While At Camp
Camp Staff and Supervision
We look long and hard to find staff who truly want to and enjoy working with children in a camp setting. All camp staff, paid or volunteer, have gone through a selection process which includes a written application, interview, written employment and personal references, background checks, and other screening.
Most paid staff are college age young people working towards a degree in education or recreation. All staff, volunteers or paid, are at least 18 years old. All staff undergo training in programming, camp routine, child development, behavior management, and more. Most receive American Red Cross Community First Aid and CPR certification.
Homesickness
Despite the fun, adventure, and new friends made at camp, some children do become homesick. Counselors and other campers are caring and supportive when this happens. The feeling usually passes quickly or in a day or two and the camper enjoys the rest of the session, having successfully met a real challenge. Please do not become unduly concerned if the first letter home sounds like your child is not happy. It's normal for most youngsters to miss home and family without serious implications. Your encouraging attitude before and during camp will help prevent homesickness.
All children and parents experience anxiety about the separation. To ease that separation we suggest you let your child know what camp is all about. Visit Whispering Pines or talk with others who have attended. Let your child know you believe they are ready for camp. Demonstrate the length of a camp session. Let your child know you expect them to stay the entire session. And finally, encourage your child to be honest with camp staff. It's okay to say, "I miss my family". Saying "my stomach hurts" only confuses everyone.
Since talking with parents directly on the phone usually increases a camper's homesickness, the camp procedure for handling homesickness generally does not include phone calls between parents and campers. Parents with concerns are encouraged to call the camp director. We may arrange for parents to talk directly to the child's counselor. Camp fees are not refunded if a child leaves camp due to homesickness.
Parent Notification
Whispering Pines will notify parents or other adults responsible for a camper whenever a camper is taken off-site for any reason.
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency, our staff will take appropriate immediate action, and attempt to contact parents, or other adults responsible for campers. Should none of these persons be available, we will act according to the Parent's Authorization statement located on the health form. Also, specific circumstances can arise that would require us to be in direct contact with parents or legal guardians (not aunt, uncle, etc.). If you are going out of town please leave word with your emergency contacts as to where you can be reached.
Resident Accident Insurance
In the event of an accident or illness requiring doctor's care or hospitalization, Whispering Pines will provide your insurance information to the clinic or hospital. Treatment costs for illness are the responsibility of the camper or camper's family. If you have questions about our insurance, contact the Sun Prairie office at 877.947.2267.
Questions?
Feel free to contact us you have any questions about our summer camp program.
I soooo much better understand the Bible! Thanks!" Summer camper
All campers like to get mail. Letters should encourage your child to enjoy their stay away from home. Please avoid phrases like "we miss you a lot" or "your pet hasn't eaten since you left". It is often reassuring for children to receive mail early during a camp stay.
If you would like to leave mail for your child for the first and/or second day of their camp stay, we will be glad to see that it is delivered on the day you indicate on the envelope. You can leave these letters with us at check-in.
Don't worry if you don't receive mail from your child right away. Kids are busy, and letters to home sometimes spend a day carried around in a pocket or a notebook.
Camp Address
Child's Name
Name of Camp
Whispering Pines
11050 Whispering Pines
Frederic, WI 54837
Many of the same suggestions for writing letters apply to writing email. Please take the time to write thoughtful, informative, and encouraging emails, just as if you were writing a letter. One or two sentence emails mean little to a child and seldom make it back to the cabin. Emails are collated for each camper, printed, and then distributed during regular mail time. Campers do not have access to computers and cannot respond to emails. Only the text of the email will be distributed. Do not email photos or other graphics. Silly email (ex., "wad up sis") will not be distributed. To send an email to a camper put the name of the camp and the name of the camper in the subject line. This helps us get it to the right person. Send emails to WhisperingPinesCamper@WisconsinUMC.org.