Welcome to Mountain Friends Camp 2020: Community Camp at Home! We’re hard at work in staff orientation this week and are so excited to see what fun, community, and camp spirit we can make together this summer! If you missed it, see our “Meet the 2020 Staff” newsletter here.
Below you’ll find several important notes and instructions for your family to help everything go as smoothly as possible this summer.
- Virtual camp via Zoom
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- Before the first day, take a little time to set up your camper for a smooth experience. If you have not already used Zoom for video chatting/meetings, read the instructions here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-meeting?mobile_site=true. Please also take a look at Zoom’s privacy information here: https://zoom.us/privacy. We will not be recording or taking screenshots other than occasionally, with everyone’s awareness and consent, for promotional purposes.
- Set up your camper’s hardware. We recommend a desktop/laptop if possible, so that each camper is able to see the group. If not, a tablet or a smartphone will work. If using a handheld device, please have a place to prop it up so it can be used hands-free with the screen remaining visible.
- Choose a location with enough space for your camper to stand up and move a bit, and also consider location and privacy for other family members (we recommend having your camper’s backdrop be near a wall, rather than a view into shared rooms).
- For the first 2 days, and ongoing as needed, please have an adult help get your camper connected and able provide ongoing support.
- If any of this is challenging, please let me know before camp starts so I can help!
- Buddy Boxes
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- For those registered for Session 1, Buddy Boxes will be mailed to your camper next week. The boxes should arrive by the Saturday before the camp session begins, so you’ll have time to open them ahead of time. We strongly suggest “unboxing” into a larger box/bin, and having an adult on hand with your camper to get started looking through the activities and materials.
- We’ll be sending Buddy Boxes for Sessions 2 and/or 3 together, so if your camper is signed up for both weeks we’ll send an extra special box with more materials!
- Siblings will receive shared boxes in most circumstances, with a mix of individual and shared items.
- “Save for later” items, for those doing Zoom sessions, are labeled and include: Superhero theme day; positive traits wordsearch; electric candle; and pancake party supplies!
- What to expect from zoom sessions
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- Zoom schedule:
- Monday-Thursday 1-3 pm (Mountain Time) Zoom camp activities
- Friday 1-2 pm plus a special 6-7:30 pm evening campfire/creativity night.
- I will email the zoom session link the Saturday before each week, this link is for you family only and not to be shared with anyone.
- In general, sessions will have a combination of “full camp” activities, “camper’s choice” elective activities, and time for sharing and games with your camper’s assigned small groups and counselors.
- Supervision during camp sessions is still the responsibility of the parent/guardian. We will be engaging with campers and sharing activities, but don’t have the ability to provide physical supervision of safety and well-being over Zoom.
- Zoom schedule:
- Camper Behavior expectations
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- We’ll be setting specific camp norms with campers, to help everyone have a good experience together, but in the meantime campers should be ready to:
- Engage and share
- Listen to the counselors
- Respect everyone in the community
- Have fun!
- We’ll be setting specific camp norms with campers, to help everyone have a good experience together, but in the meantime campers should be ready to:
- Camp Fees
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- Pay any remaining camper fees by mail: Mountain Friends Camp, 2455 N Race St, Denver, CO 80205
- Or online at mountainfriendscamp.org/donate page, with a note of your camper’s name and week(s).
Please let me know if you have any remaining questions, or ideas for how we can best support your family this summer. Thank you for joining us in this new adventure!
Anastacia Ebi
Camp Director
director@mountainfriendscamp.org