Summer Camp Details
Preparing for Camp
Dressing for Camp
Your child will need to be dressed for the weather every day. Campers will be outside all day, every day (except in severe weather). Flip-flops, crocs with no backs and ballet flats are not appropriate footwear for camp. Campers will be hiking every day and must wear socks and sturdy shoes. Some summer days are cool in the morning and layers that can be removed are helpful when it warms throughout the day. If it is raining, please dress your child in raincoat, rain pants, rain hat or hood, and rain boots. If their rain gear is already at camp in their extra clothes bag, they can put it on at camp. Please let us know if you are having trouble finding rain gear for your child. On hot days, campers will likely engage in water play (not swimming), and a bathing suit can be worn under clothes or changed into from the extra clothes bag. Clothes that can get wet are fine, too. All clothing worn to summer camp should be clothing that can get wet, muddy, grass-stained, pockets filled with rocks, torn, paint stained, and wrecked in ways only children can think of.
What to Send to Camp With Your Child
Backpack
Each child will carry their own backpack with everything they need for the day. It is important that they have a pack that is the right size and is very comfortable. We recommend backpacks with a chest strap to keep the pack from sliding off the child’s shoulders.
Everything that belongs to your child should be clearly labeled with a permanent marker. These items go inside the backpack every day:
Water bottle with enough water for the whole day (2 bottles are preferred if your child can carry them).
Lunch and snacks. Lunch should be packed with a cold pack or consist of items that do not need refrigeration. All packaging and uneaten food will return home with the camper. Re-closable containers are recommended for items such as yogurt. A small sealable plastic bag is great for items such as yogurt or juice boxes that may make a mess after they have been opened.
Bug spray for reapplication *
Sunscreen for reapplication
*Please place bug spray and sunscreen in a separate plastic bag labeled with your child’s name so our mentors can keep these in a safe place.
Extra Clothes Bag
The extra clothes bag will stay at the ‘home base’ where it can be accessed as needed. If items are used from the extra clothes bag, your child’s mentor will inform you to send replacements. Everything that belongs to your child should have their name on it written in permanent marker or label. These items go inside a durable bag, visibly labeled with your child’s name:
A complete change of clothing - pants/shorts, shirt, underwear, socks
A fleece or light jacket
An extra pair of shoes or rain boots
Rain coat, rain pants
Sun/rain hat
A bathing suit
What Not to Send to Camp With Your Child
Supplied with the items mentioned above, your child should be well prepared for a week of camp. Please do not pack toys, stuffed animals, playing/trading cards, or other similar items for your child. Our mentors are trained at filling your child’s day with fun and adventure. Toys from home tend to disrupt the program. If your child requires a comfort item to feel safe at camp, please contact us at info@limehollow.org.
Health and Safety
Tick Checks
Ticks are present as Lime Hollow, as they are throughout Central NY. While they can pose a hazard to our campers and staff, with appropriate mitigation measures the likelihood of those hazards is greatly reduced.
Tick checks will be performed as a group during the morning and afternoon at camp. Campers are taught to notice and identify ticks on themselves and others. Parents should perform a thorough tick check at home, and to check all the areas of the body that Lime Hollow staff cannot. If staff find an embedded tick on a camper, the tick will be removed immediately and parents will be notified at pick-up.
Adopting a routine of tick awareness, being smartly dressed, using repellent and doing complete tick checks on a regular basis is our best defense against tick borne illnesses. At Lime Hollow, we have a three-tiered tick defense system.
Tier 1: The Camper. At Lime Hollow, our mentors educate our campers about ticks. We teach them to check themselves and help check their friends.
Tier 2: The Mentor. Our mentors are trained and knowledgeable about identifying and removing embedded ticks. Mentors will conduct multiple tick checks throughout the day.
Tier 3: Parents and Guardians. Because there are areas that our mentors cannot see, it’s imperative that parents and/or guardians perform daily tick checks at home.
SUN SAFETY
Extended exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun can cause painful sunburn and over a long period of time can lead to skin cancer. The CDC recommends that individuals spending long periods of time outdoors wear a “broad spectrum” sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
Please make sure your child wears sunscreen to camp every day, even on cloudy days they are exposed to UV.
Camp counselors will make sure sunscreen is re-applied as needed throughout the day.
Other precautions to prevent over exposure include wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and long pants and sleeves.
SOILS
Campers at Lime Hollow spend their days in and around nature. This involves getting dirty. Your camper will be in areas where wildlife and domestic animals have been and have the potential to come in contact with fecal matter. Camp Gustafson on Gracie Road is the former site of a lumber mill where wood treated by the CCA (copper-chromium-arsenate) process was prepared and stored. Camp Gustafson was cleared of debris and the soil on site has been tested.
As a precaution to minimize any chance of harm from incidental soil contact it is suggested that:
Campers wash their hands before eating. Ingestion is the primary pathway for anything in the soil to enter the body. If your child has a condition where they are prone to such activities (such as Pica) please let the staff know.
Wash thoroughly at the end of each day. This can be combined with a careful tick-check.
HYDRATION
Proper hydration is important for everyone to prevent dehydration and heat related illnesses. Those who are active in the outdoors should drink frequently.
Please make sure that your camper has a refillable water bottle with them every day.
If your child complains of headaches and/or has dark colored urine they may not be drinking enough throughout the day.
On days over 85 degrees, we supply all campers with Gatorade to help keep them hydrated. If you have any concerns, please contact us at info@limehollow.org.
ALLERGIES
Allergic reactions can range from mild and uncomfortable to severe and potentially life threatening.
Please notify the staff on the first day of camp of any known allergies, including food allergies.
If your child carries an epi-pen please notify the staff and make sure they know where in your child’s belongings it is kept.
What to expect
Drop-off and Pick-up Locations:
338 McLean Road, Cortland, NY 13045 (Visitor Center Parking Lot/Camp McLean)
Master Naturalist Campers (Completed Grades 4th-8th): ** (Week 1 July 1-5 drop off will be located at 3277 Gracie Road)
Week 2 | July 8-12 | This week has a camp-out for Wednesday and Thursday built into the registration fees.
Week 6 | August 5-9 | This week has a camp-out for Wednesday and Thursday built into the registration fees.
Wanderer Naturalist Campers (Completed Grades 6th-10th)
Week 6 | August 5-9 | This week has a camp-out for Wednesday and Thursday built into the registration fees.
Voyager(Completed Grades 9th-12th)
This program is a traveling camp with a mixture of day trips and overnight adventures. Monday will consist of the group arriving at 8:00AM and getting picked up at 5:00PM. The group will travel and camp overnight at a state parks Tuesday-Friday.
After registration, you will be emailed a gear list.
Please complete a waiver for Paddle & More Adventure on Monday July 8 WAIVER
3277 Gracie Road, Cortland, NY 13045 (Camp Gus Parking Lot)
Knee-High Naturalist Campers (Ages 3-5)
Junior Naturalist Campers (Completed Grades K-3rd)
Mentors-in-Training (Completed Grades 9th & 10th) ** (Week 6, August 5-9 will be located at 338 McLean Road)
Orientation, Friday, June 28, 2024, 8am-3 pm (located at 3277 Gracie Road.
Weekly drop- off is promptly at 8:00AM for Mentors in Training.
Drop-off Procedure
Drop-off check-in is from 8:00AM-9:00AM
Drop-off is from 8:00AM-9:00AM
Drop- off screening is promply at 8:00AM for Mentors in Training.
Parents will drive to their assigned parking lots (Camp Gus, Camp McLean) and walk to your designated check-in location for a brief health screening. A staff member will be present to sign your camper in and direct you.
Camp Gus: A designated tent will be set up for check-in near the parking lot.
Camp McLean: The Pavilion across the bridge from the Visitor Center.
Once all occupants are checked in and cleared campers can join their group for the day.
Please apply sunscreen and bug spray at home to limit your time in the parking lot.
Pick-Up Procedure
Parents will arrive for pick-up at 2:45– 3:00 PM at the same location as drop-off.
Mentors will ask for ID at pick up to verify that the person picking up is one of the following, the primary contact, emergency contact or an authorized adult. Please have ID ready at pick up. - Updates to this list can be made by the parents through their account or within the Visitor Center office.
After Care Procedure for all Camps
After care will run from 3:15-5:00pm and be located at 3277 Gracie Road.
For the camps listed below, after care location will remain the same as drop off (3277 Gracie Road)
Knee-High Naturalist Campers (Ages 3-5)
Junior Naturalist Campers (Completed Grades K-3rd)
Mentors-in-Training (Completed Grades 8th- 10th)
For the camps listed below, Campers will leave Camp McLean at 3:15 to hike over to 3277 Gracie Road.
Master Naturalist Campers (Completed Grades 4th-8th):
Wanderer Naturalist Campers (Completed Grades 6th-10th)
Early Pick-Up Procedure for all Camps
Please notify us at info@limehollow.org of any days when your child will need to be picked up early during their camp week. Please try to schedule appointments during non-camp times whenever possible as early pick-ups are disruptive to the group’s ability to hike out into nature and can cause the whole group to return to home base early.. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule when an early pick-up cannot be avoided. In the case of an emergency call 607-662-4632 to arrange for a rapid pick-up.
Message Updates
Updates could be given via email or by texting this summer. Enrollsy (camp software) assigned Lime Hollow a telephone number to communicate with parents. Our number is 607-305-4255. You cannot call this number. If you need to talk to someone directly please continue to call 607-662-4632. The new number is only for texting. You can reply to our messages or send one on your own. Messages will be checked during business hours, 8am-6pm. Each message sent out will say From Lime Hollow: (then the message).
Medication/Immunizations
Please obtain a copy of your child’s immunization records and return to us prior to your child starting summer camp. If you child needs to take medication during camp hours (prescription or non-prescription), Lime Hollow will need a medication authorization from your doctor. These forms can be emailed to info@limehollow.org or faxed to 607-300-1502. We do need to have them before your child starts camp.
Cancellations/Refunds: See Policy
Payments
Payments can be divided monthly and will be charged on the 20th of each month from when you sign up until July 20th. Please note if you are registered for multiple weeks and are on a payment plan, you will see multiple transaction on your statement.
Credit card transaction are subject to 3.2% fee. If you choose ACH at checkout, Lime Hollow will waive the fee.
Photo Release
When registering you granted Lime Hollow Nature Center, INC permission to use still or motion picture images of myself (or my child) participating in programs or events for future outreach purposes, including but not limited to program brochures, social media and other print ads. If there are any concerns about granting permission please email info@limehollow.org.
T-Shirts
Shirts are in! If you ordered a camp T-shirt, they will be handed out on Monday during your child’s first week of camp at pick up. If you want to pick them up earlier, please make arrangements to pick them up at the Visitor Center. If you change your mind and would like to order a shirt, it’s not too late. Don’t hesitate to reach out to info@limehollow.org.
Responsibilities of local Health Department
Lime Hollow’s Summer Adventure Day Camp is certified by the Public Health Sanitarian of the Cortland County Environmental Health Department. Reports are filled at the Visitor Center and local health department for your review. If you are concerned or have questions, please contact the Executive Director.
*To review and approve the required written camp plans for compliance.
* To inspect camps twice yearly to assure that
(1) all physical facilities are properly operated and maintained;
(2) adequate supervision exists to provide a healthy and safe environment in accordance with the New York State Sanitary Code.
* To issue a permit to operate when the required plans and inspection results are satisfactory.
* To investigate reports of serious incidents of injury, illness and all allegations of abuse or maltreatment.
* When requested, to provide parents or guardians of prospective campers an opportunity to review inspection reports and required plans. When requested, please contact Cortland County Heath Department, Environmental Health at 607-753-5035.