2022 Parent Handbook

2022

PARENT
HANDBOOK

WWW.CAMPSOUTHWOODS.COM

Dear Parents:

Welcome to Camp Southwoods 2022! We are thrilled that you and your children are a part of
our camp family.

Many exciting things are happening this summer. This handbook is a guide to help you
prepare for the weeks and months ahead. Please be sure to read it in its entirety so you are
aware of the important information it shares and any changes that may have occurred since
last year.

We are looking forward to an unforgettable summer--one filled with fun, energy and lots of
fond memories.

Thank you for trusting us to take care of your children. Please know we are always available
by phone or email to answer your questions or provide you with assistance.

Best regards,

Steven Bluth Rachel Begun Johnny Reinke Adam Kaufman
[email protected] [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]

Winter Summer

90 Valley Terrace 532 NYS Route 74
Rye Brook, NY 10573 Paradox, NY 12858
Phone: (914) 214-8780 Phone: (518) 532-7717

Important Dates

Ongoing Purchase camp clothing from The Camp Spot
May 1 All forms are due*
May 28 Deadline to register for CampPacks
June 7 First day to schedule camper phone calls
June 18 Southwoods Baggage Service pick-up/ All keys due to office for locked baggage
June 26 Opening Day (4- and 6-week sessions)
July 23 Parents Day/Departure for 4-week session

Opening Day for 2-week session
Aug 6 Departure for 2- and 6-week sessions

If you cannot complete any forms by May 1st, please contact
us to let us know when we can expect to receive

them.


All forms can be found and completed in your CampInTouch profile.

Health Care

The State Department of Health requires that we have a camper health history form on file for each and every camper. We
kindly request that you complete and submit a health history form for each child by May 15th, 2022, as that gives our Medical
Staff ample time to review them prior to camp opening. Unfortunately, we cannot allow a camper to depart for camp if their
health history form has not been completed.

Please keep in mind that the more we know about the health habits and history of your child, the better we can take care of
them and accommodate their needs. This includes any and all information pertaining to your child’s psychological
development, as that is also helpful for us to make their camp experience the best it can be.

If you haven't already done so, we recommend making your physician appointments now so that you can submit your child's
health history form by May 15, 2022.

To further help us in this area, we ask that you to adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Compete the Health History and Examination form in its entirety, including the parent/guardian signature.

2. New York State makes mandatory the listing by physicians of immunization dates for diphtheria, measles, mumps, polio and
rubella. No camper, American or International, is exempt from this requirement. Anti-tetanus injections must be given where
needed. Also, New York State mandates that we have on file completed meningitis forms, which we have shared with you.

Health Care (continued)

3. All prescription medications taken at camp are prepackaged via CampPacks. The only exceptions are injectables such as
insulin, epipens and growth hormones. Please note that your child’s registration form must be turned into CampPacks by
May 28, 2022 in order for your child’s medication to arrive at camp on time. Any medication brought to camp with a child
instead of through CampPacks will be mailed back to the parents. We will keep enough medication on hand to last until their
prepackaged medication can be overnighted from the CampPacks pharmacy. All medications that cannot be filled through
CampPacks--such as insulin, epipens, and growth hormones--must travel with the camper on arrival day. We will not be
accepting any other medications at the bus.

4. Please have all dental and orthodontic work completed before camp. We will, as always, help with any issues that come up
while at camp.

5. Please send a second inhaler and second pair of glasses. This is required.

6. Please make note of any food allergies and/or special diet instructions on the Health History Form.

7. The insurance portion of the Health History Form must be completed including the RX BIN number for prescriptions. All
international families should choose option 2 on the insurance form and provide complete information on the Camp
Southwoods Insurance Plan.

8. The New York State Department of Health annually inspects all health records, grounds and facilities of Camp
Southwoods. These reports are on file at the Department of Health Regional Office, 875 Central Ave Albany, NY 12206-1309.

Pre- Arrival Health Screening

Unlike downstate, Lyme Disease is not a prevalent issue in Essex County or its surrounding counties. To be safe, however,
please teach your child how to do a personal body check. We will instruct your child to notify a member of our staff should
they think they have a tick on their person. We continue to follow NY regulations pertaining to the management of COVID19
and will share such regulations as needed.

Camp Policies

Camp Southwoods provides a wonderful experience for your child! In a group living environment such as ours, cooperation
is essential and we find that campers are most comfortable when they know what is expected of them. We respectfully ask
that you and your child respect the following policies:

1.Gratuities: There is NO TIPPING at Camp Southwoods. Our staff are aware of this rule and know that accepting “tips” in the
form of money or gifts is not acceptable.

2.Food: It is against camp policy to send candy, gum or food to camp. If sent, campers will not be allowed to keep them.
Candy in the bunks can create unhealthy and unnecessary competitive situations. In addition, food tends to attract small
animals to the bunk, and gum is very difficult to remove from the surface of camp athletic facilities, equipment and furniture.
Camp supplies alternative beverages so campers need not bring their own. We also ask that you not send bottled water to
camp.

Camp Policies (continued)

3.Appliances: Electrical power is limited at camp and we cannot handle the strain caused by appliances. All electric
devices, including any device that has access to the internet, are not allowed at camp. Please feel free to bring a fan
that uses batteries (we do have ceiling fans in each bunk). We are aware that some use devices for music or white
noise to help with sleeping. These are all ok so long as they do not have access to the internet and are video free
(no video games, smart watches). If a camper has a device that contains games or video content of any kind, that
device will be collected and held until the end of camp. If you have questions, please call our office to clarify what is
allowed at camp.
*Please do not call our office about loss or damage to items not permitted at Camp Southwoods.




Drug/ Tobacco/ Alcohol/ Weapons Policy

No smoking or possession of any tobacco products, alcohol products, controlled substances or weapons will be
tolerated at any time by any camper or staff member. We are a tobacco-, alcohol-, drug- and weapon-free
environment. Any camper or staff member violating this policy is subject to immediate dismissal from Camp
Southwoods. There will be no tuition reimbursement should a camper be dismissed from camp for violating this
policy.

Mail

Campers will write letters two times each week and may send as many as they like. Parents should provide an adequate
supply of postage and stationery for their children, as well as pre-addressed envelopes for younger campers.

To facilitate distribution of mail, please write your child’s cabin name on the outside of the envelope (Upon their arrival to
camp you will receive a phone call with your child’s cabin name). We cannot stress enough how much your children love to
receive letters from you. Please send at least two letters per week.

If you are traveling anytime during the summer, please provide the camp and your child with your itinerary and phone
numbers of where you can be reached in case of emergency.

Please understand that some letters you receive will be filled with love and joy, while others may express homesickness or
other complaints. Please don’t panic when trying to interpret the meaning behind your child’s letter. If you are concerned, call
us. If we are ever concerned, we will call you. Thank you for trust our ability to work with your children

E-Mail

.
E-mail service is available into our camp office 24 hours a day d
uring the camp season. Please do not e-mail just one sentence
as we download and distribute them as a printed copy. To e-ma
il your camper, send your emails to
[email protected]. Please place your camper’s name and cabin name in the subject line (Upon their arrival to camp
you will receive a phone call with your child’s cabin name). All e-mails must be submitted by 10:00 AM for the camper to
receive it the same day. Any e-mails that come in after 10:00 AM will be given to the camper the following day.

Packages

In the interest of focusing the camp experience on friendship and activities, we wish to eliminate the inevitable competition
caused by receipt of toys, water guns, and the like. Books, magazines and toiletries are fine, but please do not send packages
with “gifts” for your child or their fellow campers. There is a limit of two (2) packages per camper.

Electronic games, food, candy and gum are not allowed at Camp Southwoods. For the safety of your child and everyone at
camp, you give us the right to check all incoming packages. Campers are aware of this policy. We appreciate you helping us in
this regard by alerting your friends and relatives. Any food and bunk gifts received will be sent to Project Morry as donations.
They will not be held and returned at the end of camp.

Phone Calls

Parents of new campers can expect a check-in call from our Head Counselors, Johnny and Rachel, within the first three (3)
days of camp.

Parents get two phone calls with each of their children over the course of the summer (one for 2-week campers). Three to
four days into camp, our head counselors will call our new families to provide an update. Calls home from campers are
scheduled for weeks 2 and 3 for 4-week session campers and at the end of week 1/start of week 2 for 2-week session
campers. Where there is a divorce or separation, each parent may schedule the above-mentioned number of phone calls.

To arrange a phone call with your child, simply call our camp office on or after June 8 and let us know when you would like
your return call. Calls are scheduled between 4:00 PM and 7:45 PM so as to not interfere with the daily program. Calls should
be with parents only.

To help with the initial adjustment to camp and in recognition of all the special events that take place at the end of camp, we
ask you to understand that we don’t schedule phone calls home for weeks 1 and 4. Please limit your calls to 15 minutes, as
other campers are scheduled for phone calls on that same day. Our office staff will dial your number direct; there is no need
to call our office during the scheduled time.

We will contact you if we feel that a phone call between you and your child will help to resolve any in-camp problem. Our
switchboard is open 24 hours a day. However, we do use an answering machine between the hours of 8 PM and 8 AM. If you
have an emergency during those hours, please call camp as our night guards monitor for emergency messages.

Miscellaneous

Canteen: All in-camp canteen snacks are included in our tuition.

Tutoring: Please advise us by June 15 if your child requires tutoring in any subject (or would like private
athletic lessons).
We can arrange for a qualified staff member to teach the particular subject or coach the athletic activity.
Please have your child bring with them to camp the appropriate materials or equipment needed for tutoring
or athletic coahcing. The charge for tutoring or coaching is $60 per session (45minutes). We will pay the tutor
directly and then bill you accordingly.

Contacting the Director/ Head Counsleors

You can contact Steven ([email protected]), Rac
hel ([email protected]), or Johnny

([email protected]) by either calling the office (518) 532-7717 or e-mailing them directly.

Please be aware that during the day they may be out interacting with campers. Our office staff will be able to
answer many of the questions you may have. Unless it is an emergency, please expect a response from
Steven or our Head Counselors after 9:45 PM.

Baggage Instructions

To allow the beginning of camp to go as smoothly as possible, all campers from the U.S. (except as noted) must pre-ship
their baggage to camp. Only international campers, campers from outside the areas mentioned below, and 2-week
session campers should arrive with baggage.

Camp Southwoods Baggage (Metro NY, CT, NJ; 914-214-8780) provides camp families with an economical and closely
supervised baggage transport service from centrally located pick-up points on specific days and times prior to the start
of camp. This program is planned, organized and manned by Camp Southwoods personnel (so you need not lock your
baggage).

The date for Camp Southwoods baggage pick-up and drop off is Saturday, June 18th, 2022
- NEW YORK CITY- (9-9:30 am) Fifth Avenue between 85th and 86th Streets (Southwoods staff will be parked by the
western sidewalk on Fifth Avenue).
- WESTCHESTER, NY- (11-11:30 am) Kohl's Shopping Center, 431 Boston Post Rd, Port Chester, NY 10573
- LONG ISLAND- (9-9:30 am) Loews Bay Terrace Theater, The theater is located at 211-01 26th Ave, Flushing, Queens,
NY just off the Clearview Expressway, 26th Avenue Exit.
- BERGEN COUNTY, NJ- (11-11:30 am) Restoration Hardware Outlet parking area, located at 330 Route 17, Paramus,
New Jersey, exit 163 off the Garden State Parkway.

Baggage (continued)

International: All International baggage will accompany campers to and from camp. Luggage should be closed only,
not locked, and trunks should not be used.
Bus carry-on luggage: Campers may only bring one carry-on item on the bus.
Campers who fly may bring their luggage with them. Please clearly label all luggage with your camper’s name and
address.
If you will be picking up your child at the end of camp and wish to take their baggage home, please indicate that on the
"Additional Options Form" in CampInTouch.

Arrival Day

BUS DEPARTURE TIMES AND LOCATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
4 Week Campers

All 4-week session campers taking the bus will be picked up at 9:30am on June 26 at Kohl’s Shopping Center, 431 Boston Post
Road, Port Chester, NY 10573.
If you are driving your camper to camp, please arrive at 1:00pm.

2/6 Week Campers
All 2-week session campers taking the bus will be picked up at 12:30pm on July 23 at Kohl’s Shopping Center, 431 Boston Post
Road, Port Chester, NY 10573. You will be able to store all baggage underneath the bus.
If you are driving your camper to camp, please arrive after at 4:00pm.

Departure/ Parents Day

4 Week C
ampers
S.aturday,July 23 serves as departure day and Parents day for 4-week campers, as well as Parents day for 6-week campers. It
is also Day 1 for our 2-week campers. For 4-week session camp
ers not staying for Parents Day, campers will be leaving on
the bus at 8:30am going to Kohl’s Shopping Center. The bus sh
ould arrive around 12 noon. Parents Day is from 10:30am -
3:00pm. We will start parking cars at 10:00am. We will send an itinerary of the day’s activities as we get closer.

2/6 Week Campers
Saturday, August 6 is departure day AND Parents Day for 2 and 6-week session campers. Campers leaving on a bus will
depart camp 8:30am to Kohl’s Shopping Center. The bus should arrive around 12 noon. Parents Day is from 10:30am -
3:00pm. We will start parking cars at 10:00am.

Bus Policies

1. There will be a Senior Staff member designated as the Bus Leader. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to
departure. Check in with the Bus Leader and have your child go directly to their assigned bus with any carry-on luggage.
2. Please remember, medication will not be accepted on the bus (other than epi-pens, insulin, and growth hormones).
3. Please limit carry-on luggage to one piece per camper.
NOTE: If you should miss the camp bus, or have any other emergencies, please call camp immediately at 518-532-7717
for further instructions.

Accomodations

Departure Day is during the height of resort season. If you are planning on staying for the weekend, we strongly recommend
making your travel and lodging arrangements now. Below you will find a list of several accommodations in our area.

Area Lodging (Area Code 518)

Warrensburg
Ticonderoga

Cornerstone Victorian- 623-3308 Lake George Super 8- 585-2617
Super 8- 623-2811 Best Western- 585-2378
Tall Pines Motel- 668-5122
Chestertown Holiday Inn- 668-5781 Lake Placid
Lake Front Terrace Resort- 668-5711
Friends Lake Inn- 494-4751 Sagamore Resort- 644-9400 Mirror Lake Inn- 523-2544
Hotel Chelka Lodge- 668-4677 High Peaks Resort- 800-755-5598
Schroon Lake Area Brookside Cabins- 668-3344 Crowne Plaza- 523-2556
Baymount Inn- 793-7701 Golden Arrow Hotel- 523-3353
Mapel Leaf Motel- 532-7474 Fran Cove Motel- 668-2161 Best Western- 523-2424
Schroon Lake B&B- 532-7042 Fort William Henry- 668-3081 Lake Placid Summit- 523-2587
Silver Spruce B&B- 532-7031 Best Western- 668-5701 Courtyard by Marriot- 523-2900
Tumble Inn B&B- 351-5020
Adirondack Inn- 743-1665
Blue Ridge Motel 532-7521

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