FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Parents
- What if my child becomes ill or requires emergency medical attention?
- Can you change my student's plane ticket so they can come home earlier(because of school)?
- Can you change my student's ticket so he/she can stay and travel when Camp is over with?
- Will my student's placement change once he/she is told where he/she is going? What about once he/she reaches his/her site?
- When my student comes back at the end of the simmer, who will pick them up at the airport?
- How will my student get to and from camp?
- Who will pick up my student when they arrive at their site? Will my student be traveling alone?
- How many hours will my student be at Camp during a week?
- What will conditions be like when they first arrive at their sites?
- Should my student take traveler checks or cash?
- Does my student need to get a visa along with his/her passport?
- Will I have a telephone number/address before my student leaves? What about e-mail?
- What will the facilities be like where he/she is working?
- How many children will my student work with?
- How much money will my child receive for the summer?
- What do I do if an emergency arises?
- Will my student have time to travel more extensively between the time Camp ends and he/she comes home?
- Can my student leave/return from specific airport?
What if my child becomes ill or requires emergency medical attention?
Medical treatment is available for all Camp Adventure participants. If your student is placed in the United States, they will go to the nearest hospital off base. They do not use base medical facilities because they have access to American facilities. If your student is placed overseas, they will follow the protocol for their individual location. The general practice for them is to use whatever facilities the military personnel use. Typically they will have to pay an $100 up front fee. BOTH MILITARY AND NONMILITARY PEOPLE PAY THIS FEE! In some cases, primarily Europe, they will be treated at a local hospital in that country.
Can you change my student's plane ticket so they can come home earlier (because of school)?
In most cases the answer is no. Your student was told they would miss the first few days of class. In the letter of expectation they signed, it states, "If you are on the semester system, you may be back to school a few days late." With people from over 80 colleges and universities it is unrealistic to expect them back for the first day of class. Per your request, we will be more than happy to send a letter to their school explaining why they will be late. Exceptions are made for RA's, teachers, and student teachers on a case by case basis, but must be preapproved, in writing, before you leave for the summer, by Susan Edginton. However, if there is an emergency let us know and we will be more than happy to work with you.
Can you change my student's ticket so he/she can stay and travel when Camp is over with?
No, Camp Adventure will not change your ticket for you. With over 600 students, we need to keep track of when everyone comes home so we can plan for their transportation. If people begin changing tickets, it becomes highly confusing to keep track of them.
Will my student's placement change once he/she is told where he/she is going? What about once he/she reaches his/her site?
It depends. Camp Adventure is a contractual organization. We place people based on the contracts we believe we will get. When an expected contract comes in late or does not come at all we have to shift staff. Once they are at their site, we may use to shift staff or several reasons including emergencies that arise and staff to child ratios. We can not let the students know far ahead where they will be placed due to the nature of our contracts. Please keep in mind that your student may be moved once they are at their summer site. While this is not common, it does happen.
When my student comes back at the end of the simmer, who will pick them up at the airport?
If your student flies into Chicago we will pick them up and bring them to Cedar Falls, IA. If there is only on or two students we will buy connecting tickets to the Cedar Rapids Airport and will need to pick them up there. You are, of course, welcome to pick your child up in Chicago. In that case, they will need to let their director know so we can plan appropriately. If your student is not flying out of Chicago, they will need to make plans to get to and from the airport form which they are flying. If your return plans change and you do not contact the office, you will be assessed a fee for the cost related to your pick up.
How will my student get to and from camp?
It depends on their location. In some places they will walk. In other places they are picked up by Youth Services staff. (Youth Services is part of the MWR. We work with the MWR, typically at the youth services building. Youth Services are the people who work with children year around. MWR stands for Morale, welfare, and recreation. They deal with quality of life in the military.) As your student was told in training, sometimes they will have to walk at least 1/2 mile to work.
Who will pick up my student when they arrive at their site? Will my student be traveling alone?
A member of the Youth Service Center will pick them up. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT YOUR STUDENT STICKS TO HIS/HER FLIGHT SCHEDULE! When a student does not travel with the group due to missing a flight etc. a special trip must be made. Sometimes the round trip to the airport is 6 hours. In most cases, we send students in groups so the MWR only needs to make one airport trip. We also send students in groups because of the safety factor.
How many hours will my student be at Camp during a week?
Again it depends on their location. Most camps run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. At some locations it is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your student may be at a site which requires before and after care. In those cases there will be additional time. In theses cases, the director will normally set up a rotating schedule so the counselors can trade off times. Keep in mind this is only the actual camp time. There will also be meetings during the week to plan and set up. You can assume your student will be working 40 hours a week in Camp plus additional preparation hours. They will be tired at the end of the day. Most camps have the weekends free. (Although in some places there will be Sunday night meetings).
What will conditions be like when they first arrive at their sites?
In most places, it takes a few to get everything running and all identification required to use base facilities/ it may also take a few days to rent or borrow typical supplies. (Ex.bedding/cooking utensils) Please keep in mind not all locations have personal transportation. Most people will have to walk or use public transportation to get places.
Should my student take traveler checks or cash?
Camp Adventure recommends cashing your stipend and getting Traveler's checks. Please DO NOT TAKE CASH. Be aware that in some locations there is a fee, normally about $3, to cash Traveler's checks. Your student may also think about taking their ATM/DEBT card for emergency use. However, ATM's are not available in all locations, so Traveler's checks are your best option.
Does my student need to get a visa along with his/her passport?
It depends on his/her placement. The only sites which require a visa are Bahrain, China, Russia, South Korea. ALL VISA'S WILL BE COORDINATED THROUGH THE CAMP ADVENTURE OFFICE! We will need their passport to get a visa. A visa is a stamp that is put in your passport. It says you have permission to be in the country. If your student will be in Happen more than 90 days he/she will need one. If they are in Japan less than 90 days then they do not. Japanese visas(if needed) will also be coordinated through the camp Adventure office.
Will I have a telephone number/address before my student leaves? What about e-mail?
No. Once your student reaches his/her site, they will receive that information. They should call/write you with it. E-mail is available in some locations but not all. Your student will find out when they arrive. This is due to the fact we are only going to be on site for a limited amount of time. Since we are temporary, the contract can not tell us ahead of time.
What will the facilities be like where he/she is working?
There is a wide range of facilities. Some are very big with lots of rooms and different types of preexisting areas. (Ex. gymnastics, arts and crafts etc.) other facilities are smaller and have fewer or no specialized rooms. Keep in mind we will be using the facilities the Youth Services uses the rest of the year.
How many children will my student work with?
A. The normal ratio is one counselor to 12 children. If the children are younger the ratio is one counselor to eight to ten children. Also keep in mind some children will have ADD and ADHD, which means they need more attention and special handling. Remember, some of these children will be more difficult to deal with.
How much money will my child receive for the summer?
He/she receives $22/day for everyday they are gone.
What do I do if an emergency arises?
Please call Camp Adventure World Headquarters. We have procedures in place for such events. The number is (319) 273-5960.
Will my student have time to travel more extensively between the time Camp ends and he/she comes home?
He/She may have two or three days, but they may not have any. It depends on where they are and when they come home. The number of days between camp ending and them coming home changes from year to year. Just because someone at the site had a certain number of days to travel last year, DOES NOT mean staff at that site will have time to travel this year.
Can my student leave/return from specific airport?
No, we fly out of major travel hubs. They are Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta. This allows us to keep our costs down. It also allows us to centralize mass departures.
Camp Adventure™ Youth
Services
1223 W. 22nd Street,
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0156
Tel: (319) 273-5960 Fax: (319) 273-2058
Email: camp.adventure@uni.edu
