Frequently Asked Questions

Summer Conservation Camp

Can my son/daughter stay in same cabin with their friends?

Yes. We want the campers to be happy and have a good time. They just need to stay together after they get off the bus at camp and every effort will be made to keep friends in the same cabin.

How will my child get to camp, do I have to take them?

Campers are transported by school bus and there will be a pre-determined pick-up point in your county. You will be notified in writing regarding transportation arrangements at a later date, usually around the end of May.

How do you screen the counselors?

We do the best we can to make sure we hire quality college counselors. Each counselor is run through a background check (by law enforcement) and personally interviewed by the camp director. Counselors spend two weeks in training prior to the arrival of campers. Most of our counselors are referred to us by Dept. employees or by other counselors

My child is on medication - do you make sure they take their medicine?

It is the responsibility of the camper to make sure he/she takes their prescribed medication. Camp staff will remind the campers four (4) times a day to take their medication. This is something the parent and camper need to discuss before applying for camp. If the parent feels the camper is not responsible enough to take his/her own medication, then camp may not be for them. Medication is kept in the sick bay area of the camp office.

What if my child becomes sick or is hurt while at camp?

We have trained medical personnel on duty at all times at camp. If the injury or sickness requires professional attention, we will make every effort to contact a parent before we take your child to the Hospital or Doctor. Insurance? Your child is insured from the time they get on the school bus to leave for camp until they get off the bus upon returning on Friday. The insurance cost is included in the camp fee. It does not cover pre-existing conditions.

The application says the campers can not call home - what if my child is homesick?

Homesickness is probably the most difficult thing to deal with at summer camp. We do our very best to talk the camper into staying, at least the first night. We have found that if they stay the first night, they will usually get over their homesickness and have a great time. If the camper is still homesick the next day, or extremely homesick the first day, we will call the parents. We do not keep the camper against his/her will.

Do I need to send the check in with the application, or can I send it later?

A check for the full amount needs to be sent with the application. No exceptions.

Do you offer scholarships?

If a child wants to go to camp but can’t afford it, scholarships are available on a limited basis. Check with your local Conservation Education Program Leader.

Will you mail me an application?

First, your child must meet the requirements: Ky. resident in grades 4-6. If your child fits these guidelines, you need to contact the CEPL in your county and ask them to mail you an application or you can call our toll free number 800-858-1549 for an application.  Preference is given to those 4th, 5th and 6th graders in Conservation Education classes.

How will I know if my child is accepted?

You will receive a confirmation letter in the mail no later than May 15. This confirmation letter will also include the transportation arrangements to and from camp. You can also confirm by calling the CEPL in your county. 

What kind of staff to camper ratio do you have?

Our camp staff consists of 6 Conservation Education Program Leaders, 3 Certified Teachers, 22 college counselors, 2 cooks, and 3 full-time maintenance personnel. The staff to camper ratio is one staff for each 6-8 campers.

How many kids to you have at one time? How many kids in one cabin?

Each camp has a capacity of 200 campers per week. Each cabin houses 25-30 campers. We have a total of 10 weeks of camp at each camp. Approximately 6,000 campers per summer - total all three camps.

Are the campers supervised 24 hours a day?

We do our best to make sure the campers are under constant supervision. There are times when that is not always possible. For example, if the counselor in the cabin goes to the bathroom, the cabin will be unsupervised for a few minutes; while the campers are walking to and from their cabin for an activity (such as swimming), they will not be under direct supervision. For the most part, however, campers are supervised 99% of the time.

If you have other specific questions, please contact our Information Center at 1-800-858-1549.