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Family Camp

The information below is a general look at the weekend, and is subject to change based on weather, etc. Don't forget, what you do is up to you! Do it all or sleep the weekend away on the beach! Our plan for the weekend includes:

Friday
Arrive at camp in the afternoon, get settled in, and enjoy free time on camp, followed by a yummy dinner and opening campfire. Adults up late? Enjoy games, cards & snacks in the dining hall.

Saturday
Up Early? Join us for a Sunrise Hike up Mt. Watatic, or go for a serene morning kayak on the lake. Sleeping in a bit? Join us for breakfast and morning activities. After lunch, enjoy some Kids Only, Teens Only and Adults Only activity choices, then visit the waterfront to swim, kayak, canoe to Blueberry Island, or just relax on the beach. Free time and a late afternoon Siesta lead into a family dinner and Movie Under the Stars! Adults up late? Join us for the 3C’s—campfire, conversation and cookies (homemade and right from the oven)!

Sunday
Up Early? We dare you to join us for Polar Bear Swim! Or, enjoy morning muffins, coffee and the Sunday paper. Sleeping in? Join us a bit later for a scrumptious buffet breakfast and more fun activities, followed by a Kickball Game and BBQ before packing up and saying goodbyes. Got a long drive home? We’ll send you on your way with great memories and some cookies for the road.

Unlike during Starfish summer programs which are designed with a unique 1:1 staff-to-camper ratio, there is NOT a 1:1 ratio of staff to campers at Family Camp. Organized childrens’ programs will be closely supervised by trained Starfish staff, but if your child requires 1:1 supervision for safety reasons, a responsible parent, guardian or teen sibling will also need to be present. At general program times (such as campfires, movie night, and meals, for example), staff members will be present but will be leading activities (or cooking up tasty food!), and therefore supervision of children will be the responsibility of parents/guardians.

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Sample Weekend Schedule

This is a sample of a Weekenders Schedule for October:

FRIDAY
6:00 - 6:30 PM	Arrival at Camp
6:00 - 6:30 PM	Chill/Free Play
	Unpacking & Getting Settled
6:30 - 7:15 PM	Expectations, Gathering, Dinner
7:30 PM	Change into PJ's / Movie Night!

SATURDAY
9:00 AM	Wakeup
9:15 AM	Gathering/Breakfast Pack up picnic lunches for later
10:00 AM	Field Time - GaGa, Soccer, etc.
10:45 AM	Activity Choice # 1
12:00 PM	Field Trip meeting, get ready to go
12:30 PM	Leave for field trip Picnic lunch, outdoor games Field Trip - Apple & Pumpkin Picking
4:30 PM	Return to camp Snack & Rest time, Showers
6:00 PM	Free Play
6:45 PM	Wash up / Gathering / Dinner
7:30 PM	Campfire-n-s’mores
8:00 PM	Ready for Bed Routine, Bunk Chill

SUNDAY
9:00 AM	Wakeup
9:15 AM	Gathering/Breakfast
9:45 AM	Homework & Reading time or LC-style activity
10:30 AM	Activity Choice # 2 (field games, canoeing, arts-n-crafts, etc)
12:00 PM	Gathering / lunch
12:40 PM	Bunk clean up and packing
1:30 PM	Outdoor time, goodbyes
2:00 - 2:30 PM	Departure/Pick-ups

Tuition & What's Included

100 0103 The Weekenders cost includes meals, snacks, activities, field trips, project supplies and staff supervision. If you receive agency funds to help cover respite costs, Starfish is happy to work with you and your agency to determine the best method for billing and payments.

Tuition for 2019 Weekends: $550

Is Weekenders Right For My Camper?

How is camp different from Weekenders programming?

Starfish is proud to be a program where campers with diverse needs can find success and have safe fun. While our summer camp programs are extremely highly structured and tightly scheduled, our respite program is significantly more low-key.

At Weekenders, our day has a schedule that is forecasted and previewed for campers, but activity periods are more loosely organized; for example, if campers choose to sit out and watch a kickball game, they will be encouraged to join in and given options for how to do so, but provided they stay safely with the group, that's OK. Transitions are more casual because campers are not split into activity groups; rather, we gather back up as a full group and announce where everyone is going next. This can take a little bit of time and a little more patience than when campers know that for each day in a two week session, they go to swim lessons after breakfast.

In addition, while we still expect campers (and staff!) to use the Starfish Tools and Keys, and we still have a 1:1 ratio, we do not work directly on individual goals during the Weekenders program in the way we focus on them during summer camp. Weekenders is a time for relaxation and a true "respite" - a break and a full focus on fun, within safe limits and while respecting others' right to also have fun.

If you aren't sure whether the Weekenders style of Starfish programming is going to be right for your camper, we encourage you to talk with a member of our year-round team. Generally, the following criteria help us determine whether a camper is ready for the Weekenders experience:

1) They want to be there. Weekenders is not the place to push being away from home as an "experience" in the way camp can be designed to be. It is not a testing ground for independence. Kids enjoy Weekenders most when they are engaged and having a good time with staff and friends.

2) They are able to go out in the community safely and without behaving outside appropriately defined boundaries. Weekenders participants go on field trips which include car, van or bus rides, brown-bag lunches (that they make themselves with counselor help), time at a public playground where non-Starfish youth and families are playing, and activities at public places like aquariums, parks, bowling alleys, museums, farms, etc. Participants need to be able to stay with assigned staff, be flexible if plans change a little (with coaching and support from staff), and be able to follow directions. Often times, our Weekenders campers do well on community trips with camp staff that they have not been successful participating in with family members because we do maintain much of our Starfish structure while on the trip. However, it is concerning for everyone if a camper becomes disregulated and overwhelmed while out in the community - so please let us know if you believe this will be a concern. Due to our staffing structure and strict ratios, we are not able to leave campers behind at camp during field trips.

3) They have minimal aggressive or high-attention behaviors/incidents. While at camp during the summer program we are prepared and equipped to deal with more consistently aggressive or high-attention behaviors, our Weekenders program is not appropriate for campers who are actively acting out on a routine basis. We do have certified intervention staff on our Weekenders crew; in addition, all of our Weekenders staff are part of our extensively trained summer teams, and at least one year-round director is always present. However, while we certainly expect behavior and are more than happy to encourage participation for campers with infrequently occurring higher needs, at Weekenders we are simply not set up for the constant greater-than-1:1 staffing that persistent heightened behaviors require.

4) They're ready for a great (unplugged) time! Weekenders is different than camp but it's still super fun! Staff make sure that there is lots to do, and we're basically unplugged just like at summer camp. During Weekenders events, especially those which begin at the end of a long week of school, we watch one movie, usually after dinner. Otherwise, there's no hanging out in front of the TV or immersing oneself in video games - it's all live, person-to-person interactions, just like at summer camp. It's not the way most respite programs work - but we like to be different.

As with everything at Starfish, the Weekenders experience is going to feel different for each individual camper. Please don't hesitate to reach out to one of us at the year-round office if you would like help deciding if Weekenders is a good match for your camper!

Enrollment & Registration

The Weekenders program is small and spaces do fill up quickly. Enrollment is limited based upon staffing ratios, available beds, successful completion of summer Starfish programming, ability to participate within behavioral guidelines for Weekenders programs, and other factors.

To complete a request for participation in Weekenders, click here. This request form requires the signature of a parent/guardian. A member of our year-round staff will respond to the request within 4 business days* to confirm enrollment status (*starting from 8/28/17).

Other Logistics

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A complete Weekenders Guide will be emailed to you prior to the Weekend, including a packing list, weekend schedule, transportation details/confirmation, and more. Medication packets will be mailed to you directly at least one week prior to the drop-off. If you have any questions, please call our office or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..