|
Click here
for a list of Nature Science Camp (ages
7-12) activities. Campers can canoe, backpack,
explore the marsh or creek, make nature
arts and crafts, learn to track animals,
play games, or go on a plant walk. On
Monday, after they arrive, the kids get
to vote for the activities they want to
do for the week, and we do our best to
give them their top choices.
Back
to top
Camp is located in the
heart of Point Reyes National Seashore,
approximately 90 minutes north of the
Golden Gate Bridge in coastal West Marin
County. The Clem Miller Environmental
Education Center, where camp takes place,
is located just 2 miles from Limantour
Beach. Get more detailed directions.
Back
to top
Our kitchen staff prides
itself on making the best quality home
made, fresh food. Many campers call it
“food camp,” and the cooks usually receive
many praises from campers throughout the
week! Vegetarian options are available.
Contact
us with special dietary requests.
Back
to top
The wooden cabins are
rustic yet have a very homey feel. There
are skylights and windows to let in natural
light, but no electricity. Campers sleep
on wooden bunk beds with provided mattresses,
and bring their own sleeping bags and
pillows.
Back
to top
Between 11 and 13 campers
and two Naturalist Intern/Counselors sleep
in each cabin. There are a total of 49
children at camp, divided into two boys’
cabins and two girls’ cabins.
Back
to top
There is a bath house
close to the cabins, with separate sides
for the boys and girls. Each side has
sinks, toilets, and hot showers with private,
curtained stalls.
Back
to top
Providing a safe and
caring environment is the number one concern
for our staff and program. Our 3.5 to
1 camper to staff ratio helps ensure that
the emotional and physical safety of our
campers is kept a top priority. Camp also
has a close partnership with the National
Park Service staff who are located close
by and are available in case of an emergency.
Back
to top
The Camp Director is
Scott Wolland, an experienced Naturalist
and science educator who has been with
Point Reyes Summer Camp for twelve years.
All staff are interviewed and screened
by the Director.
Back
to top
Point Reyes Summer Camp
carefully screens our staff prior to hiring
(including finger print checks with the
CA Department of Justice and the FBI).
We look for experienced educators who
love to be outdoors with kids. We have
two teaching staff classifications: Naturalist
and Naturalist Intern/Counselor. Naturalists
are usually college graduates with a degree
in science, environmental science, education
(some possess a teaching credential),
or another related field; Naturalists
all must have taught environmental education
in a residential setting. Naturalist Intern/Counselors
have completed at least one year of college,
enjoy working with children, and have
a strong interest in environmental education.
Summer camp staff participate in a 4 day
pre-camp training and are certified in
first aid and CPR. All staff are screened
and interviewed by the Pt. Reyes Summer
Camp Director.
Back
to top
The camper to staff
ratio is 3.5 campers to 1 staff.
Back
to top
For many children this
age, it is their first time away from
home or at sleepover camp. This session
is 4 days to help ease the minds of both
campers and parents. The program offers
the same kinds of exciting activities,
but the format is slightly different since
it is a day shorter.
Back
to top
Campers are dropped
off at camp on Monday mornings (with the
exception of Adventure Camp which begins
on Sunday). Registration begins at 10:30
a.m. Please do not arrive earlier than
10:00 a.m. as we are busy preparing for
the start of the week. Registration includes
checking in all medications, passing a
lice check, meeting the counselors, and
moving in to the cabins. This can take
about 30 minutes. Promptness is very important
so we can begin our program and activities
on time.
Campers are picked up
on Fridays at 2:00 p.m. sharp. Early pick
up is discouraged as the campers are at
the beach eating lunch and having a closing
ceremony. This kind of closure is very
important to the campers as it is the
last time they are with the camp community.
Note: campers who attend the four day
week for 7-9 year olds are picked up on
Thursday at 2:00 p.m. sharp.
Prior arrangement for
early pick-up is necessary. Please contact
our office before your session begins
to discuss your early pick-up request.
Back
to top
During the school year
the facility is rented out and used by
school groups who stay there during the
week. Please do not drop in on the facility
without an appointment. If you need to
make special arrangements you may contact the camp director.
Back
to top
Click
here for a Nature Science Camp equipment
and clothing list in English.
Click
here for a Nature Science Camp equipment
and clothing list in Spanish.
Back
to top
Click
here for an Adventure Camp equipment
and clothing list.
Back
to top
Parents and guardians
are generally not allowed to visit camp
at times other than the drop-off and pick-up
times on the first and last days of camp.
Seeing a parent, guardian or someone else’s
parent or guardian often triggers feelings
of homesickness. Direct phone contact
with children is also highly discouraged.
Such calls can disrupt the child’s camp
experience and may prolong homesickness
for your child or other children at camp.
Back
to top
We have a limit of one
bunkmate request per camper (use the request
space on the Health Form), and we make
every effort to accommodate each camper’s
request. However, our main concern is
to provide a well-balanced group experience
for everyone. Multiple requests can create
cliques that make new campers feel left
out in our small camp community. Therefore,
we make no guarantees regarding bunkmate
requests, but we do try our best.
Back
to top
What you tell your child
before they leave for camp often affects
how they adjust to being away from home.
Here are a few
helpful things to say to your child:
- The camp knows how
to contact me if they need to.
- I will be at ______
while you’re at camp and will write
you a letter.
- I love you and I’m
really happy that you will be having
this wonderful experience.
Here are a few things
that are not helpful to say to your child:
- I’ll pick you up
early if you get too homesick.
- Just try a day and
see how you like it.
- You have to go to
camp because we need a vacation.
- You can call me anytime.
- I’ll send you a package
with food.
Back
to top
Homesickness is a natural
reaction to being away from home—especially
for those who have never been away from
home before.
Over the last 26 years
we have guided thousands of children through
camp. Our staff handles homesickness by
talking to the camper and making them
feel comfortable and safe. Next, we get
them busy to help them refocus.
We discourage calling
home if a camper feels homesick, as this
may make the parents and campers feel
worse about the situation. The director
may decide to call home, out of the earshot
of campers, to discuss strategies and
insights into ways your child may be successful
in overcoming homesickness.
Back
to top
The tax identification
number for Point Reyes Summer Camp and
the Point Reyes National Seashore Association
is 94-222-8894. IRS Publication 503 (Child
and Dependent Care Expenses) states “The
cost of sending your child to an overnight
camp is not considered a work related
expense.” Our accountant has also stated
that Point Reyes Summer Camp is not considered
a “dependent care center” and does not
qualify for the tax credit. Please consult
with a tax professional for more clarification
on IRS tax rules.
Back to top
Our waiting list procedure
is different depending on whether you
registered online or mailed in your registration.
Online registration
waiting list procedure:
You can access
the main camp waiting list online by clicking
this button  .
Proceed with your registration until you
see the "choose program" page. (Note:
the "choose program" page is four clicks
after "register now").
You will see the appropriate age sessions
for your child; any session(s) that have
real time availability will have a button
available that can be selected. If a session
is full, it will be indicated next to
the session date on the "choose program"
page. Please select the waiting list button
followed by the continue button. Next
you will be directed to consecutive webpages
asking for waiting list choices, order
of waiting list preferences, camper and
parent information as well as other pertinent
information. Cancellations can occur at
any point prior to the first day of a
camp session. We will contact you should
a space become available to see if you
still want the spot.
Mail in registration
waiting list procedure:
If the desired
session is full, we will contact you if
there is another session available for
your age group. If no other session is
available, you will be placed on a waiting
list for the session you requested and
we will mail you a letter describing the
next step. Cancellations can occur at
any point prior to the first day of a
camp session. We will contact you should
a space become available to see if you
still want the spot.
Back
to top
A refund (minus a $50
processing fee) will be given on cancellations
received at least 8 weeks prior to the
starting date of your session; 50% refunds
will be given on cancellations received
at least 4 weeks prior to the starting
date. If cancellation is received less
than 4 weeks before the starting date
of your session no refunds will be given.
A $50 processing fee will be charged for
changing session dates.
Back
to top
You can register for
camp by clicking below:
|
Online. Fast. Secure. Instant. |
| (You will be directed to a secure
online server.) |
Back
to top
|
