Feel free to call and talk with us. Together, we will help your child take this
important step in growing up.
“CAMPER CHOICE” PROGRAMMING
Our “camper choice” method of scheduling activities allows each camper to choose almost
every activity every day. This reflects our belief that, given freedom of choice under counselor
guidance, campers will explore new activities and will be able to concentrate in areas of greater
interest. In response to the needs of our campers, our camp activity schedule changes every day!
There are a great variety of activities offered at Campus Kids, but please realize that every camper will not
have time to do every activity. If you have concerns about your camper’s activity schedule, feel free to call
our camp office. We are glad to have your input and answer your questions.
In addition to our regular activity choices, we offer “multi-day options” (MDOs), which allow a camper to
choose an activity to do three days in a row with the same counselors and campers. This allows us to teach
some skills with more continuity and consistency and/or to accomplish some special projects. We will tell
your camper all about this when it is time to make activity choices.
-10-
-11-
MAKING FRIENDS AT CAMP One of the best things about camp is meeting and
making new friends. Our expectation is that everyone
is nice to everyone else. We live in “families”, called
bunk groups, each having up to 12 girls or boys and
their two or three counselors. They have great times
together, but like any family there can be rough patch-
es. We take the time at camp to talk through problems
and encourage constructive, verbal solutions. We help
everyone get along together, never to exclude or
ostracize another person. We value individuality and
support each person. We ask parents to speak with
their campers about being open to and accepting of
this diversity among people and to view this as one of
the best parts of going to camp.
CAMPER BEHAVIOR
We have good campers and we generally experience
few significant behavior problems. However, you and
your camper should know that we have clear
expectations regarding behavior. These include
following the safety rules in camp and cooperating
with the counselors and other adult staff. Everyone is
expected to be friendly and courteous to others. Name
-calling, harassment, scape-goating, bullying or other
negative behavior is not allowed; neither is hitting nor
malicious pranks. Everyone is expected to be
respectful of personal and camp property. Campers
must comply with their designated bedtimes.
Most behavior issues at Campus Kids are minor and
are handled by discussion or taking breaks. In the
case of more serious infractions or situations that
could threaten someone’s physical or emotional well-
being, we would contact you for help in solving the
problem. Campers whose behavior cannot be correct-
ed and who are a threat to others will be sent home.
CAMPER QUESTIONS & SENSITIVE ISSUES
Residential summer camp, where counselors and other camp leaders are trusted role models, is conducive to
kids asking questions about a variety of topics. This is an aspect of camp that seems obvious, but that is often
overlooked in conversations between camp staff and parents.
At camp, friendships among campers and their relationships with staff are strong because of the time we spend
together. Camp time is quality and quantity time and it quickly builds bonds of trust. Campers usually trust
each other and their counselors. They talk about things that are important in their lives and raise questions
about such topics as friendships, relationships, homesickness, values, families, health, fitness, personal safety,
sex, identity, school, future goals, social justice, contemporary issues . . . the list goes on. Some of these topics
are routine, others more complex because they touch deeply into personal, family and religious values.
We take advantage of the many “teachable moments” at camp, but also understand that our staff has to main-
tain professional boundaries. For that reason we provide training and supervision about conversations with
campers and answering their questions. When counselors come to us for guidance, as we expect them to do,
we sometimes have a senior staff member join a bunk group for a conversation, to provide a more experienced
perspective that goes beyond what we permit our counselors to discuss.
We raise this topic here because we want you to know that this is a big part of camp and we are constantly uti-
lizing our experience and professional judgment to do the right thing for our campers and staff. If you have
questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time. Likewise, we may sometimes reach out to you
for input and guidance.
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MEDICATIONS
In accordance with State law and Campus Kids safety
guidelines, we follow strict procedures regarding any
medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter.
All medication administration is done under the direct
supervision of our camp nurses (RN’s). If you are sending medication to camp, please follow
these guidelines:
• YOU MUST COMPLETE THE “MEDICATION
AUTHORIZATION” form (already sent to you and
available at our online “forms library”). Mail or fax
it to camp. A separate form is required for each
medication.
• Medications must be in their original containers.
• Dosage changes cannot be made without written
authorization (fax okay) from you and/
or your physician.
• It is helpful if you have a supply of
medication at home to give to your
child on the weekends. That is much
better than sending one container back
and forth to camp each week. Pharmacists will give
you an extra container with label so you can split
your supply between camp and home.
• If your child will be carrying an inhaler at camp, we
urge you to send an extra one for our nurses to keep
in case your camper misplaces theirs. As you already know from reading the health infor-
mation we have sent to you, our physician has ap-
proved certain over-the-counter medications for our
health staff to use in camp. YOU DO NOT HAVE
TO SEND UP YOUR OWN SUPPLY OF THESE
APPROVED MEDS. We have them in stock at our
camp Health Center. Call us if you have questions.
EXTRA FORM FOR
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
In addition to the Medication Authorization Form that
must be signed by a parent for each of a camper’s
medications (OTC or prescription), an additional au-
thorization from the prescribing physician is required
for prescription meds your camper needs to take at
camp.
We have already sent you this: Physician Authoriza-
tion for Prescription Medications. This form must al-
so be sent to us for prescription meds only.
We are sorry for this extra step in the paperwork
chain, but it allows our Registered Nurses to have un-
ambiguous, legal authorization to provide medical ser-
vices to your camper.
MEDICAL SITUATIONS
AT CAMP
Health and safety are top priorities at
Campus Kids and both the N. J. State De-
partment of Health and the American
Camp Association check to be sure our health and
safety procedures are in place. Our camp nurses, who
are R.N.’s, oversee a program of prevention and, if
necessary, treatment, in cooperation with our local
physician, hospital and EMS. If your camper requires
treatment from an outside medical provider (doctor’s
office, hospital, EMS) we will notify you. We will
also call you for any of the following: fever over
101.0°, vomiting, severe dehydration, rash of un-
known origin, any condition requiring nursing care for
more than 24 hours, medication issues. One of the
camp nurses may also call to notify you of other
situations and/or to ask for your input. Sometimes,
because we allow phone calls home, your camper tells
you “I don’t feel well” before they tell us. In this case,
please ask them to notify the counselors and, if you
wish, call the camp office.
BILLING FOR MEDICAL
SERVICES
We do not charge parents for medical services provided
at camp. However, charges incurred through outside
medical providers are billed to you. IF YOU HAVE PROVIDED us with a very clear copy
(front and back) of your camper’s insurance card AND
our medical provider (Skylands Medical) or hospital
(Newton Medical Center, part of the Atlantic Health
System) has a contract with your insurance company,
THEN the in-network rate and the expense will be sub-
mitted to your insurance.
IF YOU HAVE NOT PROVIDED us with a clear copy
of your insurance card, then our medical provider
(Skylands Medical) will charge us (Campus Kids) a spe-
cial self-pay rate and we will bill you so that you can
reimburse Campus Kids.
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SAFETY EQUIPMENT
REQUIRED FOR IN-
LINE SKATING &
SKATEBOARDING
Skateboarding and longboarding are
offered at our CK Skate Park and oth-
er areas of the campus as a regular camp activity. We
have skateboards and longboards for campers, as well
as the safety equipment. Campers may bring their own
boards, if they wish (and bring your safe-
ty equipment). We REQUIRE that every
participant wears ALL of this protective
gear: helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and
wrist guards! No exceptions will be
made, regardless of the camper’s proficiency. Camp
does not provide inline skates, but these are permissi-
ble, if your camper wants to bring them.
WATER GUNS (“super soakers”, etc.) Any water guns brought to camp are stored by the
staff in one central location and brought out only for
supervised water fights (which we do have). Campers
are not permitted to keep water guns in their rooms.
Spilled water causes damage and is a safety hazard.
Please mark your camper’s name on the water gun.
THESE ARE NOT APPROPRIATE
Certain items are inappropriate in a children’s camp.
These include clothing, posters or music that depict or
promote violence, drugs, alcohol, smoking, sexual
activity, bigotry, overt political statements, etc. We do
not permit these items to be displayed/played and we
send them home with the camper on Friday.
DO NOT BRING THESE EITHER
Campers are not allowed to have these items in camp:
televisions, computers, tablets, laser pointers, spray
paint, matches, zippos/lighters, cigarettes, e-cigarettes,
candles/incense, fireworks/sparklers, plug-in room
fresheners. See the separate section of this manual
regarding cell phones.
MUSIC PLAYERS
If campers bring MP3 music players, they do so at
their own risk (Campus Kids will not replace if lost or
damaged). These must be kept in the dorm, never car-
ried around campus. If devices are Internet-capable,
campers are not permitted to access the Internet while
at camp. These devices may only be used for listening
to music. Because campers don’t carry smart phones
at camp, you might want to transfer your music to a
stand-alone MP3 player.
ELECTRONIC GAMES? NO.
Do not bring these to camp.
APPROPRIATE CLOTHING
Please read the camper clothing list carefully and note
that we have guidelines on types of bathing suits that
may be worn at camp. In addition, we feel there are
some types of clothing that campers might wear at
home or at school that are not appropriate at a co-ed,
multi-age children’s camp. Our staff is sensitive about
this and won’t embarrass a camper in front of others,
but sometimes we need to ask a camper not to wear a
particular outfit. Anything you can do in advance of
camp to guide your camper will be helpful. We real-
ize that this can be a contentious topic between parent
and child, but you can refer to the fact that “camp is
different and has its own rules” in helping your camp-
er choose their camp clothing. Feel free to call us if
you have questions.
“COURT SHOES” Required
Please note on the clothing list that each camper
should have a pair of tennis shoes or other non-scuff
shoes that can be used only for the tennis
courts, squash courts and some other
sport activities. This is to prevent scuff-
ing and to protect the surfaces of these
very nice courts. Campers carry these in their day
pack and put them on before playing these sports.
They should wear their regular sneakers for other out-
side activities.
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PUT NAME ON ALL
BELONGINGS
You may get tired of hearing us say it, but this
is important. Please be sure that your camper’s name/
initials are on each of their belongings. The easiest
way to do this is with a laundry pen or other indelible
marker. When we find marked items, we return them
directly to the camper. Otherwise, the items go into
the lost-and-found box (yikes!). Don’t forget to mark
non-clothing items such as day packs, tennis racquets,
mitts, in-line skates, cameras, books, insect repellent,
sunblock and water bottles.
LAUNDRY
Most campers take their laundry home
each weekend. However, we do offer
an optional laundry service. The cost is
$28.00 per week. Your camper’s
clothing and linens are laundered, folded and ready for
them at camp on Monday morning. USE THE
ENCLOSED FORM TO SIGN UP FOR LAUNDRY
SERVICE, or just send us an email request. Please be
sure that your camper’s laundry bag is durable and
clearly marked with their full name (don’t use a flimsy
paper tag that will fall off). If your camper is going on
a Weekend Adventure, you may want to sign up for
laundry service for that weekend.
VALUABLES IN CAMP
This is a reminder that Campus Kids does not accept
responsibility for personal belongings and money in
camp. Please review what your camper is bringing
and DO NOT send items too valuable to lose or have
broken (expensive jewelry, mp3 players, instruments,
sports equipment, etc.). Although it is discouraged,
campers tend to share their items with each other.
Campus Kids will not pay for the repair or
replacement of any personal items.
MONEY AT CAMP: not needed
Your camper does not need money at camp for any
program activities, for snacks or the camp canteen (see
separate section about the camp canteen).
Remember, Campus Kids provides three meals and
two snacks a day and we provide water filling stations
for camper water bottles and each dorm has at least
one water cooler.
CAMP T-SHIRTS
We give a Campus Kids t-shirt
to each camper upon arrival. It
is a 100% cotton “daisy
(bright) yellow” t-shirt with a white CK 2019 logo im-
print on the front. If your camper wants extra CK t-
shirts, you can purchase them through the online camp
store (see below). Other Campus Kids gear and cloth-
ing are available at our online store. The store is run
by Café Press and the link is on the Current Campers
“Announcement” of our website, or go directly to
www.cafepress.com/2267 .
CK ONLINE STORE If you are looking for extra camp t-shirts or other
camp clothing and gear, check out the Campus Kids
online store, operated for us by Café Press. The link is
at the Current Campers “Announcements” tab of cam-
puskids.com or you can go directly to the store at
www.cafepress.com/2267 .
CK GEAR AT CAMP We have traditionally not operated a camp store dur-
ing the summer, having just an online store (see
above). However, in response to requests from some
campers, we recently started offering a small selection
of athletic T’s and pinnies with “sporty” versions of
our CK logo. We will make these available again this
year. Your camper can see them their first week at
camp and then bring money if you want them to pur-
chase one, after that: $15 for the t-shirts, $18 for the
pinnies.
MEALS AND SNACKS We provide three meals and two
snacks (afternoon and evening).
Meals are served cafeteria style and
offer choices of main and side
dishes. At lunches and dinners there are also a deli
sandwich bar, salad bar, and plain pasta (sauce and
cheese on the side). There are meat and vegetarian
choices at every meal. Bunk groups sit together at
every meal , allowing their own counselors to be
aware of what their campers are eating. Counselors
will encourage campers to have a glass of water at
each meal before drinking other beverages. If you
have any food concerns, feel free to call the camp
office.
Sample menus are posted on our website. You can
also see daily menus at the website of Sage Dining
Services, which serves the meals for Campus Kids:
https://www.sagedining.com/menus/blairacademy/
CK CANTEEN
The camp canteen is open each evening.
Campers go to the canteen with their bunk
groups (one division at a time in order of
age). The canteen offers a variety of snacks, including
fresh fruit, yogurt, ice cream, popsicles, chicken
strips, veggie sticks with hummus, frozen grapes, can-
dy, chips, juice and bottled water. There is no extra
charge for the canteen. However, we do place a limit
on how much each camper can eat each night. Basi-
cally, they can get one food item and one beverage.
CAMPERS MAY NOT KEEP FOOD
IN THEIR ROOMS
We will remove food items from camper
rooms. This is because of problems caused by junk food and
litter in the dorms and around our campus, and attract-
ing insects to the rooms. It also presents a significant
concern for campers who are managing food allergies.
If campers forget this rule and bring food or candy, it
will be sent home on Friday; the same for any food/
candy received in “care packages”.
Please DO NOT send “care packages” with food. If
you’d like some ideas for non-food camp care packag-
es, try one of these websites: www.eswak.com or
www.camppacs.com .
CAMP WEBSITE
www.campuskids.com Click on the “current campers” tab.
You can keep up with camp happen-
ings at our website. Our roving CK
digital photographers take pictures
and post some of them here.
You should bookmark the 2019 Photo
Gallery (the direct link is
www.campuskidsnj.com). We’ll have something new
for you every day. If campers want to create their
own web pages when they sign up for the “digital
photography” activity at camp, we post those also.
CAMP NEWSPAPER -
THE “SUNDIAL” www.campuskids.com/
readthesundial2019.html Our camp newsletter turns into a weekly publication
during the summer. Campers and staff produce the
Sundial every Friday. Your camper brings a copy
home and it would be helpful if you reminded your
child to bring their Sundial when getting off the bus.
If you are picking your child up by car, please also
remember to take the Sundial when you sign out at the
the camp office. Please read the Sundial and watch
for any information that is specifically for parents.
We mail a copy of the Sundial to your home during
the weeks your child is not in camp.
You may also read the Sundial online at this web
page (current and back issues):
www.campuskids.com/readthesundial2019.html
CAMP SHOWS
We have a camper drama production,
talent show, dance show or other perfor-
mance at least once a week, usually on
Thursday. These are very popular and
campers sometimes ask their parents to attend.
However, these shows are for our camper-counselor
audience only. We are not able to host families for
these performances. Thank you for understanding.
Visit the website for pictures!
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2019
-16-
“WEEKEND ADVENTURES”
Families of our junior, senior and super/duper senior
campers (going into 7th grade and older) have already
received information about an optional program called
Weekend Adventure. The purpose of this
program is to “connect” two Campus Kids
weeks together (campers don’t go home
that weekend) and experience a variety of
activities that are usually not part of the
regular Campus Kids program. Our
Weekend Adventure kids and staff leave
camp on Friday afternoon and return Monday
morning. We stay in lean-tos at Fairview Lake
YMCA Camp in Stillwater. We enjoy boating and
lake swimming, outdoor activities and campfires. Trip
#1 (July 12-15) also has a special trip to Camel Beach
Water Park. Trip #2 (July 26-29) includes a trip to
Dutch Springs. Trip #3 (August 2-5) includes a trip to
TreEscape Aerial Adventure Park. There are enroll-
ment requirements for each trip — minimums and
maximums — so if you haven’t told us you want to
go, please don't’ delay. Full information is at the
“forms library” of our website. All-inclusive cost is
$425 per weekend if you sign up by July 1st; $450 af-
ter that (space available).
SPORTS SPECIALITES
Campus Kids is a general camp, offer-
ing a wide variety of activities in
sports, fine arts and performing arts.
Many of our campers use their camp
time to try new activities, so they are
learning them for the first time.
However, we also offer a special opportunity in four
sports for campers who want to spend
more time than usual working toward
more advanced skills and competitive/
team strategies. These do not replace
the regular options in these sports for all the other
campers, but offer the “sport specialty campers” the
chance to spend the morning or afternoon each day for
a period of one or two weeks. The 2019 specialty
choices are:
FITNESS (offered three times: one week of these 2-
week sessions: June 24-July 5, July 8-19, July 22-
August 2)
SQUASH (June 24-Jul5 6, two weeks)
ULTIMATE FRISBEE (July 8-19, two
weeks)
TENNIS (July 22-August 2, two weeks)
There is no extra charge for these programs. For the 2
-week programs, campers are given a couple of days
to try it out before committing to the full program.
More information is available at the Forms Library of
our website or on this web page:
www.campuskids.com/
Campus_Kids_NJ_Sport_Specialty.html
To sign your camper up for one of these sport special-
ties, send in the form or contact us by email or phone.
TIPPING OF STAFF IS
PROHIBITED
Some summer camps allow tipping. We do not, and
we expect that you will support our decision.
We feel that tipping diminishes the professionalism of
our staff’s work. And we believe that the camp tuition
you pay should cover all of the financial compensation
provided to staff.
Parents sometimes ask us how they can show their ap-
preciation to a certain staff member.
Staff love the cards, letters and
emails of thanks they receive from
parents and campers (staff love to get
mail too!). If you wish to give a gift,
a small one is appropriate, the kind of
gift where "it's the thought that
counts" rather than having a signifi-
cant monetary value. And, of course,
you can let Tom know what you think of a staff mem-
ber's job performance. We value parents' input, which
helps us evaluate staff and decide who is invited back
next summer, as well as the type of job references we
provide.
BUNK GROUPS
Bunk groups are our “families” at Campus Kids. Each
is made up of two or three counselors and their
campers (up to 12 boys or girls of the
same school grade). The bunk group
shares a cluster of rooms in one of our
boys’ or girls’ dorms. The bunk
counselors provide the main support
for their campers, helping them in all
aspects of camp living and providing
guidance as their campers choose activities each day.
We honor mutual requests to be in the same bunk
group and we try to honor mutual requests for room-
mates when they are given. Please understand that
sometimes there are conflicting roommate requests
which make it impossible to arrange the roommates as
everyone thinks it “should be”. We also have first-
time campers who do not know anyone until they get
to camp, so we are making room decisions that are
best for everyone. We hope that every camper is ea-
ger to meet new people and be friends with everyone
in the group. Meeting new friends is one of the best
parts of camp.
Also realize that our camper enrollment is not “even”
throughout the summer (since we offer enrollments of
various lengths). Some age divisions and bunk groups
vary in size throughout the summer.
Our “head counselors” (the division leaders) provide
direct support to the bunk groups (see page 3 for their
names). If you have a question or concern, chances
are that the head counselor is the best person to speak
with you, although Jeremy, Abi, Stu, Tom and other
members of the leadership team are always pleased to
speak with you too.
Depending on the dorm, rooms are set up as doubles
or triples. Everyone in the bunk group becomes good
friends; the particular roommates are not as important
as who is in the bunk group because everyone in the
group socializes together during bunk times, meals,
evening programs and canteen.
In addition to the counselors and head counselors, all
staff members live in camper dorms, including Tom
and all other senior staff members.
DORMS
Most of the dorms are not air conditioned. We place a
20” box fan in each room, and the windows have good
screens so we can leave them open for ventilation.
There is air conditioning in some campus buildings,
including the performing arts center, the fine arts cen-
ter, the health center, the dining room, the canteen,
and some of the indoor athletics facilities.
WHICH DORMS?
We wait until early June to assign dorms so that we
have the most accurate number of campers in each di-
vision. Sometimes we change dorm assignments from
the previous summer or from the particular dorm we
showed you on your camp tour. As of press time for
this handbook, we have assigned camper bunk groups
to the following dorms. These are subject to change.
BOYS:
Freshmen & Sophomore bunk groups:
Lakeside Hall
Junior & Senior bunk groups:
Freeman & Mason Halls
Super Senior bunk groups: Insley Hall
Duper bunk groups: West Hall
GIRLS:
Freshmen & Sophomore bunk groups: Kathryn Hall
Junior & Senior bunk groups: Locke/Ivy Halls
Super Senior bunk groups: Annie Hall
Duper bunk groups: Annie Hall
WILDLIFE
We don’t live in cabins or tents at Campus Kids, but
we are in a rural setting with forests, fields, rivers and
ponds. We regularly see deer, birds, water fowl,
squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, skunks, etc.
We also sometimes see black bears. These bears are
afraid of people and don’t find food on the Blair cam-
pus because the trash management system is designed
to remove any attractions for bears. Nevertheless, our
staff is trained to be appropriately cautious around
bears and prevent any careless behavior on the part of
campers.
We also have bats, seen most often flying high in the
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continued on next page . . .
sky at dusk eating insects. Sometimes a bat will get
into a dorm and fly around the halls and stairwells.
Because of rabies concerns, we follow strict protocols
for moving campers away from a bat when seen, ar-
ranging for its quick removal from the building, and
for informing our health care professionals so that all
medical protocols are followed.
TICKS As we know from the news, there is a tick population
in New Jersey, bringing with it concerns about Lyme
disease. We ask that you teach your camper at home
how to check for ticks every day (shower time is ide-
al). We will be talking to our campers about this and
reminding them to perform daily tick checks.
QUESTIONS ABOUT
“CAMPER PROGRESS”
Sometimes a parent requests that we provide
“progress reports” for campers. We appreciate this
suggestion, but have decided not to produce systemat-
ic, written reports.
However, we are very happy to give you
feedback upon request and answer your ques-
tions. Please contact us at any time. In most
cases, the head counselor (division leader) is
the best person to talk about your camper in
terms of activities chosen, skills learned, so-
cialization, interpersonal skills and special concerns.
Other staff members who have pertinent information
about your camper are also available to speak with
you.
If you would like us to be aware of particular issues,
please be sure you have included them on your camp-
er’s Personal Information Form and/or feel free to
write or call us.
Never hesitate to ask questions about your camper.
Parents regularly ask about their children and it is al-
ways our pleasure to speak with you.
EXTENDING YOUR CHILD’S
CAMP STAY
If your child is enrolled for a limited time at Campus
Kids and you want to extend their stay, please call the
camp office as soon as possible. We must receive this
request from you, not just from your camper. If space
is available, we will be glad to make arrangements for
an extended stay. Some groups are full during certain
sessions, but there are a number of groups in which
extensions are possible, particularly for certain camp
weeks.
TOURS FOR PROSPECTIVE
CAMPERS We are grateful that campers and parents tell their
friends about Campus Kids. Some of those friends
want to visit us during the summer in anticipation of
enrolling next summer (or even later this summer).
We do give summer tours, by appointment. Please
tell your friends to contact us at the summer camp
office, and advise them not to wait until the last week
of camp. If they cannot schedule an appointment dur-
ing the summer, we would be glad to show them the
campus on a fall weekend. Early bird enrollments for
new campers are accepted beginning October 1.
2020 PRIORITY ENROLLMENTS Our first enrollment period for the 2020 season is ex-
clusively for our current camp families and is sent out
in August. We offer this “priority enrollment” before
accepting enrollments from new families. You are
offered a special price and the opportunity to secure a
camp place without concern for waiting lists. Depos-
its are fully refundable until February 1, 2020. Camp
dates for 2020 are still being planned. We will an-
nounce them as soon as possible, but not later than
this August.
CAMP REUNION! We will have our 2019 Camp Reunion in November
or December, date still to be confirmed. We will an-
nounce it in the “Sundial” as soon as we can. Camp-
ers and their family members are invited. Many staff
join us also. Invitations are sent out in the fall.
-18-
Reminder: The Very Latest Camp Information is on our Website
Here is a quick guide. You may want to bookmark these pages:
All forms and information that have been mailed to you are available at the Forms Li-
brary (Current Campers tab).
Current and back issues of our newsletter, the “Sundial”, are on this web page:
www.campuskids.com/readthesundial2019.html . Each weekly summer edition is pub-
lished online late Friday afternoon.
Summer camp photo galleries are published throughout the summer. We post the link on
our web page once the gallery is open. The direct link is www.campuskidsnj.com . This
page opens in late June and is updated almost daily.
And we are active on various social media (see Page 4): Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and
sometimes Pinterest.
CONTACT WITH CAMP
FRIENDS AND COUNSELORS
AFTER CAMP Making friends is one of the best parts of camp and
your camper will want to keep in touch with both
camper and counselor friends. This could include ex-
changing texts, Facebook messages, Snaps, e-mails
and so forth. The camp community takes on a life of
its own in between summers. Online technology often
defines the quantity and intensity of communications.
We train our staff to be thoughtful in their contacts
with campers and to understand their roles as respon-
sible adults. We expect them to use good judgment at
all times, including when camp is over. However,
parents should realize that we do not monitor or con-
trol staff members’ actions during the “off season”.
Even though we think our staff are terrific, caring peo-
ple, we caution parents to always monitor their chil-
dren’s online communications and social media activi-
ty. (A helpful guide for establishing a healthy ap-
proach to the use of technology is
www.screenagersmovie.com . We particularly recom-
mend subscribing to their “Tech Talk Tuesdays”
emails.)
We also train staff not to meet with campers outside
of camp unless it is a planned function specifically
approved by the campers’ parent(s) and we advise that
parents should be present. Except for our camp reun-
ion and weekend tours, there are no Campus Kids-
sponsored activities between summers and it is the
responsibility of parents to know all the details about
any of their children’s activities.
If you have any concerns about a Campus Kids staff
member’s interactions with your child, please contact
us right away at any time of the year. Even in the
comforting, caring world of summer camp, we should
be vigilant about our children’s safety.
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THE BLAIR ACADEMY CAMPUS
This is our 29th summer camp season and our 11th
at Blair Academy. We are happy to make our sum-
mer camp home in Blairstown. The grounds and
facilities are beautiful and the Blair community ex-
tends a friendly welcome to Campus Kids. Both
communities — Blair Academy and Campus Kids
— are dedicated to serving youth and are mutually
supportive of creating healthy, safe communities for
positive youth development, based on a strongly
held values.
There is no summer school at Blair Academy and
Campus Kids is the only resident camp program on
campus (there are a couple of short-term day camp
sport activities that do not conflict with our pro-
gram). However, many members of the Blair facul-
ty and staff live on campus year-round, in homes
and dormitory apartments. Our neighbors during
the summer are those Blair families during the time
they are not on vacation.
Please read our travel directions carefully if you are
coming up to camp so you can find your way direct-
ly to the Campus Kids summer camp office. Do not
follow signs to Admissions! Park only in allowable
areas. Observe the campus speed limit of 15MPH.
And remember that the campus is smoke-free.
Blair Academy Improvements If you have visited the Blair Academy campus, you
know that the grounds and facilities are excellent
and well maintained. Each year various mainte-
nance and improvement projects take place on cam-
pus, including work during the summer.
2019 is going to be a light summer in terms of any
construction activity . . .
An extension to the Blair science building, Bo-
gle Hall, is continuing, a project that does not
directly affect Campus Kids.
Other scheduled projects are low-profile and
routine and will not interfere with Campus Kids
activities or dorms.
-20-
THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION (ACA)
Approximately 25% of camps in the U.S. are accredited and Campus Kids is one of them.
We earned our accreditation during our first summer (1991) and have maintained it continu-
ously since. Accreditation goes beyond the requirements of local and state health depart-
ments to include all aspects of a camp’s operation. Campus Kids is also licensed by the N.J.
Department of Health under the regulations of the Youth Camp Safety Act.
Our staff is actively involved in ACA, both as volunteer leaders and participants in professional workshops.
This strengthens us individually and has great benefits for Campus Kids. Jeremy, Abi and Tom are members
of ACA and attend a variety of professional workshops and online webinars, including the Tri-State Camp
Conference, the largest gathering of camp professionals in the world. Tom is a past president of the ACA-
New Jersey Section and was actively involved in the merger of the NJ and NY ACA sections. He also served
an 8-year term on ACA’s National Standards Commission, the body that establishes policy for the camp ac-
creditation program. Tom recently stepped down at co-chair of the accreditation committee for ACA-NYNJ.
He is an active accreditation standards visitor. Jeremy is a certified associate accreditation visitor for ACA.
The ACA has helpful resources for parents, which you can find at www.acacamps.org/campers-families.