Instructions

Please make sure your ward/child understands the expectations from him/her and it’s advisable to let them read this document in its entirety.

Documentation

Parents need to print, sign and handover the following documents before or on the day of the summer camp.

Camp Registration Form: 

Camp Disclaimer Form: 

These forms will be available after making the payment. 

Visiting Camp

The Camp will be very busy with activities and parents are discouraged from visiting the camp as it interferes with the schedule. If you need to visit camp in an emergency please do during the evenings between 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, please make arrangements in advance with the Camp staff.

Participant Phone Use

The camp experience is a way for children to develop a greater sense of independence. Therefore, no phone is available for participants to routinely make or receive calls. However, should your child need to call home in emergency, Camp Staff will arrange a call home.

Contacting Your Ward In An Emergency

We discourage parents from talking to their child during the entire duration of the camp as it interferes with their becoming independent and self-confident. However, should you need to contact your child in emergency circumstances, please get in touch with the Outlife Team.

Parent Communication

Staff are trained to handle day-to-day situations that may arise during your child’s stay at camp in a safe and caring manner. Instances when you might expect to hear from camp staff for consultations or to arrange to pick up your child may include:

• Behavioral issues including bullying or verbal or physical aggression.

• Severe homesickness

• Illness with a fever over 100*F

• If your child receives medical care apart from regular first aid

CAMP Communication Policy

The camp provides parents with the camp educators’ contact information and camp procedure around parent-child communication. 

Parents accustomed to communicating instantly with their children by cell phone, email or text messaging may have to adjust their expectations. 

Philosophy on which the camp communication policy is based.

Constant communication with parents is inconsistent with a camper developing his self-reliance and independence. However, be assured that the camp staff will contact you if there is any concern with your child, whether emotional, physical, or behavioural. Circumstances that merit a call could be any health issues, a visit to a hospital or doctor, or severe homesickness.

Our campsite policy does not allow campers to speak with parents by phone for several good reasons:

1. Phone service in camps is limited and cannot meet the demands of the entire camp population.

2. We prefer to keep phones open for day-to-day camp requirements and coordination or the rare emergency calls. 

3. Camp educators prefer to spend time with the campers rather than managing communications with parents.  

4. Philosophically, allowing campers to speak on the phone to their parents is counter-productive to the aims of the camp, which are to encourage campers to be self-sufficient, self-reliant, and independent.

5. If a child is homesick, hearing a parent’s voice usually makes things worse.

6. Phone calls cut into the day-to-day activities and schedule. 

7. Camp schedules are full of planned activities and special events. Scheduling parental visits or phone calls is an added complication in the busy schedule.

8. If a child has difficulty adjusting to camp, a parent’s phone call or visit usually worsens matters. 

9. It would be regrettable to reverse the camp staff’s hard work by asking for a phone call or visit after your child has overcome his initial struggle with homesickness. 

Daily Communication with Parents 

We would relay general information and pictures daily between 7 pm – 8 pm through WhatsApp each evening. 

Exceptions:

An exception to the no-phone call rule sometimes occurs when the child has a birthday. Other times it is to assure parents that their child has arrived at the campsite safely after traveling a significant distance on the first day of the camp. 

Please do not promise your child that you will call or visit when the camp policy does not allow it.

A good day to visit is the last day of your camp session. Your child can proudly give you the complete tour and introduce their educators and new friends; then, the family departs happily together. Parents will better appreciate the post-camp stories.

What not to bring to camp

• Cell phones, tablets, game players, Toys, DVD players, mp3 players, radios, e- readers, or video recorders or other electronic devices are not allowed in the camp. Any devices found will be confiscated and returned at end of the camp.

• Jewellery, expensive watches, Cash are not to be brought to the camp.

• Make-up or expensive clothing

• No perfumes or aerosol / pressured deodorants

• Fireworks

• Personal sports equipment

• Knifes, Weapon, Sharp Objects, Matches, Cigarettes or alcohol are not allowed in the camp.

• Any prohibited items found with anyone will invite disciplinary action and removal from camp.

• No food, snacks or candy to be carried. Healthy veg meals and snacks will be provided to the kids at all times. Food at Camp is vegetarian only.

Outlife is committed to preserving the spirit of the summer camp. In our opinion, a cell phone, personal media players and other electronic devices inhibits one’s link with camp experiences and diminishes the capacity to grow within a team and the natural environment. For these reasons we prohibit participants from bringing cell phones and other electronics to camp. We have also found that kids who bring cell phones have a harder time adjusting to camp life and can have more difficulty with homesickness.

A large part of camp is learning to be independent and you can help your child succeed by making sure the camp rules are followed.

Camp Behavior

Participants cannot leave the camp site on their own anytime during the entire duration of the camp without informing the instructors.

No arguing, name-calling, or swearing, biting or hair pulling. Fights and quarrels and bullying are not allowed on the camp. Any fighting may warrant a disciplinary action.

Camp Discipline Policy

➢ If a child is unable to comply with the behaviour expectations, a timeout will be given. The number of minutes of time-out will not exceed the child’s age in years. Timeouts are always supervised by an adult.

➢ If the unexpected behaviour is repeated the second time the child will not participate in the entire activity.

➢ If the unexpected behaviour is repeated the third time a counselling will be held by the Camp Coordinator with the child and the Camp Coordinator will speak directly with the parent(s)/guardian.

➢ If the child’s behaviour continues to be disruptive and/or unsafe, the child will be subject to dismissal from the remainder of camp without any refund and the parent and guardian will be asked to take away their child from the camp.

Camp cancellation Policy