Updated May 2023

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General Policies

Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures
Happy Camper Checklist (aka What to Bring!)

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Access to Camp

Our administrative offices, nature center, and playground are closed to the public during camp hours.

 

Group Size

Camp groups will be limited to 4-5 groups of 12 campers with 2 dedicated counselors per group (46 campers total per week). Each group will have its own outdoor home base. Indoor time will be limited to animals lessons, bathroom use and emergencies. 

 

Drop Off & Pick Up

Please read our Drop Off & Pick Up procedure. Due to limited staff, we do not offer before or aftercare for campers. We cannot accept early drop-offs or late pick-ups. We understand schedules can be challenging and recommend carpooling with other camp families. 

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Lunch & Snack

We are a nut-free camp. Please send your child with nut-free food items that they can open and eat independently. Campers cannot share food. The State requires all lunch boxes to be kept in cold storage. Each group’s lunch boxes will be kept in a separate cooler. We request that families clean and wash lunchboxes (inside and out) daily. Pack a lunch with the environment in mind with these Lunch Packing Tips from our friends at Wilton Go Green. 

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Medication

Any camper requiring medication at camp (for allergies and asthma or other conditions) must indicate this on medical forms. Medications will be accepted on the first day of camp, inspected for proper packaging and expiration dates, and will be kept at camp for the week and returned at Friday drop-off. Children will not be admitted to camp without their prescribed medication or if their medication is expired. Read more about the required forms here.

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Health Forms

All camp paperwork must be received by Woodcock no later than noon of the Wednesday prior to the start of your camp week. No exceptions. Campers will not be admitted to camp without completed health forms. No paperwork can be accepted at pick-up or drop-off. Read more about the required forms here.

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Behavior

Good behavior is expected at camp. We reserve the right to remove any camper whose behavior may pose a danger to the health or safety of others. Setting expectations with your camper can make a big difference.

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Weather & Indoor Time

As always, we’ll be outside as much as possible. Time inside our buildings will be limited to meeting animals, bathroom and emergency use. We will spend time in our Home Base tents for certain activities such as opening/closing meetings, crafts, games, and during snack, lunch and light rain. We are more likely to cancel a day of camp if the weather could force us to shelter for long periods of time or if there are high heat or air quality index levels. There will be no refunds for camp days canceled due to weather concerns. We will not be able to make up any camp days lost due to the weather. Read our policies here.

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Sunblock and Bug Spray

Bug sprays and sunscreen must be applied at home and not during drop-off. You may send your camper with their own bug spray and sunblock but they must be able to apply them independently and responsibly.

 

Ticks, Mosquitos, and Poison Ivy

Please click here for State of Connecticut and Woodcock specific information regarding ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy at camp.

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Camp Cleanliness

High-touch surfaces and bathrooms will be disinfected per CDC guidelines. Outdoor handwashing stations will also be available. Dedicated handwashing breaks will be scheduled throughout the day. 

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Personal Hygiene

Campers are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer to camp daily. Hand-washing is always a regular part of the camp day. Counselors will require campers to wash before and after sneezing or coughing, snack and lunch, after using the restroom, before and after touching animals, and throughout the day as necessary. 

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Illness at Camp

A designated indoor area will be reserved for any camper exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness. We reserve the right to send your camper home if there are any concerns related to COVID-19 or other contagious diseases. We ask that all caregivers plan to stay within a 30-mile radius of camp in case an emergency pickup is necessary. Should a camper or staff become ill with COVID-19 we will notify the CTDPH per State Camp License guidelines.

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Covid & Test-Mask-Go Protocol

Woodcock has adopted the “Test-Mask-Go” Protocol. Children with mild respiratory symptoms (i.e., infrequent cough, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, etc.) can continue participating in-person as long as:

• they are fever-free (< 100°F) and feel well enough to participate,

• they do not live with anyone who has had COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks,

• they can wear a mask consistently and correctly indoors.

• they test negative for COVID-19 before coming to the program every day they have symptoms, as well as one final test on the morning their symptoms have completely resolved.

Anyone who has any respiratory symptoms should not use the Test-Mask-Go strategy if:

• they have a fever (≥ 100°F) or feel feverish (they should not report in-person until their fever has resolved for at least 24 hours without the use of medication), and/or

• they live with a person who recently tested positive for COVID-19 (within the past 2 weeks).

• Instead, these individuals should stay home until their symptoms resolve and test for COVID-19.

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Scholarships

Nature is for everyone! Please visit our Scholarship page here if you wish to request financial assistance.

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Communications

We will keep in close contact with all registered families regarding any camp-related developments. You will be notified of early closings, delayed openings, or camp emergencies via email and text. These communications will be sent to the primary contact you designated in your account upon registrations. If you'd like to opt out of the text messaging feature or add/update a phone number, log into your account here. Click on the Primary Contact, select Edit My Bio Info, then add/edit phone numbers as needed. You are automatically opted in unless you check "Opt of out SMS Messages". Our Office can be reached M-F during camp hours at 203-762-7280 or at wnc@woodcocknaturecenter.org.

Our Advisors

Camp Doctor: Meredith Renda, MD (Doctors' Pediatric)

Medical Advisor & Board Member: Jaimie Meyer, MD, MS, FACP (Infectious Disease Specialist, Yale Medicine)

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All protocols, procedures and policies are subject to change.