Camp Oak Spring Family Handbook 2023

Arrive at Your Adventure

Dear Parents,

Thank you so much for choosing Camp Oak Spring as your camper’s destination for growth this summer. My name is Amanda, and this is my 9th summer Directing the Day Camp program at Oak Spring. As someone who grew up spending their summers at Oak Spring, it is a privilege and an honor to continue my growth year after year at a place that taught me so many valuable life lessons.

Girl Scout Summer Camp helped me to learn that it’s okay to be different, and that my voice can be used to lead - not just follow. I found my love for the outdoors, my ability to be kind to myself and to others, and a deep connection with my peers. All of these things have traveled with me through my Girl Scout journey into adulthood, and I can’t wait to help your camper discover their path & own journey at Camp Oak Spring.

By cultivating kindness, nurturing independence, and embracing the Girl Scout Law, Camp Oak Spring provides a safe outdoor environment for everyone to grow at their own pace, supported by a team of like-minded people. Whether this is your family’s first summer joining us or you are back again for another summer of adventure, the Camp Oak Spring family is lucky to have you!

Feel free to reach out to me at any time at the information below. And don’t forget, Camp Oak Spring is just the beginning, because it starts, and it lives, and it grows at Oak Spring!

Yours in Girl Scouting, Amanda (pictured below on the far left!)

Camp Staff Information

Amanda (Manny) Kelly, Director Pronouns: they/them/theirs

856-795-1560 ext. 123 akelly@gscsnj.org

Bruce Skversky, Camp Operations Executive bskversky@gscsnj.org

Our Goals

Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey (GSCSNJ)

Summer Camps provide campers with both a sense of adventure and the chance for personal growth. Camp gives your camper the opportunity to meet people of different backgrounds in a safe environment, free of judgements & expectations of the outside world.

We encourage camper participation, personal achievement, and skill improvement so everyone feels comfortable and successful.

A community free of cell phones, campers focus on interacting with one another in a natural setting. Our highly trained staff are dedicated to making sure that your child has a unique experience while they develop skills that can be utilized for the rest of their life. Camp teaches kids to take responsibility. It gives them a chance to step up. It helps to show the importance of meaningful relationships in life. It is where they can truly be themselves and accepted for who they are.

Our goals, based on the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, help our kids to discover their talents and strengths, connect with others, and take action in their communities.

Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try: To serve God* and my country, To help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

When campers participate in Girl Scouts, they benefit in 5 important ways:

Strong Sense of Self

Girls have confidence in themselves and their abilities, and form positive identities.

Positive Values

Girls act ethically, honestly, and responsibly, and show concern for others.

Challenge Seeking

Girls take appropriate risks, try things even if they might fail, and learn from mistakes.

Healthy Relationships

Girls develop and maintain healthy relationships by communicating their feelings directly and resolving conflicts constructively.

Community Problem Solving

Girls desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, learn how to identify problems in the community, and create “action plans” to solve them.

General Information & Dress Code

At Camp Oak Spring, we always do our best to follow the Girl Scout Promise and Law. It’s an important part of our camp culture, and as Girl Scouts, we always try to be kind to ourselves and to others. Everywhere we travel in camp we use the buddy system, which helps us all feel connected as we share the responsibility of keeping the camp safe and clean.

Camp Oak Spring is a community free of cell phones, which helps kids unplug and connect with nature and each other. In order to create a space where we can disconnect to connect, electronic devices (phones, iPods, personal video games, etc.) are not to be used or visible for any reason during camp hours, including overnights, except for when the program calls for the use of GSCSNJ iPads.

Summer Camp is an excellent opportunity for kids to live and work together. Bullying, teasing, and inappropriate behavior will not be accepted at Camp Oak Spring. GSCSNJ reserves the right to send any camper home who willfully disobeys camp or bus rules, or whose behavior towards others is unacceptable.

On every Monday of camp during group introduction times, staff and campers will be invited to share their pronouns, if they so choose. This helps to foster a community of inclusion, to create a safe space for all of our campers and staff. Campers do not have to share their pronouns if they do not feel comfortable doing so, but should respect other individuals’ pronouns. Intentional misgendering will be considered a form of bullying.

It is important for cis-gender people (people whose gender identity aligns with their assigned sex at birth) to normalize the practice of stating their pronouns and asking pronouns of others. It encourages practice and helps gender diverse people feel welcome and safe.

All campers & staff sign our Code of Conduct. This is modeled on the Girl Scout Law. The Code of Conduct is found on page 13 of this packet. Please print it, have your camper sign it & bring it to camp on their first day.

Camp Oak Spring Dress Code

• Clothing should be comfortable and something permitted to play in

• Please send your camper on the first day with a name tag that has their name, program, and mode of transportation

• Breathable shirt or tank top

• Shorts or pants; skirts are OK, but please wear shorts underneath

• Sturdy shoes or sneakers with socks – no open shoes, sandals, flip-flops, crocs, or clogs. Footwear must be worn at all times and cover the entire foot.

• It is recommended that campers wear bathing suits under clothes with a change of underwear in their day packs to change after pool time. This helps reduce the time spent changing before the camper’s scheduled pool time. Flip flops may be worn on the pool deck during changing but should be kept in their backpacks for all other camp activities.

• Bandana or hat are recommended.

• Weather-appropriate wear

• Poncho in case of rain or a sweatshirt on cool mornings

Schedule & Details

Camp Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Camp Oak Spring has added an extra half hour to our days so each camper has more time to work on badges & participate in adventure activities!

Typical Daily Schedule

Before care

Campers arrive by car

Busses arrive

Morning Flag

Camp fun!

Closing Flag

Busses depart

Campers depart by car

After Care

Typical Weekly Schedule

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Swim Test

Photo Day

Wear your camp shirt!

Cookout for Juniors & Cadettes

Wacky Wednesday

Swim Retest (as needed)

Cookout for Daisies & Brownies

Night Lights/Overnights*

Family Nights*

Friday

Camp Lunch

Closing Campfire

The very last day of camp features our traditional flag retirement ceremony. If you have worn and tattered American flags, we’ll retire them for you.

*Thursday night programming varies week to week

On Monday of each week, both an informational postcard and a RSVP card for our Thursday Night activity will travel home with your camper. Please make sure to read through both of the postcards and send back the filled in RSVP card to camp.

The postcard will let you know what your camper will be eating for cook-out & any specific items that need to be sent in with your camper for the week. Additionally, we will let you know if your camper will be tie-dyeing so you can dress them accordingly.

The RSVP card will let the Camp Oak Spring staff know if your camper will be participating in our weekly Thursday evening activity (Overnight, Night Light, or Family Night). The Camp Oak Spring Staff will be onsite and on duty for the duration of Night Lights and Overnights.

Night Light:

Campers will get a second swim, additional program time, and pizza dinner. Parents can arrive at camp as early as 7:30 for camper pick up, but all campers must be picked up by 8:00.

Family Night:

Join the Camp Oak Spring staff for dinner and activities! A registration link will be provided before your camper’s week at camp. Check in starts at 4:30, dinner is served until 7:00.

Overnight:

Campers will get a second swim, additional program time, and cook-out dinner. Campers will sleep in either platform tents, cabins, yurts or pitch-your-own-tent sites.

Wacky Wednesday:

From mis-matched clothes to silly hair styles, let’s get wacky on Wednesday! Campers have the option to participate in this wacky day however they would like, as long as the wackiness is safe and functional.

Packing & Meals

By packing the correct items in your camper’s backpack, you’re setting them up for success at Camp Oak Spring. Campers will travel around camp with their backpacks for most of the day, so comfort and practicality are important when it comes to choosing a backpack. Our Lost & Found will inevitably fill up as camp rolls along, and the first line of defenses against the overflowing Lost & Found is making sure that everything comes to camp labeled with your camper’s name. From backpacks to water bottles – please label everything with a first name and last initial. A few key items to pack in your camper’s backpack are:

• Sunscreen & insect repellent

• Bandana or a hat

• Hair tie for long hair

• A “just incase” complete change of clothes in a waterproof bag

• Towel and flip-flops for swim time

• Rain poncho or jacket

• Reusable water bottle

At Camp Oak Spring, we value Healthy Living – one of the key components of Girl Scouting. Eating healthy ensures that our campers are able to be aware and energized during their time at camp. Our expert Kitchen Staff will provide a morning and afternoon snack each day to help our campers stay focused and ready to take on whatever challenges may arise. We provide drinkable water at multiple locations throughout camp, so be sure to send your camper with a refillable water bottle with their name on it.

One of the most important parts of Summer Camp is trying new activities, and cook-out is a great way for your camper to try something for the first time. On Monday, each program works as a team to choose what they will be preparing and eating for cook-out lunch that week. Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors have cook-out on Wednesdays. Daisies and Brownies have cook-out on Thursdays. As Girl Scouts, we love to use our resources wisely. One great way to do that is to make sure your camper has a reusable mess kit (plastic plate, bowl, & cutlery in a mesh bag) that is labeled with their name or initials on cook-out day. Please review the postcard sent home on Monday for more information about what your camper will be preparing and eating on their cook-out day.

If your camper is staying for Night Lights, we will provide a pizza dinner to celebrate the extra time at camp. If your camper’s week of camp includes a Family Night, you are welcome to join us for dinner and activities on Thursday evening. More information will be provided on the Monday of your camper’s week. Campers participating in the Thursday night Overnight will have dinner provided for them and are provided breakfast on Friday morning.

Every Friday is an all-camp lunch day. Regardless of if your camper stayed over on Thursday night, our Kitchen Staff provides the entire camp with a delicious, healthy lunch on Friday. All other days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, and your camper’s non-cookout day) lunch is not provided. Camp Oak Spring has refrigerators for each program, so all of the lunches will stay cold until it’s time to eat. You will be notified via postcard what your camper’s unit selected for cook out and what the kitchen is providing for all-camp lunch. If you know that your camper will not eat the cookout option or the all-camp lunch, feel free to pack them a lunch from home. Additionally, please be mindful that there are no microwaves available for use, so be sure to pack lunches than can be eaten cold!

Overnight Packing List

The following list is suggested for one night at camp, in addition to what your camper brings daily.

All of our sleeping locations have either cots or mattresses, except when pitching their own tents (you will be informed via postcard if they are pitching tents).

Checklist

Sleeping bag & light blanket

Pillow

Snuggle Friend (optional)

Underwear and socks

T-shirts, Sweatshirt

Pajamas

Flashlight (with extra batteries)

Helpful Tip!

By packing everything for the overnight in a large backpack or bag with a shoulder strap, you free up your camper’s hands to hold their other things. Make sure to label all items with your camper’s name. Campers will be responsible for transporting all of their luggage to their sleeping locations, so make sure they are able to carry all of their items by themselves.

Reminder:

Camp Oak Spring is a community free of electronic devices. In order to create a space where we can disconnect to connect, electronic devices are NOT permitted at camp for any reason including overnights.

Camp Oak Spring and GSCSNJ will not be held responsible for personal items stolen, broken, or lost at camp.

Extra swim suit and swim towel

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Hairbrush, comb, clips, etc.

Toiletries

Portable battery-operated fan

Chapstick

Plastic bag to carry dirty or wet items

Medication (if needed) to be turned in to the Health Director

Health Procedures

CampDoc.com is an electronic health record system that helps us consolidate camper health information into a centralized and secure location. Their system will give our Health Director instant access to camper health information, a key component in providing patient care.

The security, confidentiality, and privacy of your camper’s personal health information is always protected. Only the Health Director or Camp Director has access to health information. The CampDoc.com site is secure, encrypted, and password protected.

As summer approaches, you will receive a “Welcome Email” from CampDoc.com with information about how to complete your camper’s health information.

• Click the link in the welcome email to set a password for your account.

• Follow the instructions and complete the health history for your camper.

• Upload any required documents to your CampDoc.com account (contact our CampDoc Administrator, Arwen, at campsacajawea@gscsnj.org if you have trouble uploading).

• Return to CampDoc.com at any time to make changes/updates to your camper’s profile.

Please set register@campdoc.com as a “safe sender” to avoid accidental delivery of emails from CampDoc.com to junk and spam folders.

All medications, either prescription or over-the-counter, must be given to the Health Director upon arrival to camp. Please be sure that the medication is in the original container labeled with the camper’s name, dosage, and instructions.

Prescription medications require written authorization from the child’s parent/guardian or directing physician to be administered by our Health Director. Administration of non-prescription medication shall require written authorization from the child’s parent/guardian or follow the camp’s Standing Orders from the consulting Physician. Inhalers and Epi-pens will remain with the camper during their time at camp. A secondary inhaler or Epi-pen may be stored in the Health Director’s office upon request.

Please feel free to contact our Health Director to discuss any health-related issues at campoakspring@gscsnj.org

If your child isn’t feeling well at home, do not send them to camp.

If your child becomes ill or is hurt at camp, you will be notified & our Health Director will seek appropriate medical attention. Emergency numbers listed in CampDoc will be used to contact someone in the case of illness.

If illness occurs during or immediately preceding camp, the following conditions must be met BEFORE your child can return to any camp session. These include, but are not limited to:

• Diarrhea: none for 24 hours

• Lice: nit free

• Strep infection: on medication at least 24 hours

• Conjunctivitis: to be determined by family physician

• Fever above 100° F: no fever for 24 hours

• Chicken pox: all open pox are scabbed

To ensure your child is permitted to attend camp, please make sure your CampDoc files are complete, including physician information and immunization information.

Bus Information

Since Ranger Mark & his family are the only ones that live at camp, we provide bus transportation with centralized stops throughout Mercer and Middlesex counties for your convenience. A Camp Oak Spring Staff member or volunteer will be present on each bus at all times.

As traffic patterns are unpredictable, please allow a 15-minute leeway for busses. It is strongly recommended you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to morning pick-up. In the afternoon, if a parent or approved pick-up person is not in attendance, busses will wait 10 minutes before moving onto the next stop. No child will be left unsupervised.

Anyone who is picking up a camper must present an ID that matches our list of approved pick-up people. This list will be pulled directly from the emergency contacts in CampDoc. If you need to change or adjust your list of approved pick-up people at any time, please contact our Camp Admin Team at campoakspring@gscsnj.org. Any questions prior to camp season, please reach out to Amanda, Camp Oak Spring Director, at akelly@gscsnj.org.

If you have any questions about busing or transportation, or need to notify us that your camper will not be attending camp, please reach out to our Camp Admin Team at campoakspring@gscsnj.org

Non-Bus Transportation Info

Camp Oak Spring has a one-lane road in and out of camp for cars & busses to use. In order to keep everyone safe as they drop off and pick up their camper, we have created procedures to make everyone’s morning/afternoon as smooth as possible. There are two entrances/exits in and out of camp and all roads are 10 MPH. The entrance is located at 228 Weston Rd – marked by a brown sign with a triangular orange reflector. The exit is located about a 1/4 mile west of the entrance (closer to Metlars Rd.).

In the morning, any cars dropping off should come in through the Main Entrance. Cars may start entering the property to line up at drop off at 8:20AM. Once on the property, make your first left towards the Overflow Parking lot at the small hut and the large Oak Tree.

Once you arrive at the Overflow Parking lot, please loop around to the left and drop your camper off by the far tree line with the morning check-in monitor. Once you have dropped off your camper, you will leave out to the far left, departing from the Summer Pick-Up Entrance at the back of camp.

Any car that arrives after 8:45 AM will need to wait to drop off their camper until after the busses leave at 9:10 AM.

In order to keep our road free of traffic so the busses can make their way safely into camp, anyone picking up a camper in the afternoon should come into camp through the Summer Camp Pick-Up Entrance. Follow the exit road down past the pool and stop at the cone. Camp is still in session until 4:30 PM, so please do not enter camp prior to that time.

After you pick up your camper and are signaled to depart by our check-out monitor, you will leave camp through the Main Camp Entrance.

Anyone signing out a camper must present proper identification.

Before and After Care

Before and After Care are offered every week at Camp Oak Spring. Camp Staff stay with your camper to provide activities and supervision during this additional camp time. There is an additional snack provided for After Care.

Before Care starts at 7:30 AM and After Care goes until 6:00 PM. If you register your camper for either Before or After Care, you can pick up and drop off your camper at the Sports Field. If you arrive for After Care before 5:00 PM, please enter through the Summer Camp Pick-Up Entrance. If arriving after 5:00 PM, you may use the Main Entrance.

If you need to make any changes to your camper’s transportation during the day, let us know as soon as possible!

campoakspring@gscsnj.org

Our morning Drop Off “End Time” will be strongly enforced this year. It is unsafe to have cars, busses, and campers all in our parking area at the same time. If you arrive at camp after 8:45, you will have to wait to enter the parking lot until after the busses leave at 9:10.

Transportation to Camp With a Non-Related Adult

Any family wishing to have their child transported to and from camp by an adult not directly related to that child must submit this request in writing. Please provide all information requested below and return this page by emailing it to campoakspring@gscsnj.org, or by having your camper bring it with them on the first day of camp.

By signing below, the parent/guardian(s) recognize that they are releasing their child into the adult supervision of the adult listed before and after specified camp hours.

Camper’s Name: _________________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________________________________________________________

Please select which weeks your camper has permission to be transported with this non-related adult:

Week 1 (July 5-7): ______________________

Week 2 (July 10-14): ____________________

Week 3 (July 17-21): ____________________

Week 4 (July 24-28): ____________________

Week 5 (July 31-August 4): _______________

Week 6 (August 7-11): ____________________

Week 7 (August 14-18): ___________________

Week 8 (August 21-25): ___________________

Non-Related Adult’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________

Non-Related Adult’s Phone Number: _______________________________________________________________ I, ______________________________________________________, agree to transport the camper named above.

Non-Related Adult’s Signature: _____________________________________________

Date: _________________

Code of Conduct