Parent Frequently Asked Questions
How do you select your counselors?
How are staff and counselors trained and supervised?
What does the speaker do?
How do you guard against abuse of children at camp?
Who handles health concerns at camp, and how do you deal with emergencies?
You do a lot of adventurous activities, like rock climbing. What is your safety record?
Who leads your horseback riding activities?
How does mail work? Can my camper call home? Can I send emails?
How are discipline issues handled?
When is a camper sent home for bad behavior?
My child has special needs. Can you accommodate that in your program?
What kinds of wildlife are at Tall Timber? Are any dangerous?
Are mosquitoes a problem at Tall Timber?
What about the West Nile Virus?
What is for sale in the camp store, and how much spending money should I send?
Do children keep their own money, or is there a “camp bank”?
What should my child bring to camp?
Why do you request that campers not bring snacks, CD players or video games?
Can my child be in a cabin with their friends?
How do you handle Lost and Found?
Q. How do you select your counselors?
A. We have two types of counselors: paid and volunteer. Paid counselors are generally college age young adults who are hired for the summer, and rotate into counseling from a kitchen, maintenance, or program role. They complete an extensive application, and are chosen for their skills, faith in Christ, and leadership qualities. Volunteer counselors come up for a week at a time, and generally come from our local churches. They may be parents, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers or students who desire to help campers have a great week and build connections with the church. At younger camps, high school students who have been through an intensive 2-week leadership-training course (YILT) may counsel or assist. Many volunteers return year after year. New counselors who are unknown to us are usually paired with an experienced counselor for support and supervision. All counselors submit a written application, references, and are subject to a State Patrol background check.
Q. How are staff and counselors trained and supervised?
A. Summer long staff receive a full week of training on job tasks, counseling skills, health and safety procedures, teamwork, and spiritual growth. The year-round staff supervises them. Volunteer counselors receive written material before camp, and participate in a 1-day intensive training event. They are trained and supervised by the Senior Counselor – a hired summer position who is usually an adult professional such as a teacher or school counselor. The Senior Counselor also supports counselors with discipline issues and emotional needs.
Back to top
Q. What does the speaker do?
A. The speaker is usually a pastor, youth leader or teacher who provides morning devotions and evening campfire talks. They may also lead a small group seminar, and assist the senior counselor with supervision and special needs.
Q. How do you guard against abuse of children at camp?
A. Counselors are screened via the application process, must sign a disclosure form, and a state patrol background check is run. Abuse issues are covered thoroughly in the training sessions, and very concrete guidelines are set, i.e. “ private conversations with campers must take place in a public setting, such as on a bench at the playground vs. alone in the cabin.” Counselors who are new to us are usually paired with a returning or staff counselor, and all are instructed to look for and report questionable conduct. We make it clear that we are aware and watching.
Q. Who handles health concerns at camp, and how do you deal with emergencies?
A. A hired Health Specialist is on site for all youth camps. They provide first aid, monitor sick campers and special health concerns, and manage all medications. All regular meds must be given to the “nurse” for safekeeping and to ensure correct dosage. In the event that an injury or illness requires more than basic first aid, parents will be contacted immediately if possible, and campers transported to the Leavenworth clinic, about 35 miles away for treatment by a physician. There is a local ambulance unit at Lake Wenatchee that can reach camp in minutes. The parent or guardian’s insurance plan is the primary source of medical coverage.
Back to top
Q. You do a lot of adventurous activities like rock climbing etc. What is your safety record?
A. There has never been a death or life-threatening injury at Tall Timber. Since 1980, over 25,000 campers have participated in adventure activities like rock climbing, ropes course, etc. without serious incident. Each activity has well developed safety procedures, and training and supervision are carefully monitored. Of course, with 1000 kids a summer playing hard for a week, accidents do happen- mostly cuts and scrapes, or the occasional sprain or broken limb. The most common culprits are volleyball, team field games, and bikes.
Q. Who supervises the horse-back riding activities?
A. Icicle Outfitters will be providing our trail rides on site at Tall Timber. They are the horse concession for the Lake Wenatchee State Park, and up the Icicle River in Leavenworth. They are a very reputable and well-established outfitter. You will need to fill out a separate form from Icicle Outfitters (link to form). Horse rides added fee for a 1-hour trail ride. You may visit their website at www.icicleoutfitters.com
Q. How does mail work? Can campers call home from camp? Can I send e-mails?
A. Regular mail is delivered daily to and from campers. Address it with the camper’s name, followed by the session (i.e. Mary Smith, Junior 1) then the address: Tall Timber Ranch 27875 White River Rd. Leavenworth, WA. 98826. Packages arrive most promptly with UPS.
Tall Timber does not have a regular phone line on site. There is a radio-phone, which is available for emergency needs. If a call needs to be placed from Tall Timber, a staff person may place a call for the camper using the radio-phone, or transport them to the camp office several miles away, to use a land line.
Parents may send emails to campers, and observe daily web-updates by accessing the “Camp Parent” link on this website.
Back to top
Q. How are discipline issues handled?
A. On the first day of camp, the cabin counselors will present clear expectations for conduct, and campers will commit to abide by these guidelines. You may want to download these guidelines, and go over them with your child ahead of camp. See ”Commitment to Camp Conduct”. Counselors will attempt to resolve behavior issues within the cabin group before referring a child to the Senior Counselor or another authority. Parents may be called, or a camper sent home if serious or repeated problems occur.
Q. When is a camper sent home for bad behavior?
A. Sending campers home is a last resort. We want every camper to have a successful experience. However one camper’s conduct will not be allowed to ruin the experience for others. Certain offenses like assault, possession of a controlled substance, or endangering other’s safety will result in immediately being sent home. Less serious issues that result in repeated referrals to an authority will invoke a “3 strikes you’re out” rule. For a more complete list of these guidelines, see “Disruptive Behaviors Reference Sheet”
Q. My child has special needs. Can you accommodate that in your program?
A. We want every child to be able to experience a great week at camp! If you know that your child’s physical or emotional needs may require more attention than one counselor with 6-7 other campers could provide, you may send a special helper up with them at no extra cost. Please see our “Special Needs Guidelines”
Back to top
Q. What kinds of wildlife are at Tall Timber? Are any dangerous?
A. Tall Timber’s greatest asset is it’s setting, bordering Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, and is home to many forms of wildlife. Commonly seen are deer, rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels, mice, birds and toads. We do not have rattlesnakes. Less frequent sightings are weasels, otter, beaver, raccoons, bears and coyotes. Cougar and bobcat inhabit the area, but are not seen in summer. We have never had a problem with bears getting into garbage. They are truly wild, not acclimated to humans, and stay away from a noisy, busy camp. The greatest nuisances we have from wildlife are crows getting into garbage cans, and mice getting into cabins after food. For this reason, the rule for kids not to bring up their own snacks is strictly enforced.
Q. Are mosquitoes a problem at Tall Timber?
A. Depending of the year, we can have mosquitoes, especially early in the season. While we do fog the grounds for mosquitoes when they are bad, they can travel several miles to reach you. Fortunately the species common here favors the cool hours of the early morning and evening, and do not bite during the heat of the day or at night. The best protection is to wear long pants and long sleeve shirts during these times, and protect exposed areas with a good repellant. We recommend that you avoid spray cans with younger children because of the danger of getting spray in eyes, breathing vapors, and the temptation to spray each other. (A rub-on lotion type is better.) There will be replent available for sale at camp.
Q. What about the West Nile Virus?
A. The most important thing to tell your child about the west Nile Virus is that the chances of getting sick from a mosquito bite are extremely rare!
- There have been no human cases of WNV in Washington State.
- Only 20% of those actually infected with the virus will ever develop symptoms of illness, and most symptoms are mild.
- Only 1 in 150 of those with symptoms will develop the more severe form, West Nile Encephalitis.
Symptoms of a mild WNV illness are flue-like symptoms including fever, head and body ache, and occasionally a rash on the trunk, or swollen lymph glands. Over 99% of WNV infections are of this mild form, with a complete recovery in a few days. The rare complication, West Nile encephalitis, is consistent with all forms of encephalitis: rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, and disorientation. It can progress to convulsions, coma and death. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain which can occur following many viral infections, including chicken pox, the flu, measles, mumps, and even cold sores (herpes simplex). The best treatment is early recognition and hospitalization. Incubation period for the WNV is 3-14 days, so if your child gets the “flu” within two weeks of exposure to mosquito bites, you may want to test for WNV as a precaution. But remember that the odds are very slim. See links to CDC.gov, westnilefever.com
Back to top
Q. What is for sale in the camp store, and how much spending money should my child bring?
A. The camp store is usually open for a few hours in the afternoon. Candy, soda pop, chips, juices and bottled water are available. Younger campers are limited to about $1 in candy, plus a drink per day. T-shirts, water bottles, hats etc may range from $3-$15. Fleece vests and jackets range from $15-$35. Some optional afternoon crafts have a nominal materials charge of $.50 to $1.00
Q. Do the children keep their own money, or is there a “camp bank?”
A. Primary and Junior campers place their spending money into a camp bank. Junior and Senior highers keep their own money, unless parents request that we hold it for them.
Q. What should my child bring to camp.
A. see “What To Bring”. A compete list will be sent in a follow-up letter after registration
Back to top
Q. Why do you request that campers not bring snacks, CD players or video games?
A. CD players and video-type games are easily lost or broken at camp, and are tempting items for theft. They are also distracting to our goals of enjoying God’s creation, and building cabin group unity. Snacks left in luggage attract wildlife into the cabins. A snack shop is open in the afternoons where we can monitor the timing and quantity of snacking. Snacks needed for special medical concerns can be left with the nurse for safe-keeping.
Q. Can my child be in a cabin with their friends? Can they be with a counselor from our church?
A. Yes. There is a line on the registration form for kids to list one name they would like to be in a cabin with. It is best if the kids agree ahead of time to request one another, as it can be very awkward if one child requests another who does not want to be with them, and requested someone else. It is great to come to camp with friends, but one of the best aspects of camp is making new friends, so encourage your child to get to know new people! We love to have counselors come up with kids from their own church, and will always try to place them together. You may want to do this yourself, or talk to your pastor about who might be available. You may also request the counselor on the “cabin with” line.
Q. How do you handle Lost and Found?
A. Lost and found items are collected after campers leave and stored in a bag labeled from that week. They will be held until the end of the season before being sorted and disposed of. Valuable items may be taken to the camp office for safekeeping. If you want an item mailed to you, it will be taken to the local UPS Store (formerly Mailboxes Etc.), which provides a lost and found return service. You provide them with a credit card #, and they will handle it from there. You may also request us to hold an item for you or a friend to pick up at a later date. Obviously, if valuable items are labeled with your child’s name, it greatly facilitates getting them back to you!
Back to top |
