Permit and routines
How a day outdoors is handled
Our permit, how many campers each counselor has by age, and what happens when the weather, the water or the ground calls for something different.
License
Permitted by Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Camp permit · WI Permit # 000000
Adults to children
- 1 adult to 8 children6 to 9 years · Group size: 8
- 1 adult to 10 children10 to 13 years · Group size: 10
Capacity
40
Ages 6 to 13
Staff checks and training
- Background checks
- CPR and first aid
- Medication training
Safety routines
The weather check
Every morning a camper reads the gauge, the wind and the sky at the circle, and a counselor checks the forecast and the air report. The day's plan follows what we find, and we text families before 7:30 a.m. if it changes.
Thunder and lightning
When thunder is heard, everyone goes inside the pavilion building. We wait until 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back out, and notebooks and sorting trays come out while we wait. In a tornado warning, everyone moves to the shelter room.
Heat and sun
On hot days the field blocks move to the morning, shade and water come with every block, and the lab blocks move inside the pavilion. Hats and sunscreen come from home, and campers put them on before they arrive.
Creek and water work
Creek days are wading and netting at a shallow spot a counselor has checked that morning. Campers wear life jackets and closed shoes for every water block, counselors stand in the water, and no camper is ever near water on their own.
Ticks, plants and insects
Long socks, bug spray from home and a tick check at pickup. On the prairie we look at plants and insects and touch only what a counselor has pointed out first.
Tools and materials
No open flame and no knives at camp. A counselor handles anything sharp, hot or electric, and campers use hand lenses, rulers, tape, scales and the ordinary tools of a classroom.
Sign-in and who may collect
An adult on your list signs your camper in and out at the gate. We ask for ID until we know you, and we call you if someone new is coming.
Allergies, medicine and illness
Tell us about allergies and medicine at registration, and we ask what we need privately. A camper with a fever stays home. If a camper feels ill at camp, we call you and a counselor stays with them until you arrive.
Sample details.
The weather practice
Four kinds of day
We read the sky every morning, and the day follows it.
A clear day
Field blocks outdoors, with shade and water at every block.
A hot day
Field blocks move to the morning, the lab block moves inside the pavilion, and water breaks come more often.
Thunder or lightning
Everyone goes inside, and we wait until 30 minutes after the last thunder. Notebooks come out while we wait.
Smoke, cold or a warning
We text families before 7:30 a.m. The day moves indoors, or camp closes, and we say which on the same text.
Ask us how a stormy day works
Call and ask about the weather plan, creek days or pickup, or read the family policies.