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Yes! Cabin assignments happen shortly after arriving at camp. Encourage your child to listen carefully to instructions and to group up with the other children they would like to bunk with. We make every effort to keep friends in the same cabin.
Campers are transported to camp by chartered school bus. Bus pickup locations are located within the county your child attends school or a neighboring county. In May, the primary guardian on the camper registration application will recieve an email with the transportation information for the camper.
Due to camper food allergies, we will not distribute food or candy sent from home.
All summer staff is hired for the entire season, and we do not utilize volunteer help. We strive to hire quality college-aged counselors and teaching staff. Each staff member has passed a background check issued by the Kentucky State Police and Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and personally interviewed by the Camp Director. All summer staff spend two weeks in training prior to the arrival of campers.
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. You should discuss this process with your child 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. All medication is kept in the sick bay area of the camp office, and is distributed to the camper under the direction of camp medical staff.
Every educator and conselor is CPR and first-aid certified. In addition, many staff members will have advanced training. Each camp is staffed with a registered nurse who stays on-site throughout the week. If the injury or sickness requires professional attention, we will make every effort to contact a parent before we take your child to a hospital or doctor. We purchase camper insurance for all children that attend our camps. Your child is insured from the time they board the school bus to leave for camp until they get off the bus upon returning on Friday. This insurance cost is included in the camp fee. It does not cover pre-existing conditions.
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 a camper is inconsolable, or still homesick the next day, one of our educators will contact the parent. We do not keep the camper against his/her will.
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 Educator.
Each camp' staff consists of:
Every employee who is employed must pass two background checks prior to camp. The staff to camper ratio is 1 staff for 6-8 campers.
For the 2025 camp season, Camp Earl Wallace will not operate due to the construction of a new dining hall facility. These campers will have the opportunity to attend either Camp John Currie near Benton or Camp Robert Webb near Grayson. Camp Currie and Camp Webb will operate at full capacity or 200 campers for 8 weeks. Conservation camp will not operate during the week of the July 4th holiday.
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.
In order for the camp to operate safely and efficiently, we must insist that each camper cooperate with reasonable and necessary rules and directives. NO CAMPER will be permitted to leave camp to participate in another activity and then return to camp. Insurance regulations will not permit this. If there is someone you absolutely do not want your child to see or to pick up your child, please list on a separate sheet.
Campers may be picked up at camp only by parent/guardian or another pre-approved person with proper identification.
If you have other specific questions, please contact your local conservation educator.
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