Information for Parents
Parents—check this page for important information and general announcements while your daughter is at camp this summer.
Important Dates for 2008 (coming soon)
General Information
Arrival and Departure
By car: campers arriving by car should plan to arrive at camp on Sunday between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. For your safety and the safety and convenience of others, please DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY and follow the signs and instructions from staff guiding you to the appropriate loading/unloading and parking areas. Parents should plan to pick up campers the morning of the horse show on the Friday of departure.
By plane: Allegheny Camp will meet campers for arrival or accompany campers for departure at selected airports during specific times. There is a fee for this service, and arrangements must be made by June 1. Please refer to Airline Travel Information sheet or call for additional information.
Canteen
The “canteen” is our camp store. Items available for purchase include snacks, apparel, camp merchandise, stationary supplies, hygiene products, and camping needs such as flashlights and insect repellent. CAMPERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO KEEP MONEY AT CAMP. Parents may deposit money into the “canteen account,” and any unused money will be returned from the Treasurer’s office in the fall. Canteen funds are also used to cover the cost of laundry, transportation, and medical expenses. We recommend approximately $30 per week, depending on the camper’s spending habits. If you would like your daughter to have money for purchases outside of camp (such as the Hersheypark trip,or airport travel), please enclose cash in a sealed, labeled envelope. Give the envelope to the bookkeeper at the registration table on arrival day, for safekeeping until your daughter departs camp for the designated trip.
Camper Conduct
Parents and campers should familiarize themselves with the General Camp Rules prior to the start of camp. If a camper breaks a rule, disciplinary action may include a verbal warning, loss of a privilege, a written apology, or rectifying the situation by replacing, cleaning, or repairing damaged property. Failure to comply with one or more of the camp rules may result in a camper’s dismissal from the program.
General Camp Rules:
- Possession or use of cigarettes, alcohol, illegal drugs, and firearms are not allowed.
- Campers are not allowed to have cell phones or personal computers.
- Campers must eat meals and snacks in designated dining areas. Food is not allowed in the dormitory rooms.
- Campers are expected to respect the property of others. Stealing is not allowed.
- Campers are expected to treat others with kindness and courtesy. Fighting is not allowed. Use of profane language or obscene gestures is not allowed.
- Campers are expected to wear appropriate and respectable attire for camp activities. Footwear must be worn at all times.
- Campers are expected to attend all scheduled activities.
- Animals are not allowed in buildings other than stables.
- Campers are expected to respect camp property. Vandalism or destruction of property is not allowed.
- Campers are expected to obey all safety rules posted or explained in specific activity areas such as Riding, Swimming, Field Trips, Challenge Course, and Art.
- Campers are expected to FOLLOW DIRECTIONS from staff members at all times.
Computer Use
Campers have access to the computer lab approximately two times per week, in order to send email to friends and family members. We suggest establishing an easily accessible email account for your daughter, through a provider such as Hotmail, Yahoo, CompuServe, or America Online (AOL). If your daughter is not accustomed to using email independently, please write down her username and password for her counselor. All computer use is well supervised and “surfing” is not allowed. Campers are not permitted to bring personal computers from home.
Emergency Contact Information
It is very important that we have accurate emergency contact information for your daughter while she is at camp. Please provide us with the name and phone number of a close friend or relative in the event that we cannot reach you in an emergency. If you will be traveling or vacationing during the time your daughter is at camp, please provide us with appropriate contact information. The camp phone number is (814) 684-3000. If you need to contact us after office hours during the camp season, an answering service will connect you to camp personnel.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Campers may take one hour of ESL classes per day. There is no additional fee for one hour of English as a Second Language. The Grier School also operates an intensive 7-week summer ESL program. Students enrolled in this program receive 4 hours of English instruction daily and attend weekend trips to popular US destinations, in addition to participating in recreational activities. There is a separate fee schedule for the intensive summer ESL program. Contact the Grier School at 814-684-3000 to receive additional information.
Gratuities
In order to assure fair treatment of all campers, we have instructed our staff not to accept monetary tips from parents. If you wish to express your gratitude for the services of our staff, care packages of home-baked goods or small, thoughtful gifts are always welcome and appreciated. You may also make a monetary donation to our Campership fund in honor of a particular staff member.
Health Care (See also: “Medication”)
Nurses staff our health center during daytime hours while children are at camp, and a nurse is on call 24 hours per day. Seasonal camp staff are certified in First Aid and CPR, and the nearest emergency facility is about 10 minutes away. Campers must have a current, completed health form on file before arriving at camp. This form includes a health history reported by the camper’s parent or guardian and a physical examination performed by a physician. Every camper must have a complete physical within one year of attending Grier Summer. All campers must check in with the nurse on registration day. If a camper feels the need for medical attention while at camp, she should see her counselor or instructor prior to going to the health center. Camp staff will telephone parents or an emergency contact person if a camper experiences a medical condition that prevents her from participating in camp activities for more than 24 hours, or if the camper must see a physician for any reason while at camp. Blair Medical Associates of Tyrone provides services for Grier Summer if a camper needs to see a physician due to illness or injury while at camp. In the event of an emergency, campers are transported to the hospital closest to the emergency.
Homesickness
When a camper is homesick, we make every effort to involve her in activities she enjoys. If the homesickness persists, a staff person will call the camper’s parents for suggestions about helping the camper to be more comfortable at camp. We do not issue refunds for campers who leave camp early due to homesickness. An excellent resource for preventing homesickness (including coping strategies for parents) is The Summer Camp Handbook by Christopher A Thurber and Jon C. Malinowski. More advice for parents of first time campers can be found on the American Camping Association:
Horse Boarding
A camper may bring her own horse to camp upon prior approval by the Riding Director. There is a horse-boarding fee, and any veterinary expenses will be deducted from your daughter’s canteen account. You must also provide proof of a current negative Coggins test in order to board your horse at camp. Please call if you are interested in bringing your horse to camp.
Insurance
While Grier Summer carries general liability insurance for its facilities and programs, campers must have individual health and accident coverage. Parents must provide the name of the insurance company and the policy number on the camper’s health form.
Laundry
Coin-operated laundry facilities are available in the dormitory building. Counselors will schedule time for campers to wash clothes as needed. Counselors supervise the laundry room and assist campers in doing their laundry.
Lost and Found
While we make every effort to help campers keep their possessions organized in the appropriate locations, from time to time articles are missing from their rightful owners. Items submitted to the lost and found are returned to campers if the item is clearly labeled. Campers should not bring valuable or irreplaceable items to camp.
Campers love receiving mail from home! The camp mailing address is:
Camper’s Name (and unit name if known)
Allegheny Riding Camp
P.O. Box 308
Tyrone, PA 16686
U.P.S./Fed Ex Address:
c/o Grier School
Route 453 South
Tyrone, PA 16686
You may send an e-mail to your camper through our password protected area click here to log on. Please include the camper’s name and unit (if known) in the subject of the email. U.S. mail is distributed Mon-Fri, and camper email is printed and distributed daily.
Medication
ALL MEDICATIONS MUST BE TURNED IN TO THE HEALTH CENTER UPON ARRIVING AT CAMP. All prescription medications must be in the original bottle or container, and clearly labeled with the campers’ name and physician’s instructions. (Please provide a translation if this information is printed in a language other than English.) Nurses are responsible for the administration of all prescription and over-the-counter medication. When a nurse is not present, staff trained in medication management will administer the medications. Campers are not allowed to carry or handle medication. Nursing staff may make exceptions to this rule for campers with inhalers for asthma attacks, or emergency medication for severe allergies.
Packing List
A packing list is available for your convenience. Please label all items with your daughter’s name or initials. DO NOT SEND VALUABLES TO CAMP! Campers are not allowed to have computers, cell phones, or pagers. We do not recommend bringing valuable jewelry, electronic games, or stereos to camp.
Payment
Your reservation deposit of $300 has been credited toward the full camp tuition. The remaining balance is due by June 1. No deposits are refundable after May 1. Questions regarding billing may be directed toward Sue Burkey in our business office at (814) 684-3000 ext. 119.
Photographs
Photographs of campers will be posted on a password-protected area of our website while camp is in session. You will receive information about accessing camp photographs upon your arrival at camp.
Telephone Use
Campers are not allowed to call home during a camp session. Parents are welcome to contact camp staff at any time to discuss your daughter’s progress at camp. Campers staying more than one session will have an opportunity to call home during the weekend between sessions. Campers will need a prepaid calling card for this purpose.
Transportation
Grier Summer transports campers in vans and buses during field trips and travel to airports. All campers are expected to adhere to the following safety rules while riding in vehicles provided by Grier Summer:
- Passengers and driver must wear seat belts.
- Passengers must remain seated while the vehicle is moving.
- Passengers must keep hands, heads, and all body parts inside the vehicle.
- Passengers must refrain from yelling or engaging in behavior that may distract the driver from concentrating.
Tutoring
Upon the request of the parent, campers may receive one or two hours of individualized tutoring in remedial reading and/or math skills each week. If you would like to register your daughter for this service, please bring a sample of current schoolwork. A payment of $20 per hour will be due on the camper’s departure day, payable in cash or check written to the camper’s tutor.
Visitors
Grier Summer does not have a formal “parents’ day.” Parents are welcome to visit any time, with advance notice. Visitors must check in at the office. We must have written permission from a camper’s parent in order for her to leave the camp property with a visitor. Parents are invited to attend the dance recital and other final performances.
