Frequently Asked Questions
Registration Questions
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A: No, you cannot make changes to your registration through the website. To make changes or cancel your registration please contact the registrar at registrar@campdowner.com.
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A: The deposit amount is 50% of your chosen tier.
2024 One-Week Session deposits:
Tier A: $355.00
Tier B: $305.00
Tier C: $255.00
2024 Two-Week Session deposits:
Tier A: $700.00
Tier B: $650.00
Tier C: $600.00
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A: We offer the opportunity during online registration for you to request up to two cabinmates. If you’ve already completed registration, you can send an email to registrar@campdowner.com with your cabinmate request(s). We discourage cabin mate requests between campers who have more than a two-year age difference. We make every effort to honor these requests but please understand that they are not guaranteed. Cabins are assigned just prior to the start of each session. Your camper will find out which cabin they are in upon check-in.
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A: The forms required for your camper are the mandatory Medical Form, Photo Release Form, Waiver, and the optional Covid-19 Vaccination Form and Cabin Mate Request Form. All of which can be found on your camper’s CampBrain account.
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A: All forms and payments are due two weeks before your camper’s first day of camp.
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A: If your camper has been placed on a waitlist, please note that we have no way of knowing if and/or when a spot will open up on the waitlist for your camper. If a slot opens, the registrar will contact the first person on the waitlist.
If you have any questions about registration, please feel free to email the registrar at registrar@campdowner.com.
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A: February 3rd, 2024 is the first day of Summer 2024 Registration.
May 1st, 2024 is the last day that session deposits are fully refundable. Any time after May 1st, deposits are non-refundable.
The remaining tuition balances and all necessary forms are due two weeks before the first day of your camper’s session.
Please review our Payments and Refund Policy here.
Pre-Camp Questions
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A: We want every camper to have a fun, healthy time at Camp Downer. Here are a few resources we have put together to help prepare your camper for their stay at overnight camp this summer.
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A: Our recommended packing list can be found here. Please leave all expensive clothing and jewelry at home. Your camper will not need any money while they are at camp. Please note that any electronic devices that make or receive phone calls, or connect to the internet are not allowed. Camp Downer is a safe place for everyone to unplug.
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A: No, Camp Downer is closed from Friday at 4:00 pm until Sunday at 1:30 pm. You must pick up your camper during their scheduled pick-up time on the Friday of their first session.
At Camp Questions
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A: All Camp Downer contact information can be found, here.
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A: If you would like to pass along a message to your camper or would like an update about how your camper is doing while at camp, please call the camp office. Our camp staff will pass your message along and answer any questions you have.
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A: Campers sign up for programs on the Sunday of their session. We have a camp-wide meeting where our program heads introduce and describe the different programs that we offer. Campers will sign up for four hour-long programs that they will do each day, Monday through Thursday. Campers will also have two free-time periods a day, also an hour long, where they are able to try different activities and where the activities change daily. We encourage campers to sign up for at least one art program, one sport program, and one nature/aquatics program so they have a well-rounded schedule (and also so they don't totally exhaust themselves by playing sports all day). You can see our list of programs that we generally offer here. Sometimes popular programs fill up, but most programs we offer multiple times a day so campers can get into it during a different period.
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A: Campers love receiving letters and care packages while they are at camp!
Letters:
We recommend dropping letters in the mail prior to your camper arriving at camp to ensure they will receive them in time. While at camp, campers can write and send letters home in the general USPS mail. If you would like your camper to be able to mail letters, you can either give them stamps and stationery or campers can get stamps and camp postcards from the daily camp store. Self-addressed envelopes and cards are helpful, especially for younger campers.
Care Packages:
You are welcome to send your camper their favorite snacks and treats! We hand out packages to campers daily during lunch. You can either leave a care package at the front office when you drop off your camper at check-in, or you can ship a care package in the mail. If you would like to ship a care package to your camper, it is recommended that you ship the package early, before your camper’s session, because packages tend to take a while to get to camp. (If a care package arrives after your camper leaves camp, Camp Downer will not ship care packages back to you, but you are welcome to coordinate with camp staff to stop to pick up late-arriving care packages).
Whether mailing a letter or shipping a care package, please address camper mail as follows:
Camp Downer
ATTN: [Camper Name]
Cabin [Number]
1535 Downer Road
Sharon, VT 05065 -
A: Photos from each session are posted to the photo-sharing platform, SmugMug. On the Sunday of your camper’s session, you will receive an email from our registrar with the link and password for that session’s photos page.
Our online photos provide you with a snapshot of life at camp. Photos will include images of activities and programs. Due to our extensive activities and number of campers, we cannot guarantee photos of your camper every day.
You can also follow us on Instagram @campdowner_vt for additional pictures! -
A: Our camp staff will do our best to support your camper pack up all of their belongings before they leave camp. It is very important that when you pick up your camper, you make sure that they packed everything that they brought. If your camper arrives home and you notice something is missing, you are welcome to call camp to see if the item has been found. If the item has been found, camp staff will work with you to coordinate a time for you to stop by camp for the item. Please note that Camp Downer will not ship items. Any unclaimed items in our Lost and Found will be donated one week after each session.
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Our camp "Store" is something that all campers have access to. Each camper gets two items from our camp store each day. The items consist of things like snacks, candy, stickers, postcards, and drinks. Camper store funds are automatically built into every camper’s tuition.
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It will come as no surprise that we experience many campers who one may describe as “picky eaters.” We have a lot of experience with accommodating specific diets such as vegetarians, vegans, dairy-free, as well as those of picky eaters.
Our dining service is part of an organization that works with public schools who provide meals to schools in the area. Our menu is akin to what you may find at a public school. For example, our dinner and lunch menus includes meals such as pizza, pasta, Thanksgiving dinner, tacos, corn dogs, hot dogs, burgers, with the inclusion of fresh vegetables and/or salads at every meal. Our breakfast menu includes meals such as pancakes, waffles, eggs, bagels, etc. In addition, if the main meal does not appeal to a camper, they always have the option to have a peanut butter (or sunbutter) and jelly sandwich during lunches and dinners and they always have the option of cereal during breakfast.
Additionally, we allow campers to bring their own snacks, so if there is any concern, you can always send your camper with their favorite supplementary snacks.
Emotional and Physical Safety Questions
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A: The best place to provide information on how we can best support your child is on the Camper Medical Form, which you will complete on your CampBrain account as a part of registration.
If your child has emotional or behavioral issues, please reach out to our director at director@campdowner.com to provide details and strategies for how we can best support your camper while they are at camp. This includes but is not limited to autism, hyperactivity, depression, self-harm, or eating disorders. We also ask that you let us know about any learning difficulties, bed-wetting issues, or a recent loss or major change in your child’s life. This makes a significant difference as we work to meet their needs. The more informed we are, the better we can support your child and help them to have an amazing experience while at Camp Downer.
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A: Behaviors directly interfering with the health, safety, or well-being of your child or others may be grounds for dismissal. These include, but are not limited to:
Harming or threatening themselves or others
Bullying behavior, including intimidation, teasing, name-calling, or racial slurs
The use or possession of any alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, or other controlled substances
Our staff does their best to mediate and repair camper conflict, but Camp Downer has a strict anti-bullying policy. Campers sent home for any of the reasons above will not receive a refund. Parents/guardians will be responsible for all transportation coordination. Campers who are dismissed from camp for the reasons above are not invited to register for camp in the future.
Medical Questions
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During registration, you will be required to complete a Medical Form for your camper. This Medical Form will require you to provide information about your camper’s medication information, immunization records, health history, health insurance information, doctor’s information, and an opportunity to list allergies and dietary restrictions.
Before arriving at camp, you should make sure that your camper is feeling well and healthy. This should include a lice check. Upon check-in, camp staff will conduct a health screening consisting of a questionnaire about recent health symptoms and exposure.
Please review our Health Management Practices for more information.
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A: The online Medical Form has a section to list all camper allergies. You will fill this out upon registering your camper. This data will be shared with the food service and healthcare staff. Please note that Camp Downer is NOT a nut-free environment.