Parent Resources: Frequently Asked Questions Before Camp

No, your child will not be the only new camper in their cabin. Every session, there are always new campers joining us. In fact, new campers often find it easier to make friends and form bonds with other campers, as they’re all experiencing camp together for the first time.

We strive to create cabin groups of new and old campers. As we develop cabin groups in advance of opening day, we are mindful about ages, personalities, where campers are from, who their counselors will be and more. We want the dynamics of the cabin to be successful. Trust us when we say that we are very intentional about camper placement in cabins.

Absolutely! Making friends is a big part of the camp experience, and our staff are trained to help facilitate friendships and create a supportive community from the moment your camper sets foot onsite. We use games, activities, and shared experiences to bond our campers to each other.

Your camper’s cabin group will be their main cohort. This cabin pack eats meals together, participates in evening programs together, and spends plenty of down time together getting to know each other.

While the cabin mates become a home team of sorts, your camper will interact daily with the entire community. Afternoon activity groups are created based on your camper’s interest, creating a breadth of ages in a learned experience. What is cool about this is a camper who is 8 may find a connection and friendship with a 10 year old. Our Activity Coordinators are well versed in teaching to different abilities and ages and often utilize older campers as mentors for younger campers.

Many campers form lifelong friendships at GRP.

At GRP, we prioritize building a strong and supportive community. We start by fostering a sense of belonging among campers through icebreakers, team-building activities, and shared traditions. The counselors work from Day 1 to create a cabin culture where all voices are heard and respected in equal measure. We also encourage campers to be themselves and embrace their individuality, while also respecting and valuing each other’s differences. As a camp community, we gather less than an hour after the families have cleared out in a respect circle committing in community to respecting ourselves, each other, nature, and the camp facilities.

Our staff are trained to handle a variety of issues that may arise during camp, from homesickness to behavioral challenges. If we notice any challenges or concerns with your camper beyond the average range, we will communicate with you promptly and work together to find a solution. Please know that “no news is good news.”

All of our staff are carefully screened and trained to work with children in a camp setting. We prioritize hiring staff who are enthusiastic, responsible, and empathetic. We also provide ongoing training and support to ensure that our staff are equipped to support all of our campers’ needs. We also encourage parents to reach out to us with any insight that you may have as to how best to support your unique child. This is especially helpful if anything has changed since initially completing your camper’s forms. What comforts your child? What activates/triggers them? Be candid as this helps us to best support your child while here. Please reach out to Hayne directly with this information.