Top ten reasons Parents send their kids to Makemie Woods:
1. Kids learn about God in a fun atmosphere
2. Caring and responsible staff in a program that is accredited for health, safety and program 3. Campers learn Christian values from Christian role models 4. Excellent supervision--many sessions have a 1:5 counselor to camper ratio, and the overall ratio of staff to campers is 2:5 5. Campers learn new skills and build self-esteem 6. The camper and staff population is diverse, with a variety of ethnicity, international staff, socio-economic factors, and expressions of Christian faith. 7. Kids learn to care about creation and the environment, and learn to love being outdoors. 8. The staff strives to ensure that every camper feels included and loved. 9. Makemie Woods is affordable 10. Financial assistance is available |
Top reasons Campers come
back to Makemie Woods summer after summer: 1. Learning about God in a fun atmosphere 2. "The staff people are great!" 3. "I can be myself. I feel accepted." 4. Praise and worship is AWESOME! 5. Making new friends and trying new things 6. Zip lines! (for older campers) 7. "I LOVE the food!" Cheesecake! 8. "It's my spiritual home away from home" 9. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else" 10. "I want to be a counselor someday" |
We recognize that it is no small decision to trust your child to the care of others. That is why for more than 30 years, Makemie Woods has chosen the be accredited by the American Camp Association. Makemie Woods voluntarily meets or exceeds more than 300 standards for health, safety, and best practices.
As a parent, I expect the schools my children attend to be accredited and as safe as they reasonably can be. We should be expect the same of our camps. If a camp you are considering is NOT accredited by the ACA, ask why not!
The ACA website has a section for parents at http://www.campparents.org/ with terrific resources for choosing the right camp, preparing your family for camp, and advice from experts.
As a parent, I expect the schools my children attend to be accredited and as safe as they reasonably can be. We should be expect the same of our camps. If a camp you are considering is NOT accredited by the ACA, ask why not!
The ACA website has a section for parents at http://www.campparents.org/ with terrific resources for choosing the right camp, preparing your family for camp, and advice from experts.
STAFF: Important to parents and the American Camp Association is how our staff is selected. We recruit staff from the churches which support the camp, from colleges and through international agencies that conduct a stringent screening process for their candidates. All of our paid staff submit a lengthy written application, have a personal interview, and provide three written references.
Additionally, all of our staff are required to be certified at a minimim in CPR and First Aid. In any year we have least one Emergency Medical Technician as a member of our staff.
Our ratio of staff to campers far exceed recommended standards. Our young "Test Your Wings" sessions have at least one counselor for every four campers. The most campers any counselor would be responsible for is 7. Our overall staff to camper ratio 3:1. This ensures that all campers receive a great deal of attention and supervision.
Is my child ready for Makemie Woods? That answer is unique for every child. Here is a little guidance:
Your child should have successfully spent a night away from parents before considering an overnight camp experience. Makemie Woods is not intended to be a first time away from home.
Additionally, all of our staff are required to be certified at a minimim in CPR and First Aid. In any year we have least one Emergency Medical Technician as a member of our staff.
Our ratio of staff to campers far exceed recommended standards. Our young "Test Your Wings" sessions have at least one counselor for every four campers. The most campers any counselor would be responsible for is 7. Our overall staff to camper ratio 3:1. This ensures that all campers receive a great deal of attention and supervision.
Is my child ready for Makemie Woods? That answer is unique for every child. Here is a little guidance:
Your child should have successfully spent a night away from parents before considering an overnight camp experience. Makemie Woods is not intended to be a first time away from home.
Is your child ready to be away from their personal electronics? Cell phones, mp3 players and video games are not permitted at camp, since we are teaching skills that involve personal communication, face-to-face, without interruption or intrusion. The vast majority of camps share this philosophy, Most campers find they don't need or miss these items.
Some parents think their child is an exception, and with the parents' knowledge the child "sneaks" a cell phone in with their belongings. The reality is that cell phone is RARELY used to communicate with a parent. More often the camper is texting friends or updating Facebook, and disrupting both the community of the camper group and interfering with the experience you paid for them to have. We will confiscate phones we find.
We will call you if there is an emergency, or if your camper expresses a need to speak with the parent. (See our homesickness policy). If you would like to call the camp and get an update on how your camper is doing, we would be glad to hear from you. If either you or your child feels they can't handle being a little "out of touch," this is not the program for your child.
Is your child ready to try something new? Campers learn a lot at camp, from shooting an arrow and songs and skits and making friends to learning how to mop the floor or set tables or operate a vacuum cleaner. Everyone contributes to the overall community of the camp.
PLEASE read the materials in the confirmation package carefully. Most questions you have are answered in those documents.
COME TO THE OPEN HOUSE, APRIL 22, 2012 from 2-4 PM.
This is your opportunity to see the facilities first hand, meet staff, ask questions, and enjoy s'mores over a campfire. We can also give you a personal tour if that date doesn't work for your family. If after visiting the camp you decided your child isn't ready, we will be glad to issue a full refund.
FINANCES ARE TIGHT. HOW CAN I GET A SCHOLARSHIP?
We never want money to be the reason a child cannot come to camp, and so year-round we are raising money for our scholarship fund. Because these resources are very limited, we do ask families to contribute at least $100 to the cost of camp (less than most families would spend having the child at home). We also ask that families requesting a scholarship fill out a form that is signed by their pastor or social service agency, as we hope that the church can contribute to the camp expense, helping our funds go further. Get the forms (coming soon)
Some parents think their child is an exception, and with the parents' knowledge the child "sneaks" a cell phone in with their belongings. The reality is that cell phone is RARELY used to communicate with a parent. More often the camper is texting friends or updating Facebook, and disrupting both the community of the camper group and interfering with the experience you paid for them to have. We will confiscate phones we find.
We will call you if there is an emergency, or if your camper expresses a need to speak with the parent. (See our homesickness policy). If you would like to call the camp and get an update on how your camper is doing, we would be glad to hear from you. If either you or your child feels they can't handle being a little "out of touch," this is not the program for your child.
Is your child ready to try something new? Campers learn a lot at camp, from shooting an arrow and songs and skits and making friends to learning how to mop the floor or set tables or operate a vacuum cleaner. Everyone contributes to the overall community of the camp.
PLEASE read the materials in the confirmation package carefully. Most questions you have are answered in those documents.
COME TO THE OPEN HOUSE, APRIL 22, 2012 from 2-4 PM.
This is your opportunity to see the facilities first hand, meet staff, ask questions, and enjoy s'mores over a campfire. We can also give you a personal tour if that date doesn't work for your family. If after visiting the camp you decided your child isn't ready, we will be glad to issue a full refund.
FINANCES ARE TIGHT. HOW CAN I GET A SCHOLARSHIP?
We never want money to be the reason a child cannot come to camp, and so year-round we are raising money for our scholarship fund. Because these resources are very limited, we do ask families to contribute at least $100 to the cost of camp (less than most families would spend having the child at home). We also ask that families requesting a scholarship fill out a form that is signed by their pastor or social service agency, as we hope that the church can contribute to the camp expense, helping our funds go further. Get the forms (coming soon)
