Welcome!
AuSable Outdoor Learning prioritizes the safety and well-being of all campers and staff. We are eager to teach, explore, have fun, and share memorable experiences with your children at camp this summer. The following is information and guidelines to help ensure success for both the campers and camp staff.
Camp Packing List
• Morning Snack and Lunch
• Water Bottle (refillable)
• Rain suit and boots
• Change of clothes
• Hat
• Sunscreen/Bug Spray
• Sturdy shoes (sneakers, boots)
• Towel or pillow case to sit on for lunch and other sit down activities
• A backpack to hold personal items
• No flip flops or sandals
• No electronics or toys
• It is a camper’s responsibility to keep track of all of their belongings while at camp. To support campers’ success in this area, we encourage families to label all belongings with your camper’s first and last name and send all items in a backpack or tote bag.
Important Reminders
• Camp Hours: 9:00am-3:00pm. Campers may not be dropped off until 8:55am.
• To participate in the camp, campers need to be in good health.
• Anyone picking up a camper, even parents, must be listed on the Camper Release form.
• All campers must be picked up and signed out by someone listed on their Camper Release form.
• We must charge a fee of $25 (after a 15-minute grace period) when campers are picked up late. If you know you will be arriving late to pick up a camper, please call the camp director at 248-756-8292.
• Campers may not attend camp until we have the camper registration form completed.
• No swimming is allowed at camp. Children may be in ankle deep water.
Medication at Camp
• Campers are not permitted to carry their own medication at camp.
• All medications required by a camper at camp must be given to the Camp Director at sign in on their first day of camp. Emergency rescue medication (such as inhalers, Benadryl, EpiPen®, etc.) will be carried by camp staff and remain near your camper.
• All prescription medication must be in the original prescription bottle with the camper’s name on the label.
• Please be sure that medication you are providing does not expire before the camper’s last day at camp.
• All remaining medication will be picked up by the camper’s family at sign out on their last day of camp.
Special Programs and Visitors
Guest Instructors/Presenters: Any guest instructors or special visitors will be pre-screened before coming onsite and will follow camp rules.
At this time we are not accepting volunteers
Typical Daily Schedule
Each camp day follows the same basic schedule, though daily activities vary depending on age group and camp theme. Some activities will be done with the camper's assigned age group and some may be a blend of ages. Staff and volunteers are designated for a single group and will not be moving between groups during the week.
9:00-9:15 Camper Sign In
Parents and guardians sign campers in at the Day Use Area at Hartwick Pines or at the cabin at Gahagan Nature Preserve. While we are waiting for everyone to arrive, campers will have social time with their peers.
9:15 Morning Circle
To start off our day, campers will gather to hear the day’s schedule, play some name games, and sing camp songs. On Mondays, all camp teams review the camp rules, the week’s agenda, and talk about camper’s hopes and expectations for the week.
9:30-10:30 Forest Exploration
Children explore within a designated area. They can build, play a game with a friend, dig, look for tracks or bugs, draw/journal, collect nature items, etc. This time of day is a self-directed time for children to be curious about nature. There may be times when they are invited to participate in a themed activity within our nature space.
10:30-10:45 Wash up/Restroom break, Snack
10:45-11:45 Themed Activity
Each day will have a planned activity based on the theme for the week. This may include making observations, collecting samples, making a craft, reading maps, identifying flora and fauna, etc. We may have experts coming in during this time to do an activity with campers on a certain topic.
11:45-12:20 Lunch
Lunch is held eating picnic style sitting outside with their camp team. To make sure they have enough energy for the day, campers, staff, and volunteers stay seated (on their towel/blanket) and focused on eating and drinking water for 20-30 minutes. Campers are encouraged to recycle and compost.
12:20-1:20 Trail Walk
Campers will hike within the park, they may look for certain trees, plants, or signs of animals that we are studying that week.
1:20-2:20 Forest Exploration
Children play within a designated area. They can build, play a game with a friend, dig, look for tracks or bugs, etc.) Campers may choose to play games, to relax and reflect on the day’s adventures, draw pictures, rest, read, and other quiet activities.
2:20-2:45 Sit Spot
Each child will find a spot and have time to reflect on the day, this time may include writing or drawing in his/her notebook or just enjoying the sounds and sights of nature.
2:45-3:00 Wrap-up Meeting and Pack-up
End of day meeting to talk about the day's activities. Campers collect all of their belongings.
3:00-3:15 Camper Sign Out
Our camp day ends promptly at 3:00pm. All campers must be picked up and signed out by someone on their Camper Registration Form. Campers will remain at the Day Use Area Pavillion or cabin until they are picked up. Unscheduled late pick up (over 15 minutes from end of camp day) will be charged the Late Pick Up fee of $25.
Camper Behavior Policy
Whenever possible, AuSable Outdoor Learning strives to offer campers positive choices, to recognize their feelings, to develop language for talking about behavior, and to teach them through conflict. If a camper’s behavior is disruptive to the program or to the experience of others, the following actions will be taken:
1. Staff observing the behavior will redirect camper’s behavior by offering a positive choice.
2. If a positive choice is not appropriate, or if the behavior persists, staff will identify the problem and discuss it with the camper, letting the camper know that the staff member is there to help. Staff will immediately stop any physical (hitting/kicking) or emotional (name calling or teasing) damage being done before moving to the next step.
3. Staff will help the camper identify possible solutions and help them choose a solution. Camp staff will make every effort to check back in with the camper to see if the solution is working.
4. If the issue still persists, or if a camper needs to decompress, staff will ask the camper to take a break from the team’s activities and then talk with them to process what happened.
5. Staff will notify the onsite Camp Director if any situation escalates to the “take a break” level, or if they need additional support. Camp staff will make every effort to check in with camper’s parents/guardians at pick-up, explain what happened and what action was taken by both camp staff and the camper, and discuss additional solutions and ways to support the camper further.
AuSable Outdoor Learning reserves the right to remove a camper from camp for any unsafe or inappropriate behavior including: bullying, violence, sexual harassment, endangering the safety of any camper or staff member, any type of discrimination, destruction of property, theft, verbal abuse, and possession of any type of weapon. No refunds for any camp fees paid will be issued in the event that a camper is asked to leave camp for unsafe or inappropriate behavior.
Session Limit and Waitlist Policy
Campers are allowed to register for all summer camp sessions designated for their age.
When a camp session is full, you may call the camp director to be added to the waitlist for the camp. In the event there is an opening, we will contact individuals on the waitlist in order from first added to last. Waitlisted individuals have a day to respond before the next in line is offered the open position. Once the spot is filled, the waitlist will continue until another opening becomes available. Questions regarding waitlist opportunities should be directed to the Camp Director at 248-756-8292.
Cancellation and Refund Information
All summer camp registrations must be paid in full upon registration. Any cancellation made up to 7 days prior to the start date of a camp program will receive a full refund minus the $35 cancellation fee per session. Any cancellation made within 7 days of the start date of a camp program will not be eligible for a refund.
All cancellation requests must be submitted through email in writing to Camp Director Elly Miller at ausableoutdoorlearning@gmail.com. Refunds will be issued and may take up to 2 weeks for processing.
If a participant fails to attend a registered session without notice, no refund will be issued. In cases of homesickness, dismissal or voluntary withdrawal, there will be no refund of any fees. We reserve the right to grant exceptions in situations as needed. If you choose to switch your registration to a different date, please note that this is only possible if openings exist. This must occur 15 days prior to the first day of your event.
Please contact the camp director if you have additional questions or concerns. Thank you for giving your child(ren) a wonderful summer day camp experience with AuSable Outdoor Learning! We look forward to meeting you all.
Thank you kindly,
AuSable Outdoor Learning