School Break Day Camps

Drop-off and Pick-up at Camp

Drop-off is from 8:30-9:00. When you arrive at camp, please follow the signs to the drop-off location. A staff member will meet you at the drop-off location and get you checked in. For pick-up, follow the same signs. Campers will only be released to those listed on the authorized pick up list.  

Before and Aftercare

We also provide you with an option for before and aftercare! Campers that sign up for this, can be dropped off as early as 6:30am and picked up as late as 5:30pm. There is an additional fee for this.

Watch for children at play. Speed limit at Camp Mack is 10MPH!

Activities

Each camper will experience a range of activities that will work with multiple learning styles. The activities for camps held on the Camp Mack site include but are not limited to:

• Crafts, Group Games
• Campfires, Cookouts, 
• Hikes, Nature Study
• Service Project

Behavior Expectations/Essential Functions of a Camper

Camp is a place where even among the structure of a day, adapting to the environment is often needed. It is an active environment with a good amount of walking each day. Campers should be able to exhibit self-control, self-regulation, and self-calm following times that cause frustration, sadness, or anger. Camper should not be prone to wandering. Campers are expected to use appropriate language and interpersonal skills as they demonstrate respect for themselves, others, the environment, and the camp.

What to Bring to Camp

• Water bottle
• Clothing for cool or wet weather
• Sturdy shoes (please leave crocs at home)
• Spare set of clothes in a backpack
• Insect repellant (preferably with DEET), sunblock (Optional, recommended for Spring and Fall dates)

What to Leave at Home

• Clothing with negative/ suggestive content
• Cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc
• Digital cameras
• Candy, snacks, food, etc
• Electronic games and music players
• Squirt guns
• Knives, weapons, explosives

Cell Phones: In a world driven by instant communication and concerns over safety, we are aware of parents’ wishes to be able to communicate with their children. We are also attempting to provide an experience where children can get away from those things that surround their lives, so that they can slow down a little and spend time focusing on faith formation as well as on their camp community. We realize the wishes of parents and our goals may be in conflict with each other. But we do request that cell phones, tablets, and laptops be left at home during camp.

Digital Cameras: Digital photography is now available to almost everyone through smart phones. This technology provides the opportunity for people to have their pictures taken without their permission and to be shared through social media and the internet. To protect the privacy of others, only cameras using film are to be brought to camp. Please leave digital cameras at home.

Clothing: Our intention for clothing is that it is functional for the activities offered at camp with knowledge that it will get sweaty and dirty. Campers should bring clothing for a variety of weather situations as a week can be hot and sticky or cool and rainy. Clothing can help prevent sunburns, insect bites, poison ivy, etc… For all challenge course activities, closed-toed shoes are required and clothing is suggested that covers skin that harnesses may rub.

Health Concerns

We would like all campers to stay healthy.  We will encourage hydration and hand washing at camp.  If your child has a temperature of 100.4 F or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, or is contagious, they will need to stay home until they are symptom free for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medication.  For vomiting, we also recommend they have drank water and eaten without another episode of vomiting.

Parental Consultation

Our intent is to work with you child to keep him/her involved, encouraging him/her to try new experiences and to have a meaningful week at camp. There are times when it becomes necessary for staff to talk with parents. The Program Director or other assigned staff person will notify parents/guardians in the event of personal conduct issues, illness, or accident. In the event of an illness, injury, or acting out of behavior that is deemed detrimental to the overall atmosphere of the camping experience for your child and others, you will be invited to help find a solution that works for all parties involved.

One of the realities of being in the out of doors is insects. While campers and staff have a greater exposure to the risk of mosquito bites than the general population, the actual likelihood of infection in low. Your assistance is needed in educating your child in the use of insect repellent (containing 10-30% DEET). Repellent should be sprayed on clothing rather than on the skin when feasible. We encourage body cover (long pants, shirts, socks, hats) as appropriate for the weather and activity.

Camper Safety

The safety of your child is of utmost importance for us. We work at this in several ways. The first is the personnel whom we hire or who volunteer for us.

• We check references and conduct background investigations on all employed staff and volunteers.
• We train all staff and volunteers in appropriate behavior when working with children.
• We provide supervision in all levels of operation.
• We review and evaluate staff on their performance.

Our second way of working at safety concerns is by providing a program that meets the standards of the American Camp Association. The ACA is the primary professional organization that provides operational standards contributing to a quality experience for your child. Camp Mack has been a continuously accredited camp since 1985.

www.acacamps.org

Camper Medications

If your child is on behavioral modification medications during the school year, we encourage that your child remain on these meds during his/her camp experience. Please talk with your physician regarding dosing requirements which may be different for camp than for school.

In an effort to protect campers from unauthorized use of medications, all medications, both prescribed and over the counter, are turned in to staff at registration. Please send your child’s medication in their original packaging so the physician’s directions are available.

Staff dispenses medication according to written instructions on the containers.

Insurance

Your family’s health insurance will be the first insurance used to cover the cost of any necessary medical treatment for your child during camp.

Deposits

To be fully registered for a camp, a non-refundable deposit of $30 must be received. If a deposit is not received, your spot for the camp is not reserved. Scholarship does not count towards the deposit.

Scholarships

A scholarship of $100 is available for students eligible for Free and Reduced Meals.

Refund Policy

Any cancellations received 30 days prior to your camp start date will receive a full refund minus the $30 deposit. Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to your camp start date will receive a refund of ½ of the registration minus the $30 deposit. If a child does not arrive for camp, all registration fees are forfeited. 

Telephone Calls and Visitors

We believe that an integral part of growing up is the extended experience away from home. For this reason, we strongly discourage phone calls to campers and visits to camp. If there is need for coming to the camp, please come to the camp office in the John Kline Welcome center first for your ID badge.
If there is an emergency, please call the camp office at (574) 658-4831.

Personal Property

Indiana state law prohibits the use of tobacco, cigarettes, drugs or alcohol on camp property during summer camp. We ask you to please abide by this law.
Camp Mack is not responsible for injuries from or the loss of personal sports equipment brought by campers.
Any animal brought on site during registration must be restrained or kept in a vehicle.
Only personal assistance animals are able to be on the property during camp.
Any handgun brought onto the site must be licensed and remain in a locked vehicle. All firearms must remain in a locked vehicle.

Lost and Found

At the end of the week, there is always a (smaller or bigger) pile of camper’s belongings left at camp. As a way to target the problem of lost belongings and a large lost and found closet, we are encouraging our campers to label all of their belongings.

If, however, your camper does leave something behind, you may inquire about lost items by calling the camp office. If we have found the item, you may then arrange to pick it up. Items not claimed in six weeks are donated to a worthy charity.

Candy/ Snacks/ Food Allergies

It is always a temptation to bring candy and snacks to camp. We ask you to resist this temptation for several reasons.

• Candy and snacks also present health concerns for children who overeat or have an unbalanced diet. If you are concerned that your child will not get enough to eat, rest assured that we provide all campers with three healthy meals and an evening snack every day.

Each year more campers come with a variety of allergies. One of the most significant allergies is to peanuts. This allergy can sometimes be aggravated by peanut oils left on surfaces like doorknobs. We are working deliberately to eliminate peanut butter, peanuts, and peanut oils from our foods. Many snacks that campers might bring, however, contain peanut residues in various forms, even when peanuts or peanut oils are not listed ingredients. Please be sensitive to this serious issue and refrain from bringing snacks to camp.

Camp Mack attempts to limit the level of contact w/peanuts at our facility. We ask your assistance in maintaining that level of safety for our campers.

Program Outcomes

Campers will be exposed to a variety of experiences aiding them as they continue their journey in life. The following outcomes are guidelines used by program leadership in developing and implementing activities for children and youth.

Faith Outcome:

Campers grow in their understanding of God and the Christian faith while developing a joyful and disciplined practice of prayer, study, and worship.

• Each camper will have the opportunity to participate in prayer, worship, meditation, devotions, and Bible Study with the goal of increased knowledge of God’s word and to grow in and experience acceptance of God, others, and self.
• Each camper will be provided opportunities to further his/her understanding of God through activities that are focuses in a variety of learning styles.
• Each camper will be exposed to Christian values and faith issues through the content of the program and through modeling of those values by the camp leaders.

Service Outcome:

Campers recognize responsible stewardship of God’s gifts includes intentional service and giving.

• Each camper will have the opportunity to participate in a service project and/or service offering.
• Each camper will experience leaders who live a life of servant leadership.

Adventure/Exploration Outcome:

Campers explore new ideas and challenges with confidence.

• Each camper will be offered the opportunity to experience programs that provide personal challenge while being supported by encouraging leaders.
• Each campers will be invited to participate in leadership roles while being affirmed by supportive leaders.

Social Interaction Outcome:

Campers develop positive and caring relationships with others, learning how to work and play together in mutually satisfying ways.

• Each camper will have the opportunity to create, renew, and develop relationships with peers and leaders in a family and community setting.
• Each camper will have opportunities to experience and grow in understanding of sharing with others.
• Each camper will be treated with dignity and respect and will, in turn, be expected to treat others in the same manner.
• Each camper will have opportunities to develop friendships with other campers and staff while participating in a variety of fun and educational activities.

Safety Outcome:

Campers know they are safe at Camp Mack.

• Each camper will be in a safe and healthy physical environment during his/her stay at camp.
• Each camper will experience an affirming and accepting community.

Creation Outcome:

Campers appreciate the bounty of creation and make positive decisions in caring for the environment.

• Each camper will be exposed to the wonders of God’s creation and ways to live in harmony with that creation.
• Each camper will experience environmental activities that can become part of a creation supporting lifestyle.