FAQ's FOR TEACHERS & PARENTS

In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation, at minimum, the Lead Teacher must have an accurate student roster in hand to verify that all students are present before, during, and after the evacuation begins. ​ In the event of a student medical emergency which requires an ambulance or EMS transport, at least one (1) teacher is required to accompany the student to the hospital. If the teacher rides in the EMS transport with the student, another teacher must follow the transport to the hospital using his/her personal vehicle. Teachers must stay with the student at the hospital until the parent/guardian arrives. If only two (2) teachers have come to camp with your school, one (1) teacher must stay at camp in the above scenario while the other follows the EMS transport in his/her personal vehicle.

Our certified First Aid team will respond to illnesses and injuries on-site. Students are permitted to miss one (1) class due to illness/injury. However, if they are not recuperated before the start of the second class since falling ill or getting injured, teachers are responsible for coordinating a parent pick-up. Just as importantly, teachers are responsible for waiting with a student that cannot attend class due to illness or injury, or one that is waiting for a pick-up, including overnight. If a student needs to be isolated or requires a late night pick-up, Summit Lodge will be used as accommodations for the student until the pick-up is complete. ​ Please note, the Medical Monitor(s) may call parents to discuss care that is beyond First Aid. If you wish to be present during these phone calls, please let us know.

ALL individuals attending camp (students and adults) must complete the Release Waivers, the Health History form, and the 24Hr Health Screening in order to participate in the CODES program. Students who are bringing medications to camp, must also complete the Medical Form and follow the appropriate preparation guidelines. Medications that are not properly prepared or reported WILL NOT be dispensed. The 24hr Health Screening may be completed by the school nurse/health clerk, a designated teacher, or parents no more than 24hr prior to arrival to camp. Submit all of these forms upon arrival to camp.

Please disclose special diet needs and food allergies for ALL individuals attending camp (students and adults) on the Prior to Arrival form one month in advance of your camp dates. Individuals who have combination food allergies or diets that are difficult for our commercial kitchen to accommodate may be asked to bring their own snack/meal substitutions. Feel free to ask for our menu if you would like to see what will be served. We are a nut-aware facility—we do not serve food that explicitly contains nuts, however we do serve food that “may contain” nuts or has been “manufactured in a facility that also processes nuts.”

During your school's stay, students will work to receive Cabin Awards. Recipients will be dismissed to meals and Rec Time first all day, and net their school 10pts/award. ​ The Quiet Cabin Award is awarded to cabins that are silent and have all of their lights off at the time of the daily "Lights Out" check (9.45pm or 10pm depending on grade level). ​ The Clean Cabin Award is awarded to cabins that have their beds made, all luggage properly stowed underneath bunks, and a tidy restroom. Cabins are inspected during class or Rec Time.

We encourage you to attend classes and hikes. If you have physical restraints that limit your mobility or desire to hike remember that some classes are more accessible than others.

Adult meal options as well as some dietary and food allergy accommodations are provided. ​ Remember to report ALL dietary restrictions and food allergies (student and adult) to us using the Prior to Arrival form. Please be as thorough as possible.

At least one (1) school representative is required to attend all meetings. ​ Tues: 11am in the Dining Hall, medicine check-in, orientation, campus tour Tues: 7pm in the Dining Hall, Student info exchange Wed: 6.30pm in the Pine Center, Teacher-Led meeting Fri: 10am in the Dining Hall, evaluation & reservation renewal Daily: 4.50pm in HQ (Medical Monitor station), medical update of the day's incidents

Use our Adult Packing List and our Student Packing Lists to prepare for camp.

School representatives may be asked to roam or supervise certain Rec Time activities to promote safety and compliance with camp rules. As Time Outs are also occurring during this period, you may be asked to facilitate or be present for these as well. During Rec Time, our team is out running activity stations, therefore students may not return to cabins.

Encourage parents to send mail a week in advance or with teachers on Arrival Day to ensure it arrives on time. Distribute mail at breakfast and lunch only to prevent homesickness. ​Letters and packages can be sent to: Student's Name, School Name, PO Box 397, Angelus Oaks, CA 92305 (Mile High location) Student's Name, School Name, PO Box 4803, Blue Jay, CA 92317 (Alpine location)

Students must be supervised at all times either by Cabin Leaders, Chaperones, Naturalists, teachers, etc. Students are required to abide by the Truddy Rule which states that they must remain in groups of three (3) or more at all times. Our staff is at least 18 years old and has a minimum of one (1) year of childcare or youth experience. Our Naturalists either possess or are working towards the completion of an undergraduate degree and have six (6) months or more of relevant teaching experience.

Teachers, Administrators, and Aides* stay in VIP cabins. Teachers, school administrators, and Aides* stay in VIP cabins. These spaces have separate bedrooms and private bathrooms, a common room, and a shared kitchenette. Bed linens, towels, complimentary toiletries, and WiFi are provided. *Aides that are assisting a student who needs help getting dressed or using the restroom are required to sleep in student cabins.

Alcohol and marijuana use or the possession thereof is strictly prohibited on campus and grounds for immediate dismissal. All teachers, Chaperones, and Aides must be prepared to assist their students at all times of the day and night. Camp reserves the right to take action, including involving District administration, if teachers, Chaperones, or Aides are found with alcohol or marijuana in their lodgings, rooms, or on-site for any reason. ​ Smoking is not encouraged but is permitted by guests in designated smoking areas only; this includes vaping. Any product that produces an ember must be extinguished completely and discarded in an outdoor trash can.

Schools are REQUIRED to bring at least one (1) personal vehicle to camp, for emergency purposes. No exceptions. The vehicle must remain on campus for the entire duration of the school's stay, including overnight. You may not use it to take off-campus trips during the day. Additionally, a minimum of two (2) school representatives must attend camp with their school for the entire duration of the program, including overnight.

Guests staying in VIP cabins are welcome to bring snacks and beverages with them to camp and store them in the provided kitchenette areas. However, please help us keep these lodgings in tip top shape by refraining from bringing these items into the bedrooms, with the exception of water. Students may not bring snacks (including gum) to camp. This is not only to prevent critters from entering cabins, but also to ensure that there are no food allergens brought up to camp unknowingly.

Please prepare your students in advance with knowledge of the following camp rules: ​ No fighting or stealing. Outside of camp, these behaviors can result in criminal charges and are grounds for immediate dismissal. No pranks or bullying. We have zero tolerance for bullying, pranking, telling scary stories, or scaring others during night activities; such infractions are grounds for immediate dismissal. No bad touch. Aggressive or romantic touch is strictly prohibited. High fives, fist bumps, and short side hugs are examples of acceptable ways of showing affiliation at camp. Stay in boundaries. Our campuses have areas that are off limits to students, they should always remain within these boundaries. Stay in your own cabin. There should NEVER be a male student in a female cabin or vice versa. Adults of the opposite gender may only enter opposite-gender cabins if the cabin is unoccupied or in the event of a medical emergency. Listen to your leaders. Always exercise respect and courtesy to all leaders. HAVE PHUN! Students get to choose to either have fun at camp or to be "too cool for school", help us to encourage the former.

Schools are the liaison between Camp and parents; please communicate with them before, during, and after the camp experience and consider keeping them updated during the camp week with photos. Be sure to distribute the most up-to-date versions of all required forms to parents well in advance, so that they can be submitted to camp on time. And remember, phone calls to or from home by a student are not permitted unless there is an emergency.

Teachers are responsible for assisting with disciplining students including calling parents to arrange a pick-up for misbehavior, waiting with a student that is being sent home, and supervising "Time Outs" (TO) during Rec Time. Teachers will choose either the 5-Step System or the 3-Strike System. The 5-Step System: Begins with a verbal warning followed by 5min TO, up to 15min. If the misbehavior continues after a student has grossed a 15min TO, the student will be dismissed from camp and teachers will call home to arrange a pick-up. The 3-Strike System: Begins with a strike, a verbal warning, a 15min TO and an intervention conversation between the student and his/her teacher. If the misbehavior continues, the student receives a second strike, a 15min TO, and will call their parents to report their poor behavior. The third strike results in dismissal from camp. Camp will not send a student home without teacher approval first. If a student is dismissed from camp due to poor behavior, parents/guardians are required to pick up their child immediately regardless of the time of day or night, condition, or convenience.

The following violations are grounds for immediate dismissal: Fighting or stealing Any activity that is inherently dangerous to self or others Outright defiance or intentionally destroying property Cabin raiding, pranks, bullying Unauthorized leaving of cabins or entering cabins of the opposite gender Other behaviors at Camp's discretion (e.g. suicidal ideations) We will not dismiss a child from camp without discussing the incident with teachers first.

Students phones are NOT ALLOWED at camp. Adults should bring phones with data and reliable service to camp. Any electronics more advanced than a calculator are not allowed at camp for students, this includes smartwatches. Camp is an opportunity for kids to unplug, reset, and restore their bodies and minds as they explore the great outdoors and eliminate screentime!

Camp does not take photos to document a school's camp week. We may take photos for promotional purposes, but never for personal use. Please do not ask our staff members to take photos for you or your group; this is against our policy. Photos may never be taken inside student cabins either by students or adults. To the greatest extent possible, it is our goal to promote discretion and privacy in places and scenarios that require it, especially in cabins.

Between the hours of 8:45pm and 8am adults other than Chaperones, Cabin Leaders, and in-cabin Aides shall not enter student cabins unless there is a medical emergency and they have been asked to do so. During these times students are prepping for bed, prepping for the day or sleeping; therefore the safety and privacy of each cabin must be maintained.

Schools are responsible for properly vetting, screening, and preparing all adults with knowledge of their camp responsibilities and camp's expectations of them. The Lead Teacher will supervise and discipline the behavior of all adults attending with the school, including sending an adult home if he/she breaches camp or school policy, becomes harmful to, or inhibits the program. If a student requires an Aide at school, he/she will require an Aide at camp as well. If a student requires assistance with tasks such as getting dressed or using the restroom, the assigned Aide must be the same biological gender as the student, and will be required to sleep in the same cabin as the student.

School administrators and teachers are permitted to visit during their school's camp week; parents are not. Please notify camp at least one (1) month in advance of the date and time you expect to be on grounds using the Prior to Arrival online form (a fee will apply). For all other guests (parents) that wish to visit camp, please set up a tour appointment at least one (1) week in advance of your desired tour dates. If we have guests on campus on your desired date, tours will not be available. You must have an appointment in order to tour camp. We take the safety of our guests and staff very seriously, and will not allow visitors on grounds without advanced notice and approval.

Fall Discount: 1-day Field Trip reservations made for dates in our Fall season (Oct-Nov) receive a 10% discount. Referral Discount: When you recommend the CODES program to another school that results in a reservation, you both receive a 10% discount (up to $1,000). Remember to mention your referral at the time of reservation. Both schools must be in attendance in the same school year. CODES Grant: Schools with a Free and Reduced Meal student population of 80% or more are eligible to apply for this grant and may be awarded a scholarship amount up to $1,000. Only one (1) rate reduction may be applied per group.

Please contact us if your school needs a due date extension asap.

Leadership Camp is open to 5-8th grade school groups. Science Camp is open to 5-6th grade school groups. When it comes to length of stay we offer 1-day Field Trips and 3-day or 4-day overnight camps. 1-day Field Trips are available in the Fall only (Oct - Nov).

We want every child to have the opportunity to experience camp, and partner with schools to make this a reality by offering rates that are comparable to (or better than) other overnight Outdoor Education camps. Our Program Rates vary depending on your school's date of attendance and program selections, so contact us to get the most accurate rates.

Our policy states: "In the event of a cancellation, regardless of advance notification or the cause for cancellation," the school will forfeit its 10% non-refundable deposit amount. In the event that your school attends, but does not meet the minimum attendance number, the school is “obligated to meet the full Minimum Guarantee amount of its contract”. "A request for a full or partial refund must be submitted in writing 120 days prior to the reserved date, and must be done by the person who signed the contract" for a refund of any amount other that is not the 10% non-refundable deposit. Camp DOES NOT issue refunds for students that are dismissed from the program due to illness, injury, or behavioral issues. Any refunds issued will be returned to the school, not individual families. Parents/guardians must inquire about refunds from the school, not camp.

Zipline is not included in your reservation, but is available to add as an additional Adventure Activity. Please reserve this activity at least one (1) month in advance of your camp dates. For the safety of students, it is understood that inclement weather may delay, change, or cancel Adventure Activities. A full refund for zipline will be issued in the event of cancellation due to weather. Zipline is operated during Rec Time, one (1) Rec Time period = 1hr. Rate: $175/hr