ALLERGIES
Our camps are not nut-free camps, however, we do our best to accommodate our campers with allergies. All campers are encouraged not to bring foods to camp that contain nuts. During lunch and snack periods, a nut free table is designated and any campers who have food items that are nut free are invited to sit at this table.

BACKPACKS
Each camper needs a backpack to hold the items they will need each day:​

• Lunch (Lunches are not refrigerated during the day. Plan accordingly.)

• water bottle

• extra set of clothes

• towel

• bathing suit 

• bug spray*

• sunscreen*

• Creeking shoes (old shoes that can get wet) for hikes down to the stream. These can be kept at camp all week.

*For more information regarding sunscreen and bug spray, please see the "Bug spray" and "Sunscreen" sections.

BUG SPRAY
Summertime brings lots of annoying bugs.  In order to ensure the comfort and safety of your camp please use bug-repellent wipes or spray.  Please pack extra bug wipes or spray in a bag marked with the camper’s name and a signed note directing, “The Whitman Camp staff may ap­ply bug repellent as needed”.  This can be kept in the camper's backpack.

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CAMP SCHEDULE 9:00 - 3:30

Drop - Off: 8:45

Camp activities officially start 9:00. Doors close at 9:10 and late campers will need to be brought in to the Camp Office. Parents will need to ring our Camp Doorbell in the lobby on the white wooden stand up sign..  DO NOT ring the school or office door bell.

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Pick - Up: 3:05 - 3:40

We start our dismissal at 3:05 and end carpool at 3:40. Campers left at carpool after 3:40 will be brought to After Care and parents will be charged for late pick-up.

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Need to pick up your camper before the end of the camp day? Call or text the Camp Office 301-820-8008. We will have your camper in the office and ready to go. Pull up to the front of the school building and we will walk your camper out to the curb to your car. All early pick-ups must be before 2:30. 

CAMP SNACK BAR 

The cost of a snack and a drink during Snack Time is included in the cost of tuition. It also includes pizza on Friday.
Each day at Snack Time, the Camp Snack Bar will be open for campers to get a snack and drink.  A variety of snacks will be available, along with water and Gatorade.  Portions sizes are small and attempts are made to stock the Camp Snack Bar with healthy snack choices.  Camp Snack Bar is optional and parents can opt instead to pack a snack from home to be eaten during Snack.  All snacks are nut-free and approved by our Camp Nurse. Snack is included for all campers at no additional cost.

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CONTACTING THE CAMP OFFICE DURING CAMP 

The camp day is hectic and the Camp Office is the hub for everything. There are many times throughout the day that our camp activities require All Hands On Deck and we are not available to chat right away. Text messaging and email are the fastest and easiest way to get a quick response from staff because they are able to check these while on the move if needed. If you call the Camp Office and no one answers, please either leave a message or text us and we will respond as quickly as we can.

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COLOR WAR

Color War is a Camper and Counselor favorite!

Throughout the week, campers compete in a variety of challenges and competitions, while working to earn points for their teams. On Fridays, Color War culminates in a whole camp challenge.  Friday afternoons, the much anticipated announcement is made for the weekly winner of Color War.

Color War is mixed into random groups, evenly divided to include a mix of ages and gender. This random grouping does not include friend requests. It is an opportunity to meet new friends and build our camp community.

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CREWS

Crews are set up as a home base for campers by grade level. In the mornings when campers arrive to camp, they will head to their assigned Crew rooms. Staff will take attendance, and go over the daily schedule and campers will participate in team and relationship-building games and activities before heading to the Whole Camp Meeting. The Crew room is a space for campers to store their belongings for the day. 

In the afternoon, campers will head to their Crew rooms to gather their belongings and wait to be dismissed to carpool.

During the registration process, campers can request a friend to be in their Crew. We will do our best to accommodate this friend request. Crews are a great time and safe space to meet new friends. 

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DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP 

Please plan to pull up curbside at the SCHOOL carpool circle for drop-off and pick-up for all camps.  During drop-off and pick-up, counselors will be on duty to check your camper in and out of camp. The carpool line may seem long, BUT we promise that if all parents follow the rules:) it will move quickly. 

 

We are asking for parents to pick up in the carpool line only. No Parent Walk-Ups. Please plan your timing accordingly. If you need to pick up your camper early, please plan to be there ahead of the carpool line and contact the Camp Office in advance.

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EARLY PICK - UP

Need to pick up your camper before the end of the camp day? Call or text the Camp Office at 301-820-8008. We will have your camper in the office and ready to go. Pull up to the front of the school building and we will walk your camper out to the curb to your car. All early pick-ups must be before 2:30. Please give our staff at least a 15-minute heads up that you plan to pick up your camper early. It takes a few minutes to locate the camper, get them to pack up, and then walk to the front of the school. 

 

EXTENDED CARE OPTION

Before Care: Drop off begins at 8:00 at the front of the school. One of our Before Care Staff will meet you outside and will walk your camper into camp.

 

After Care: Pick-up ends at 5:30. Please come to the front of the school and ring our Camp Doorbell located on the white wooden sign in the lobby. DO NOT ring any of the doorbells on the lobby wall. Campers picked up later than 5:30 will be charged a late fee.

 

Our Before and After Care programs provide a safe and structured environment that still provides campers with the choices they have during the camp day. Campers will have active and relaxing activity options depending on their interests.

FRIENDS
Camp is always fun when enjoyed with a friend, or group of friends! There is a friend request section in the online registration. We will do our best to accommodate friend requests only within Crew Assignments. It is NOT guaranteed that your camper will be placed with all of the friends they requested in their Crew. We will make sure they are at least with their #1 friend request. Campers can coordinate their schedules by choosing the same Pick Classes during registration. They can also be together during Lunch, Free Play, and Water Play.

We also believe that part of a great summer camp experience is meeting new friends and forming new friendships. Our camp provides a variety of camp activities and a variety of camper groupings throughout the camp day in order to encourage new friendships.  This helps bond our campers as a whole camp family!
 

HAND SANITIZER

We will have plenty of hand sanitizer throughout the camp spaces. Campers do not have to bring their own.

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HAND HEALTH PRACTICES

We have created a daily schedule that allows for longer transition times between activities. This will allow Campers and Staff time to practice effective Hand Health, such as Hand Washing and visiting Hand Sanitizer stations.

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LUNCH

Campers should bring their own lunches.  Lunches will be kept at room temperature; refrigeration is not available. Pizza will be served on Fridays for all campers who wish to participate. The cost of Pizza Lunch is included in tuition. 

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MEDICATIONS
Campers will not be allowed to carry medication nor administer medication independently.  All campers needing an epi-pen will need to fill out a special Medication Authorization Form that will need to be reviewed by our Camp Nurse. Please do NOT drop off emergency meds without this form.  Also, please check the expiration date on all medications prior to the start of camp.

 

MESSY DAY - Day Camp

Every Wednesday, Campers will participate in a variety of Messy Day activities.  These messy activities are optional. If a camper does not want to get messy, there are plenty of activities planned throughout the day to give them other options. If your camper does plan to get messy, well then, they will certainly get messy:) Plan to pack or wear clothes that are ok to get messy and possibly stained. Campers who get messy will definitely need to pack a change of clothes and a towel. Even if your camper declares they don't want to get messy...still plan to pack a change of clothes and towel just in case. Often, campers want to see it in action before they try it out. 
 

MONDAY DROP OFF

Please stay in your cars during drop-off. There will not be a registration line for parents and campers, as we have done in the past. We are collecting Health Forms online:) These forms will be completed during the registration process. Yay!

 

NURSE

Whitman Summer Camp has a full-time camp nurse on-site at all times during camp hours. Our registered nurse will tend to any camper medical issues that arise during camp, including tending to minor injuries and illnesses and administering medications to campers who have submitted the proper forms. Email our nurse: Amanda Williams at whitmancampnurse@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

PIZZA FRIDAYS
Campers will have a pizza lunch on Friday. The cost of Pizza Friday is included in the camp tuition. Campers will also get a snack and drink to go with their pizza slices. We order from Milanos Pizza in Germantown if you need to call and check for Food Allergies.

SUNSCREEN
To help our camp staff protect your camper from sunburn while at camp, please do the following essential steps:

• Always apply sunscreen on your camper at home each morning

• Use a lotion that has at least 30-50% UVA/UVB protection.

• Day Campers ONLY - If requested, we will re-apply sunscreen to campers prior to Water Activities in the afternoon. Please bring sunscreen to camp in a ziploc bag, clearly labeled with your camper's name. Email the camp nurse if your camper needs assistance or reminders to reapply their sunscreen.

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WATER PLAY, FREE PLAY and POP-UP CLASSES

Our Water Play and Free Play block is designed to give campers more freedom to make choices about their activities. During the last block of the camp day, Campers can get wet on our giant water inflatables or stay dry while participating in a large variety of activities. Campers manage their own time and choices during this supervised free period. Campers can experience arts and crafts, field games, Gaga, 9Square, board games, bracelet making, face painting, yoga, dance party, indoor sports, play on 1 of our 3 playgrounds or jump around on our many dry inflatable options. The options are endless! 

Day Camp Campers who choose to get wet, will need to bring a swimsuit, towel and change of clothes to camp each day.  It is optional to wear a bathing suit to camp each morning to save time on changing before water play.

Please note that sometimes, campers will opt not to change prior to carpool and change at home.

Day Campers - Daily Water Play and Free Play

Sports Campers - Friday Water Play

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​MONDAYS - CAMP SWAG DAY

Mondays at camp are a great chance for Returning Campers to wear their camp shirts from past summers or if they are ALL IN ALL SUMMER, they can wear their new All in All Summer shirt to camp that day. Campers can also check out our Camp Store and wear swag from the store on Mondays.

 

TUESDAYS - CAMP SPIRIT DAY

Tuesdays at camp are all about showing off your Camp Spirit. Each Tuesday will have a different theme for campers to dress up. Campers who come to camp dressed for that week's theme, will gain a point for their Color War Team. Theme Days for each week will be announced in January.

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WEDNESDAYS - MESSY DAY

Wednesday is Messy Day!!  Messy activities are optional. If a camper does not want to get messy, there are plenty of activities planned throughout the day to give them other options. If your camper does plan to get messy, well then, they will certainly get messy:) Plan to pack or wear clothes that are ok to get messy and possibly stained. Campers who get messy will definitely need to pack a change of clothes and a towel. Our Camp Store has the perfect Messy Day shirt for campers to wear on Messy Day!

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THURSDAYS - CAMP T-SHIRT DAY

Every Thursday, Campers will wear their 2024 Whitman Summer Camp T-shirt to camp for our whole camp photo. Camp shirts go home with campers on Tuesdays. Camper will receive 1 shirt for the summer and will be given the shirt size listed in their registration. We say it is better to go a little bigger on the shirt size so campers can wear their shirts for a few years. 

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FRIDAYS - COLOR WAR DAY

Every Friday, Campers will wear their Color War Team Colors to camp. Campers will be given a point for their Color War Team for showing off their Team Spirit.

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