We recognize this is a new program so in addition to what is on our page about 2020 Camp Reimagined, here are some more
FAQs for parents and campers.

Please email camp@montlure.org for any other questions or concerns!

WE ARE “ZOOMED OUT” – HOW MUCH TIME ARE WE EXPECTED TO BE ONLINE?

We know our campers have been asked to be online a lot the past several months. We take being online seriously and while we need to be online to connect with our campers, we are intentional with how use that time and with the amount of time. For our Junior High and Senior High campers, our longest gatherings online will be 40 minutes. For our Juniors campers, our gatherings will be 25 minutes. We ask campers to be online for two segments in the mornings, two in the afternoons, and once every other evening. There will also be “optional” afternoon online gatherings for those who would like to connect more through sign-up activities, and general hang out sessions with our camp counselors. We have planned our online gatherings to be interactive, meaningful, and fun. Very rarely will there be a “talking head” to listen to. In addition, while we hope that campers will be able to participate in everything that does not say “optional,” the reality is there may be times campers can not meet and we understand that, as well.

Here are the schedules for each age group, please note these are subject to change and will be communicated with registered campers:

SENIOR HIGH            JUNIOR HIGH            JUNIORS (1-3)            JUNIORS (4-6)

 

HOW MUCH HANDS-ON PARENT HELP IS NEEDED?

We have tried to develop a program that requires very little parent help. We do not want parents to feel like they are becoming “camp counselors” for the week. Of course, please keep in mind we will not be in direct supervision of campers, and parents should have an understanding of the schedule and activities to monitor what their child is doing. We do hope, though, for working families this can be some time that your children can have engaging activities they can participate in, and self-guide when needed.

Our oldest campers should not need any parent support. For our youngest campers (1-3 grade), they may need a little help with reading depending on their reading level. However, counselors will go over the instructions and help guide campers before they head to to their offline activities. In addition, for all our age groups, we will have a Zoom Room available with counselors simply to ask questions or to receive some help with their offline activities.

Beforehand, we will send parents an incredibly short list of what they can help their campers find prior to camp to make things smoother. For instance, scissors and tape or glue. (However, these are used very rarely.)

For younger campers “logging in” online may be another area that parents may need to oversee. The day prior to camp, we will do a “test run” so campers can understand how to use their username/password on our secure site and test their zoom capabilities. However other than that, they will not need to be navigating to any other online resources. 

We recognize that many families may be eating dinner together or spend time together in the evenings. We have designed our simple evening activities for families to do together, and most of them can be done around the dinner table. The activities are also available for campers to do on their own in the evening, if they wish. 

WHAT IS REALLY IN THE CAMPER BOX AND HOW WILL WE RECEIVE IT?

We have anticipated everything campers will need for their self-guided offline activities we have for them. In the box, they will receive instruction cards for each of their activities we have planned along with all the supplies they need. We have even included the basics such as crayons, pen and pencil, and paper. We don’t want to spoil everything that is included, but we are excited for them to open their box and see the contents. Again, the few things they will need will be in the welcome letter, but they are very minimal.

We have developed a system for campers to have their box delivered to their door a couple of days prior to camp. For those that live out of our delivery zones, we will be mailing through USPS and should arrive a couple of days prior to camp.

They will also be asked to construct their “space” for camp. We expect some campers to go all out and perhaps put tents up in their backyard, while others will make a personal fort in their bedrooms. This is a space for them, set apart from their regular surroundings. You can discuss with them beforehand how they will do this and look at available materials like extra sheets and clothespins that they could use to build their fort. They will be given time during our time at the beginning of the week to do their construction. It is up to the camper and the family to determine the best way to do this, and is just meant to be fun, not to be a burden.

Because of this unique situation, you must register by May 26 in order to guarantee a t-shirt of the correct size in the camper box. All registrations must be received 7 days prior to the scheduled camp week in order to receive a camper box and we will do our best to provide a t-shirt. Thank you for understanding.

HOW WILL THEY NAVIGATE THEIR SCHEDULES AND KNOW WHAT TO DO?

Every camper will receive a unique username and password to our secure and online portal: montlure.virtual-camp.org

This username will be emailed to the parent who registered their camper. For siblings in the same household, you will receive one username and password. You are welcome to login from a shared device, or you can both log in from different devices.

These usernames and passwords will not go out until a few days prior to camp. You will need to “verify” your email address when notified in order for the username/password to work.

The “Camp Week” will not open or be live until the start of camp.

Once logged into the portal, they will see their schedule laid out with different icons. They will simply click on the icon to see their zoom link, or to see brief instructions which will refer to the camper box and activity instruction cards.

They will also have a hard copy of their schedule in their box to follow along, and their counselors will always make sure they know what is next on the schedule.

WILL MY KIDS BE SAFE ONLINE?

As we have always stated, the safety of our campers is our first priority.
In consultation with professionals around the country, we have developed online safety protocols for campers. These protocols will be given to families through email prior to camp, and will be printed out in their box. 

Not only are these online safety protocols good for camp, but we encourage you to talk to your children and youth about internet safety and we will give you a tool to do so. We will also give campers/families our expectations on how campers should use Zoom while at camp. In addition, campers will be asked to watch a short safety video from our staff prior to camp.

The Zoom links will be secure in our portal and only those we give access to will be able to find them.

All campers will automatically be placed in a waiting room so we can verify their identity and make sure they are in the appropriate “room” before allowing them to enter. In our Zoom Rooms, we will always have at least two staff present. In addition, our Camp Director and Assistant Director will always be monitoring rooms. Recordings of the meetings as well as copies of the chat will automatically be saved on our server in case any issues arise that we need to address.

Some Zoom features will be automatically disabled such as sharing screens and sharing whiteboards, and using the private chat feature. All chats will be “public” so we can monitor them and assure it is being used appropriately in real time. (And we have no problem turning off the chat feature in general if a group is misusing it. A staff member will always be watching to take immediate action, if needed.)

Please let us know if you have other questions about online safety. Registered campers will be given all our safety information prior to camp.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Please visit Montlure.org/virtual-camp for more details, however, if you question is not answered, please email us (camp@montlure.org) and we can add it here as it may be helpful for other families.

We know “camp at home” is vastly different than the camp we traditionally offer. However, in a time when we cannot safely meet together, we hope to give our campers and families a taste of Montlure in their homes in a meaningful and intentional way. We can’t wait to “see” everyone!