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:

1. 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.
2. Even though the mattresses are disinfected between camps, I recommend sending a twin sized fitted sheet for the mattress.
3. 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. 
4. Send an extra garbage bag for going home. (See above!) The original bag will most likely be pretty beat up. 
5. Definitely send bug repellent for mosquitoes and ticks. 
6. If you have a son and he uses AXE body products, remind him "less is more."
7. Keep expensive clothing and shoes at home. 
8. 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. 
9. Campers may not go barefoot at camp. Flip flops for the beach area is recommended.
10. Pack more than one pillow case in the event one gets dirty.
11. For girls, pack more than one bra. If they get caught in the rain, it is nice to have a back up. 
12. A baseball hat comes in handy on really sunny days and sunblock is a must! 
13. 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

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:
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• 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.

Hello, Camp Followers!

As we near camp, we've had some questions regarding waterfront activity and safety. We wanted to take an opportunity to run through it with you.

Swim Evaluation:

When kids arrive at camp, we review all of the waterfront information with each grade, including the activities available during free time as well as all safety information.  We then do a swim test, in groups of 5 campers, that include the following:

• Belly-Swimming - No Underwater Swimming
  • An evaluation if they can do a front crawl swim, a doggie paddle swim, and a breaststroke - for the distance of estimated 30 yards - without stopping or touching the bottom for assistance.
• Treading water for 90 seconds on their swim back to the shore

 
Lifeguards are in the water with each group as well as on the dock to assist if anyone needs to stop.
 
Outcomes: 

If a camper passes the test, they are a “blue” swimmer. 
If a camper either chooses to not take the swim test or does not make it through the swim test, they are a “red” swimmer. 
We are very upbeat, encouraging, and positive about the swim test, including anyone who does not make it through.
 
“Red” swimmers have use of the shallow area of the waterfront (with floats that kids love to use together for games and water toys), the water slide, and boats (with a blue swimmer).
“Blue” swimmers have use of above as well as a deeper swim area and the Blob (large inflatable that launches campers when another camper jumps onto it from an elevated platform).
 
As mentioned above, we make all campers feel positive about the waterfront regardless of swim ability and be sure to have activities available for everyone.

For any questions, please reach out!

Wendy Hahn
Waterfront Director

The Armada PAL Camp staff is excited that camp is just around the corner! So excited in fact, that a few staff members and their families headed up to camp a little early to get their hands dirty working on the Cody Lodge.

Last weekend, 5 of our volunteers (including Cody's family!) hung drywall, sanded window panes, and faced their fears of ladders! They also took some time to take a walk around the grounds to experience the beauty that nature has to offer. We are so proud of the work that all of our volunteers have done, building this lodge from the ground up,  and we cannot thank our volunteers enough for the countless hours of work they have put into this project. Cody will always hold a special place in our hearts, and this lodge is the essence of Cody.

We are so excited to share this Lodge with our 8th grade campers. Cody would be so proud! 

If you are interested in supporting The Cody Lodge through monetary donation or time - please reach out to myself or Vince DiGiorgio, digiorg8@gmail.com - as we lead the organization's philanthropic efforts. 

​Neva Kirksey
neva@armadapalcamp.org

Dear PAL Families,

I am excited to let you know that PAL Camp 2019 registration forms are now available on  our website. We have upgraded our site to include a couple more items that will make the registration process easier and to allow you to stay closer to our mission all year long. You can locate the registration forms for download and print on our site in the Parent Portal at armadapalcamp.org.

Remember, early mail-in registration is for current grades 5th thru 7th only. Because of limited spots, those campers registering for the 8th Grade High Adventure Program, must register in person.

For mail-in registration, the following forms must be included:

• Registration Form
• ​​Camp Health History Form
• ​Online Waiver
  
  

Neglecting to include all the necessary forms will delay the registration of your camper. Make sure that all the pages are filled out and signed by a parent or guardian.

The window for early mail-in Registration is April 8th - 13th. All forms must be postmarked by April 13th. Registration forms received after the deadline will be held until in person registration has closed and will be added in pending available space.

When filling out the forms, your camper may choose one bunkmate. Make sure that whoever your camper has chosen as a bunkmate, has chosen them as well. All perfect matches will be guaranteed cabinmates.

When mailing in your camper’s registration form, please include a $50 non-refundable deposit. The balance is due on or before orientation, which is May 21st. As mentioned in the previous email, we do have a credit card option this year.  Please make all checks out to “Armada PAL.” and send all forms and deposit to Armada PAL, P.O. Box 564, Armada, MI  48005.

You will find all necessary information and answers to many questions on our website. If you have any questions on navigating the site, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or Anna Shea Becker at annasheab@armadapalcamp.org.
​
Sincerely,
Shirley

Dear PAL Families,

Spring has arrived!!! That means we are getting ready for PAL Camp 2019. This year we will be celebrating our 35th year providing Armada youth with one of their best weeks of the summer. PAL Camp dates are Sunday, August 4th until Saturday, August 10th. Registration will be held on Wednesday, April 17th, 6:30 p.m. at Armada Middle School for all current grades 5th thru 8th.

To avoid those long lines,  Early Mail-in Registration is once again available for current grades 5-7. Because of limited spots, those campers registering for the 8th Grade High Adventure Program, must register in person. All necessary forms will be available on our website beginning April 5th.

The window for Early Mail-in Registration is April 8th - 13th. All forms must be postmarked by April 13th. Registration forms received after the deadline will be held until in person registration has closed and will be added in pending available space.

The cost for camp is $325. There is a $50 nonrefundable deposit required at registration. The balance is due on or before orientation, which is May 21st. This year we also have a credit card option. Unfortunately, it comes with a cost. There is a surcharge of 3.5% + $0.15 that will be passed along to you. To keep the cost down, stick with cash or a check. If you choose the credit card option, I recommend paying in full. Otherwise, you will pay the surcharge twice. The surcharge for paying in full equals $11.53. 
 
I will send you a follow up email with additional information the first week of April. Know that after registration, this email group will be closed. So, if you no longer have a PAL Camper, you will no longer receive my emails after registration. If you have not been receiving our parent emails and would like to, please comment below oe reach out to me directly at shirley@armadapalcamp.org.

For more information, please continue our website and follow us on Facebook for the latest updates.
I hope everyone has a great spring break.

Shirley Frederick
Assistant Camp Director
​shirley@armadapalcamp.org