How can I tell if my child is ready to attend a camp?
The first and most important thing that you can do to ensure that your child has an enjoyable camp experience is to make sure that your child is ready – physically, mentally and emotionally- to participate in camp. Your child should be able to function in a positive, cooperative manner in a group setting. Campers should be able to be in areas with lots of noise when campers are together, be able to participate in the activities listed in the camp description (such as hiking and playing outdoor games) and be interested in the topic of the camp. Our staff is trained and experienced in creating a safe, engaging, fun camp and in helping campers feel relaxed and settled at camp. But staff members are not trained or equipped to manage individual education plans or specialized needs that require more attention to the point of not being able to give equal attention to the rest of the group. We want to partner with parents to ensure that all campers have a wonderful camp experience. This begins with educators working with parents to determine if Burritt camps or the specific camp you are interested in are a good fit for your child prior to enrolling your child. If you have questions about whether or not a camp is a good fit, please contact our Children’s Education Manager at shana.hyde@huntsvilleal.gov or 256-512-0146.
How can I help my child have a successful and enjoyable camp experience?
Please make sure your child is well rested and has eaten breakfast each day. Please make every effort to have your child here on time, so they can settle into the camp day with the rest of the group. After the camp day, check in with your child to ensure they are enjoying camp. Please let us know if you have any concerns so they can be addressed. We want every child to have a terrific experience at Burritt.
What are Burritt educators’ expectations for my child’s behavior?
We want all of our campers, volunteers and staff members to be safe and have fun at camp. To help achieve this goal, we have six rules that we review with campers each morning. They are:
- Listen to the speaker and follow their directions the first time.
- Don’t be a space invader. (This includes keeping their hands and feet to themselves).
- Use only kind and appropriate words.
- Stay with the group.
- Raise your hand and wait to be called on.
- Respect the property of Burritt and each other.
What happens if my child does not follow the camp rules?
Most of our campers do not have any problem following the camp rules and participating appropriately in our engaging camps. Usually, a gentle reminder about the rules is all that is needed to get a camper back on track.
We have a corrective plan for continued misbehavior with a stepped response.
- If campers do not correct their behavior after a few reminders, they may be asked to sit out of the current camp activity and think about their behavior, why it needs to change and how they will improve it.
- If the behavior continues, the camper is removed to the office to discuss with another education staff member the rules and their behavior. The child (if capable) is asked to write a letter to their parents telling them about what they have done, why it needs to change and how they will improve. The educator adds any needed additional comments to the parents/guardians. This note is sent home that day. We ask that parents please discuss how to improve behavior with their child.
- If the camper continues to display inappropriate behavior the parent/guardian is called, and the behavior and the plan going forward is discussed.
- If the inappropriate behavior is not corrected, a child may be suspended for a day of camp or even expelled from the camp. No refunds are given if a child is dismissed due to repeated behaviors that disrupt the camp or that endanger themselves, other people or Burritt property.
If a child is hitting, fighting, inappropriately touching others, or endangering themselves or others, we will call the parent immediately. We reserve the right to suspend or expel the child without further interventions.
