Frequently Asked Questions
What medical facilities are at camp?
Health and safety of our campers and staff is our highest priority and we work very hard to keep everyone physically and emotionally safe each and every day. That being said, accidents will and do happen. We have a well equipped health facility at camp with a registered nurse living on-site. Staff are trained during orientation in first aid and preventative care for their areas of instruction around camp and first aid kits are available in high use areas. Over the counter and prescription medicines are kept under lock and key in the health center and administered according to labels and doctor’s directions. The local hospital is 25 minutes away. We have an AED on site and the various staff that are trained in wilderness first aid accompany all trips off camp. Radios are also used to keep the nurse informed and available should an emergency arise.
What are the dining hall procedures and how is the food?
Hosmer Point serves a variety of healthy, hearty and tasty meals. Special diets are accommodated and foods are marked or not used if there are allergies (ie: peanut butter). Vegetarian options are always available at all meals. Our chef will need to know of any special dietary restrictions at least 2 weeks prior to the camper’s arrival.
The dining hall is small and rustic. We have a serving counter and salad bar. Depending on the size of the session, movement can get busy w/in the dining hall so we have a few policies to help manage flow. Some meals will be served family style, meaning one person will go and get the tray of food for the entire table, while others will be served buffet, where each camper goes through a line and chooses their own food. To instill a sense of community and responsibility, campers are involved in setting and cleaning up their tables. In addition, we will educate about using a compost bucket and pig bucket for left overs when clearing places.
To go along with our mission of training the environmental stewards of tomorrow, we work very hard to provide me
als as much from scratch as possible, from baking bread to using spinach from our camp garden. Our chef also makes the effort to buy our food supplies locally. There are a number of local farms and gardens that make regular visits to camp with eggs or tomatoes – whatever is in season.
What if my child is homesick?
For some campers, this may be their first extended time away from home. We understand that this transition can be difficult for parents and children alike. Most campers experience some degree of homesickness and this is normal. This is a topic that we cover during orientation and is even something we start to discuss during the hiring process. Our counselors and Directors have the tools and experience to know how to help these children through their difficult periods. Most campers will be fine in the first couple of hours or days.
In order to better promote a smooth transition, we keep up a busy schedule of activities, create lots of ways for children to get to know each other and have the counselors available and engaged with each individual child. Someone from the leadership team will certainly be in touch if a child’s homesickness is getting in the way of their ability to have fun at camp to open a dialogue and involve you in this very real sickness. More often than not, the homesickness will fade and children will feel camp sickness when it is time to leave camp at the end of the session.
How do you select your staff?
Our counselors play an integral role in the Hosmer Point community, serving as positive role models and mentors for campers. We take this job of hiring counselors very seriously. The most important aspect of a prospective counselor candidate is their experience and love for working with children. We look for creative men and women who have an enthusiasm for their activity areas and an appreciation for the outdoors. We will personally interview all applicants and are diligent about checking references both those provided and those behind the references. Many applicants apply to work with us because they’ve had previous summer camp experience. We like applicants that come to us through word of mouth and understand and believe in the mission of Hosmer Point.
What are the living accommodations like?
Campers live in rustic cabins situated along Lake Hosmer. They sleep in bunk beds with 6-8 other campers of similar age and grade. Two counselors sleep in the cabins with the campers. The cabins have screens on the windows, doors to keep the larger critters out and electricity. Male and female campers are separated into different camps, separated by the Bay. Campers share a centrally located bathhouse where there are sinks, toilets and showers. Shelf space in the cabins is limited so trunks to stow under the beds are encouraged.
How does my child get to and from camp?
Most families will take the day and drive to camp. We have a program organized for mid-day to introduce families to the staff once they’ve had a chance to move their camper into their cabin. This gives campers a chance to share camp with their parents and parents an opportunity to meet the counselors, Directors and other support staff. If families are not available to make the scenic drive, we do offer pick up (for a fee) from the Montpelier and Burlington bus and train stations in addition to the Burlington Airport. We need adequate advance notice to organize these pick ups or drop offs. If you are from an area like Boston or NYC where we expect to have lots of other campers, we can help to put you in touch with other families to organize car pooling or even a van to pick up.
How can I communicate with my child when they are at camp?
We are living in an age where technology allows us instant and constant contact. Hosmer Point is a place where we take a step back and unplug. There is no cell phone coverage at camp. Cell phones, Iphones, Ipads and other electronic devices are not allowed on camp. To prove that we are not living in the dark ages, we do offer a password protected page of our website where you will be able to log in and see current pictures of your campers at camp each day.
We will encourage our campers to take pen to paper and write letters home and we encourage you to do the same. Mail call is exciting and warms children’s hearts when they see something addressed to them.
All of this being said, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. If you receive a letter home that has you concerned or even a sad face in a picture and your gut feeling has you wondering. We are always happy to give you an update on how things are going for your child.
What about laundry and getting clean clothes?
Campers should come to camp with two laundry bags. They will send laundry out two times each session. It will be brought to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center where their clothes and belongings will be laundered, folded and returned. It will be important for you to make certain everything is labeled so everything, including socks, are returned. Hosmer Point is a place where children will get dirty, even at times, encouraged. Keep this in mind when selecting what clothes to send!