Important Information for Overnight Campers

Welcome to Wild Earth’s Overnight Camp! We’re looking forward to creating a wilderness village, working on wilderness skills and exploring spectacular land along the magical Platte Kill and the Catskill Mountains.

When your child is well prepared, the whole group benefits.

This page contains important information that you will need in order to prepare for this program. Please read it carefully, in its entirety, and contact us with any questions you might have. Questions can be sent to tyler@wildearth.org.

Drop-off and Pick-up

Kingfisher and Ropes Overnight Camps are at 1155 County Road 6 Margaretville, NY 12455.

Drop off will be at 1pm on 6/28/13.
Pick up will be at 11am on 7/2/13.

The Google maps directions are wrong. Please use the directions below.

Directions

From I-87:
Take exit 19 New York 28/Kingston/Rhinecliff Br
Turn right onto NY-28 W/Onteora Trail continue for 48 miles
After the town of Margaretville take a right on to County Rt. 6
In a mile look for orange cones and the Wild Earth sign on your Left, take that dirt road.
If you reach the main entrance to the Blue Deer Center you’ve gone too far!

Carpools

For those interested in carpooling up to Margaretville we will be sending an email with all parent email addresses before the Overnight Camp. Feel free to self-organize carpools with one another.

Please be reachable during overnight camp

Parents, please keep a phone on hand while your child is away. It is unlikely that we will need to contact you, but on the off chance that your child needs extra equipment or is very homesick, etc, we need you to be reachable.

Food

The Blue Deer Center will be cooking all of our meals in their kitchen so there is no need to pack food for your child. Please do not send your child with snacks, candy, or food of any sort as it may attract unwanted animals.

Please let us know about choosey eaters

Food tends to taste better when people are camping and hungry and often children are more open to new foods when in new situations. Usually, children eat enough and it’s not a problem. However, some children are truly choosey eaters and may refuse meals. If you know your child is likely to refuse meals please let us know in advance so we can pay close attention to whether they are eating enough. We have planned nutritious meals that accommodate basic dietary preferences and allergies, however if your child has complicated dietary needs we may ask you to help us provide food to meet their specific need. Email tyler@wildearth.org if you have any food concerns.

If your child refuses to eat we may need to call you and ask you to drop off favorite foods or pick up your child. This is very unlikely, but an important reason to have a phone on-hand. This is important for the safety of your child and the safety of the entire group.

Gear

Children inevitably misplace gear and don’t always recognize that it’s theirs when we find it.

There are a few things you can do to ensure that your child comes home with everything you sent.

1) Label Everything with your child’s first name and last initial (especially water bottles, backpacks, lunch containers and coats). 2) Leave extra valuable items at home (like electronic devices or great-grandpa’s knife)/

If the weather forecast calls for rain: do not send your child with cotton clothing.

When cotton gets even a little wet, it sticks to the body and holds no air – meaning it provides ZERO insulation.  Please send synthetic materials or wool. We cannot over-emphasize the importance of this.

You don’t need to spend much on gear for this program.

If you’re going to buy new things focus on non-cotton socks, long-underwear or a sleeping pad.  Sleeping bags can be layered to avoid the need for a really warm one (see sleeping bag note below.)  Salvation army has great, inexpensive warm clothing.  Use plastic plates, forks and spoons from babyhood for mess kits.  If you’re in need of gear it’s likely that another family can lend something to you.  Let us know what you’re missing. Email tyler@wildearth.org and we’ll help if we can.

Please be sure to reach out for support if you need assistance with acquiring gear.

If in doubt, ask us!  We have, on rare occasions, needed to call parents to ask for deliveries of items on the gear list because we really need each child to be warm and comfortable to have a safe and fun group experience.

Gear List

NOTE: If the forecasted low is around 40 or lower or if rain is possible or if your child is very new to camping please look toward the higher numbers listed below and the *starred items* below.

NOTE: If the forecast stays around 50 and no rain is predicted and your child has camped at least a few times you can look toward the smaller numbers and skip the starred items.

• A water bottle (32 oz please)
• Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
• Rain gear
• A comfortable backpack.  (Please keep in mind that your child will be carrying all their gear for a distance on Friday and they will want their hands free.)
• Additional small day-pack for water and lunch is nice to have as well
• 5 changes of clean clothing (socks, pants, shirts, undergarments)
• 2-3 changes of 100% wool or synthetic shirts and pants
• 2-3 pairs thick wool socks
• 1 warm hat*
• 1-2 pairs of long underwear, mid-weight. NO cotton.*
• *Wind/rain pants*
• wool or fleece sweaters or jackets for layering*
• Rain shell jacket – covers other layers

Sleeping Gear:

• 1-2 Sleeping bags (with drawstring around face for warmth), synthetic is recommended. Don’t believe the “degree ratings” of bags – they’re rated very optimistically especially when you’re talking about putting a small person in an adult bag. Two 40 degree bags should be fine, or one winter bag with a liner. If you have a very warm bag and your child has experience and the forecast is above 40, one may be fine. NO cotton sleeping bags. NO bags without drawstrings around the face.
• 1 sleeping pad(s). We prefer simple foam for reliability.
• Sleeping bag stuff sac (No loose sleeping bags please!)

Miscellaneous:

• Head lamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Mess kit: unbreakable cup, bowl, and spoon (MUST have name on it)
• Dry bag or garbage bag around clothes inside pack in case of rain.
• Frame pack if you have one. Gear must be packed so your child can carry it.
• Toothbrush & paste. Any essential toiletries. No soaps , deodorants, or perfumes as they attract animals. We well have biodegradable soap, and hand sanitizer available at all times.

Optional:

• Knife, locking blade or with sheath
• Journal and pen/pencil

Ticks

We will be conducting regular ticks throughout each day. We’ll be checking as a group in exposed places (neck, arms, legs and scalp) and asking them to check themselves in their private areas in the outhouse.

Please familiarize your child with how to thoroughly check themselves for ticks before the program. Every camper will need to perform multiple tick checks throughout the program.

If your child has an attached tick during the program, we will remove it cleanly and let you know the type of tick and location of the bite. If you have any questions about Lyme and prevention, feel free to reach out to us. Email tyler@wildearth.org.

Shelter

Boys and girls will be sleeping separately in group shelters (made from tarps) with instructors sleeping nearby. Please do not send tents.

Homesickness

Before Camp

If your child is anxious about feeling homesick or worried about being “stuck” at the program please assure them that they will be allowed to leave if they feel they really need to.

Please encourage your child to communicate their feelings to our instructors. This builds awareness for our instructors and also forms a relationship between instructor and camper that can provide safety and connection.

At Camp

Campers sometimes experience homesickness while camping. These feelings can be a normal and perhaps even important part of the overnight experience.

If your child shows signs of homesickness or anxiety we encourage them to talk with us about what they are feeling and experiencing. We do our best to comfort them and to give them additional personal attention.

If your child asks to call home we acknowledge their request and try to understand the need they are expressing. If it is important we will call you. If a camper asks repeatedly we will call you. That said we do our best to speak about the challenges a camper may be facing and to redirect a camper’s attention towards activities they may enjoy.

Usually, anxious feelings dissipate once campers settle into their sleeping-bag and they feel triumphant in the morning. If your child is very clear that she wants to go home we will call you and arrange for you to pick her up.

Books, Stuffed Animals & Comfort Objects

Books add weight to already hefty backpacks. They also take a reader’s attention away from the activities and focus of the group. For this reason -if possible- we ask campers to leave their books at home.

Stuffed animals and similar comfort objects are welcome if you and your child feel that they’re needed. If they are not needed please leave them at home. If stuffed animals or other comfort objects are a must please limit their size, quanity and weight as much as possible.

Information About Wild Earth Summer Camp and Your Rights

Wild Earth camps are inspected and permitted to operate by the NYSDOH. As a participant in our camps, parents and guardians have the following rights:

• To be informed by the camp director, or his or her designee, of any incident involving your child, including serious injury, illness or abuse.
• To review inspection and investigation reports for a camp, which are maintained by the local health department issuing the camp a permit to operate (present and past reports are available).
• To review the required written camp plans. These are on file at both the camp and the health department issuing the permit to operate.

For More Information

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@wildearth.org or call (845) 256-9830.