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Camping Tips | Shirley Frederick, Assistant Camp Director

7/30/2019

Dear PAL Families,

Less than a week from today your child will be headed off to camp. As a result, you will receive an email from me each day with some reminders and tips. Be sure to check Facebook as well as our website under the Parent's Portal.

Several parents have emailed me regarding a change in their camper's medical needs. If your camper is on a new medication or no longer is taking medication that was written down on the Health History form, please be sure to stop at the Nurse's table and make any necessary adjustments on your campers medical form.

Remember, all medications must be in the original prescription bottle including over the counter medications. I recommend that all the medications go into a a Ziploc bag with your camper's first and last name, as well as their cabin. Campers may NOT keep their medications with them.

As you prepare your child for camp, there are a couple of helpful suggestions:

Pack with your camper, not for them. It is important that your camper knows exactly what is in their suitcase. It also helps them when it is time to pack up for home.
Even though the mattresses are disinfected between camps, I recommend sending a twin sized fitted sheet for the mattress.
Make sure your camper's name is written large and dark with tape on their garbage bag holding their sleeping bag and pillow. Add something to the bag to make it stand out. Everyone packs their sleeping bags and pillows in black plastic garbage bags. That means there are 300 garbage bags on the lawn.
Send an extra garbage bag for going home. (See above!) The original bag will most likely be pretty beat up.
Definitely send bug repellent for mosquitoes and ticks.
If you have a son and he uses AXE body products, remind him "less is more."
Keep expensive clothing and shoes at home.
Our dress code is similar to that of school. Shorts do not have to be longer than a camper's finger tips, but they should not be too short either. Tank tops are allowed, but bra straps must not be shown.
Campers may not go barefoot at camp. Flip flops for the beach area is recommended.
Pack more than one pillow case in the event one gets dirty.
For girls, pack more than one bra. If they get caught in the rain, it is nice to have a back up.
A baseball hat comes in handy on really sunny days and sunblock is a must!
If your camper enjoys swimming and you think they will spend a lot of time at the waterfront, send more than one swimsuit. This does not mean you need to buy an extra one. If your camper only has one swimsuit, that is fine.

For more information, don't forget to check the Parent Portal on our website.

That's all for now.

Shirley Frederick
Assistant Camp Director

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PAL Leadership Team: Learning To Lead

7/17/2019

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Megan Weidner, Senior Counselor

Last week, 6 of our senior staff members chaperoned our 3rd annual leadership retreat. The leadership retreat is designed for our PAL Leadership Team (PLT). PLT is made up of high-school aged students who wish to continue to be involved with the PAL organization, however not yet old enough to be a camp counselor.
This year, there were 15 PLT members that participated in the retreat weekend.

During this 4-day retreat, they were tasked activities to help develop leadership:

Create, organize and run a new camp game that can be played with 15-20 kids
Counselor scenario game: the senior staff give PLT members scenarios of hardship as a counselor, and together they discuss possible resolutions
An overnight camping trip in which they had to pitch their own tents and prepare their own food.

Although the weekend was focused on growing leadership skills, the retreat also included many outdoor adventures and unique opportunities for this group:

Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore Sand Dunes
2 mile tubing/float trip
Zip-lining

You can’t always take 15 high-school aged individuals of separate social groups and expect them to work as one cohesive group, but they did! It was rewarding to watch them use their imaginations and create brand new camp games and run them with only minor hiccups. Additionally, these kids love camp and it showed in their efforts to participate and willingness to reach outside their comfort zone to grow this weekend.

"Working with PLT kids is like looking into a crystal ball and getting a glimpse into PAL's future. After working with these kids this past weekend and seeing them problem solve, work together and encourage each other, the future looks very bright. "
- Blain Gauthier, Senior Counselor

We look forward to seeing the flourish in this program and eventually at camp as our next generation of counselors. Learn more about what they do over here.

If your high-schooler is interested in participating in PLT, please reach out to PLT Advisor, Jason Hundey at jhundey@armadaschools.org.

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Camping Tips | Shirley Frederick, Assistant Camp Director

PAL Leadership Team: Learning To Lead

Armada PAL

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