Camp Handbook

In order to help campers develop a healthy sense of independence and maturity, we encourage campers and parents, family members and friends to communicate through the old-fashioned art of letter writing. Campers are encouraged to write home at least once a week, and we strongly encourage parents and families to write to campers; they are very appreciative of letters from home. It’s a good idea to send a supply of pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes to camp with your child.

Parents and campers are not permitted to communicate by telephone. If it is urgent that you speak with your child, please call a director who will arrange a time for your camper to phone home. If your child is having a difficult time adjusting to camp, or if there are any other questions or concerns, we will call you to discuss them.

This summer we will be utilizing CampMinder’s online camper letter system. You will be able to log into your parent account and write emails to your camper. This is the account where you complete your camper’s forms. You can find the login button on the bottom of the home page. We will print those emails and deliver them to your camper on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Lastly, if you’d like to share the camp experience with any friends or family, please know that you can do that too! You can set up an account for them, under the heading “Guest Accounts” when you login. Once they’ve made their own account they can send emails to your camper. If you are having technical difficulties please reach out to CampMinder’s parent support team at 303-444-2267 ext. 3

Please do not bring valuables, expensive clothing, jewelry or irreplaceable keepsakes unless you are prepared to lose them. If you bring cameras, iPods, musical instruments, bikes, etc…YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for any loss or damage whether they are in use by you or on loan to a camp friend.

Cellular phones, video games, Kindles, iPods, iPhones, iTouches and other electronic devices that connect to the internet or contain video games are not welcome at camp. Campers may bring mp3 players (or other music players that do not connect to the internet) with headphones to use in their bunk during rest hour, fun hour or bedtime. We respectfully request that parents partner with us and support the technology-free feel of Windsor Mountain. Summer camp is one of the last places on earth where children can connect with nature and escape technology, and we hope you will support us in keeping Windsor Mountain technology-free.

Packages and Mail

In order to limit the number of people and items entering our camp community we ask that campers only receive one package per session. You can write as many letters or emails as you like. Please click the EMAIL tab to learn how you can email your camper. Your campers will be able to write letters home that will be mailed daily (not emailed).

If you need to reach us in the event of an emergency, please use the following telephone numbers:

(603) 478-3166 (9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
(617) 429-1369 (anytime – Jake’s cell phone number – please leave a message if no one answers and your call will be returned as soon as possible)

In the event that a camper requires medical evaluation or treatment by a health-care provider off-site, parents or guardians will be notified by telephone. In addition, the camp will contact any parent or guardian whose child stayed overnight in the health center.

Homesickness is not unusual, especially among new campers during the first week of camp. In almost all cases, homesickness is gone by the second week of camp, especially if the parents support the Windsor Mountain staff and their child. Windsor Mountain staff will do everything possible to help campers adjust to this new experience and see them through a successful and rewarding session at camp! If your child becomes unusually homesick, a camp director will contact you so we can work together to resolve the situation.

Here is a link to three homesickness articles that are helpful resources in helping campers and their parents through this adjustment period.

The Ubiquity and Normalcy of Good Ol’Fashioned Homesickness in Covid Times

Homesickness: Preparing the First Time Camper and Their Parent(s)

Tips to Prepare First-Time Campers for Summer Camp

In the rare event that parents do make the decision to take their child out of camp, Windsor Mountain does not refund the balance of the tuition.

Important – Name tag or mark everything your child brings to camp!

Each camper is provided a personal laundry bag, which is sent to a commercial laundry facility once per week.

Counselors will help campers prepare for laundry day, but campers must prepare their clothing for wash (e.g., removing remove pens, markers, and other staining items from pockets) and have final responsibility for the condition of their clothes. We suggest that you do not send new, brightly colored clothing to camp because clothes may “bleed” onto other items in the wash.

Throughout the summer, we work to return lost items to their owners. On the final day of each session, we gather campers for a “lost and found” meeting, where campers and any unclaimed items are reunited.

However, no matter how hard or how often we try, we often are left with heaps of campers’ possessions on our hands. Our policy is that generic items such as t-shirts and towels are donated to a local charity. Whenever possible, we will return to you by mail (at your expense) more valuable items with name tags. Please encourage your child to take responsibility for her/his possessions and to participate actively in identifying personal items when packing up to leave.

At Windsor Mountain, we welcome campers from all economic backgrounds. In the interest of equality and fairness, we request that you not tip Windsor Mountain staff members.

On the last day of Sessions 1 and 2, we invite families to join us at camp for our festival days. The last day of Session 1 is our Folk Fest, and the last day of Session 2 is our TheatreFest.

Please feel free to arrive at camp anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., as we will enjoy a Morning Meeting together starting around 10:30, followed by delicious snacks made by our talented kitchen staff, and then the performance(s). We typically conclude at around 1:00 p.m. at which time we sing our final song (tearjerker), and parents are free to take their campers home. The NYC bus leaves at around the same time (1:00 p.m.).

Between the July and August camp sessions, Windsor Mountain offers an intersession trip. This trip is available for all campers, regardless of which session they attend.

Dates: July 22 – July 26;
Rate: $TBD

Space is VERY limited, so please call us if you would like your camper to participate in this trip.

Campers joining us in July who also will attend the August session are free to spend the break with family or attend the intersession trip. Campers are not permitted to stay at camp between sessions.

Camp Store/Spending Money
In addition to tuition, parents of campers are billed for Camp Store spending money in the amount of $150. The Camp Store sells items such as toiletries, t-shirts, postcards, postage, water bottles, batteries, folding chairs, blankets, disposable cameras, frisbees and seasonal camp clothing items.

Campers may purchase items from the Camp Store and funds may also be used to pay for an occasional special excursion. Any unused portion of the Camp Store monies will be refunded or donated as you selected upon enrollment. Windsor Mountain welcomes campers from a variety of backgrounds so we request that campers not bring extra spending money to camp so we maintain equity among our campers.

If your child needs a physical before coming to camp, PLEASE MAKE YOUR DOCTOR APPOINTMENT NOW! (NOTE: New Hampshire state law requires that a physical exam must have been completed within two years of the start of your program, but the doctor must sign this form within ONE year of the start of your program, noting the date of the last physical.) If your child’s annual physical is scheduled for late June or July, please have your doctor’s office fill out this form now based on the most recent physical on record, and send it in. You can always update our records by sending in any new, pertinent information as it occurs. It is very difficult to prepare for the opening of camp when we are missing vital forms.

Doctors are always busy with spring appointments, so make yours now if you haven’t already. Your child CANNOT participate in a Windsor Mountain program unless we possess the medical form filled out and signed by you and the child’s doctor. By state law, those arriving without the form must be sent home. Your cooperation is essential in getting the medical form back to us.

___ Returned Transportation Form (even if you’re driving)
___ Returned Medical Form (w/attached insurance card and immunization record)
___ Returned Parent/Camper Questionnaire
___ Returned Teacher Reference Form (new campers only)
___ Name-tagged all your belongings
___ Reviewed Packing List
___ Updated us with your vacation plan/summer contact information

Windsor Mountain provides equal opportunities for campers and staff without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification.

Transgender Policy: Windsor Mountain welcomes transgender campers. Transgender campers and staff will be housed in a bunk of the gender where they feel most comfortable and that they request. Please note that Windsor Mountain does not disclose the private medical information of our campers to other campers or their family members.

Community Expectations

It is important that you and your camper are aware of our expectations of a Windsor Mountain camper. We strive to create a safe and welcoming community for all campers. Please note that certain behaviors that may be tolerated in other environments and settings may not be acceptable in our community.

It is important that you communicate to your camper that Windsor Mountain will not accept behaviors such as:

• Bullying: Campers shall not verbally abuse others by using inappropriate language, gossip, threats, teasing, exclusion, or harassment.
• Violence: Campers should maintain appropriate boundaries by avoiding any physical violence and play fighting/rough-housing.
• Possession of weapons
• Repeated profanity
• Disrespect
• Bigotry
• Racist/Homophobic/Transphobic comments
• Inappropriate sexual behavior, which includes:
  • Jokes, comments, or gestures of a sexual nature
  • Indecent exposure of private body parts
  • Unwelcome physical conduct or contact
  • Possession, or sharing, of sexually explicit materials
  • Harassment, teasing, or hazing
  • Any sexual activity

• Possession or use of prohibited items, including alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, vaping products, illegal drugs, prescription or non-prescription drugs, weapons, or related paraphernalia.
• Any other unsafe behaviors that are potentially harmful to themselves or others

Campers must understand that a consequence of their behavior can mean dismissal. It is not our intention to exclude any camper but will do so if necessary.

Please know that no refunds will be given for any unused program cost when dismissed for the behaviors noted above. All costs associated with a camper’s departure from Camp will be the responsibility of the camper and their family.

Please discuss with your camper the expectations of both parents and Camp.

Safety is Our Highest Priority at Summer Camp. Fun is the by-product of a safe space created with highly-trained staff, experienced leadership and intentional actions designed to make sure that every camper feels safe and supported.

When campers feel safe, both physically and emotionally, it allows them the freedom to make real connections and have an incredible experience – the dream of every camp parent.

Creating a Safe Community

At Windsor Mountain, the safety, well-being, and happiness of every camper is our highest priority. As parents, we understand the trust you place in us, and we take that responsibility seriously. We know that the “leap of faith” you take when you choose a camp is a weighty decision, and we honor that by treating every child as if they were our own.

Here are just a few ways in which we create a safe environment:

• A shared “Camp Values” agreement reviewed and signed by camp families
• Clear policies and procedures to ensure we always know who is on camp
• Established procedures for health, emergencies, and daily care
• At least two Registered Nurses on duty at all times
• Experienced leadership team
• Staffing and Supervision

Windsor Mountain’s staff are our greatest asset. Here are ways in which our staff support safety at camp:

• Windsor Mountain’s camper to staff ratio is almost 2:1 camp-wide, allowing for close supervision and meaningful connection. At the same time, our staff are trained on the rule of three – never be alone with a camper;
• Most of our staff is CPR and first-aid certified. Our lifeguards are trained each year in advanced lifesaving;
• Every staff member goes through a thorough hiring and screening process and criminal background checks;
• Our team is trained not just in safety protocols, but in supporting campers’ physical, emotional, and social well-being. We prioritize strong judgment, kindness, and the ability to build community—because campers feel safest when they feel connected and supported; and
• Our directors and leadership team is actively engaged with campers, staff and parents. You have direct access to us when you need us.

Comprehensive Staff Training

Windsor Mountain staff training covers is extensive and includes:

• Standards of supervision;
• Sexual-Abuse Prevention, including peer to peer abuse;
• Maintaining appropriate boundaries;
• Managing camper behavior;
• Accident and emergency procedures; and
• And so much more.

Weather & Preparedness
Weather is one of our top considerations each day. We closely monitor forecasts and adjust schedules as needed to keep campers safe during heat, storms, or changing conditions. Whether that means modifying activities, adding extra water breaks, or moving indoors, our team is always planning ahead with safety in mind.

Environmental Safety (Including Mosquito & Tick Prevention)
We take proactive steps to minimize environmental risks. Our grounds are extremely well-maintained. To help minimize the mosquito and tick population, we professionally treat multiple times a season (without campers present). Importantly, we remind campers to use insect repellent and conduct tick checks daily (and have signs posted in bunks and bathrooms).

Healthy Daily Habits
Safety also is built on small, consistent habits. Throughout the day, we reinforce routines like applying sunscreen, staying hydrated, and taking breaks when needed. In addition to our regular meals, we have two snacks every day and encourage campers to make sure they are getting sufficient food throughout the day.

American Camp Accreditation Accreditation
Windsor Mountain is proud to meet the highest standards of health, safety, and program quality through accreditation with the American Camp Association.

Partnering with Families
Safety at camp is a shared effort. We appreciate your help in preparing your child for camp by reviewing our camp values and expectations, and by beginning to establish good habits regarding sunscreen, bug spray, and hydration.