NOTE: We do our best to post news and photos daily. However, camp is in rural Vermont and we do not have access to the best internet service. This makes uploading large numbers of photos very difficult. Please bear with us!

We’re excited to introduce you to Campanion, the mobile app we’re using to share your child’s camp experience with you this summer. Using Campanion will allow you to receive a personalized stream of content featuring photos and news. It’s also the easiest way to complete your camp forms.

To get started with Campanion:

• Download the Campanion app. (If that link doesn’t work for you, find the Android version here or find the Apple iOs version here.)
• Login to the app using your Camper Account login and password
• Navigate to Forms and submit those that are incomplete
• Upload a reference photo of your child

We know from experience that phone calls can often be difficult for both campers and parents — happy campers can “fall apart” on hearing a parent’s voice and then go off to resume having fun with their friends, leaving parents worried and concerned. Please don’t feel obligated to schedule a call. As in other areas of camp, we believe in doing what’s best for each camper. In some cases, that may include NOT speaking to their parents while at camp.

Timing of Calls – Campers and parents must wait until the fifth day of the camp session before talking with each other. This will allow campers to better acclimate to camp life.

Scheduling Calls – Phone calls can be scheduled through the Parent Log In link on our website. You will be able to see the dates and times that your child is available and then schedule a mutually convenient time to talk. Your child will call you from our office at the scheduled time. Once the camp session begins, phone call scheduling will be accessible through the Family Log In link.

Last minute scheduling changes due to weather or special events occasionally result in missed camper phone appointments. We appreciate your understanding and will do our very best to reschedule another call as soon as possible.

Time Limit – All calls are limited to ten minutes. We trust we will have your understanding when an office staff member reminds your child that another camper is waiting to talk with his or her parents.

A Note About Camper Phone Calls
As parents, we know that you may feel anxious and concerned about your child’s well-being and happiness at camp. It’s natural to want to help your child and to want to be certain that he/she is happy. With that in mind, some parents unintentionally start to “interview for the negative”. That is, they ask questions in a way that suggests an assumption that things are not going well. We find that it is far more helpful to keep your conversation positive. It’s important to act as a cheerleader for your child’s successes. He/she will follow your lead and proudly share all of his/her accomplishments. If there is something bothering him/ her, he/she will tell you as long as you let him/her know that you’re curious about how things are going. You might want to ask open-ended questions. Instead of asking, “Is anyone being mean to you?” try, “How are others treating you?” Instead of, “Do you like any of the activities?” try, “What’s your favorite activity?”

Please remember that children often worry about their parents when they are away, just like you worry about your children! It’s helpful to reassure them that your family is happy and safe. Instead of saying, “We’re so lonely without you here,” try, “We think of you all the time and imagine you having so much fun at camp!”

We commit to keeping you informed about any and all concerns we have about your child’s successes and struggles at camp. We understand that the children who attend Akeela often have trouble expressing themselves; we will let you know and ask for your help if we are at all worried about that with your child. We believe in being partners with you. Please know that it is always our intention to be open and honest with you about our experience with your child. If you have a call scheduled with your camper, please don’t hesitate to check in with us ahead of time to see how he/she is doing and what you might expect to hear on the call.

Lastly, please note that your child’s cabin counselors are not available to speak with you directly. Instead, you’ll be communicating with his/her head counselor, or with a camp director, as described below.

Parent Communications

First Day Calls (New Campers)
If this is your child’s first summer at Akeela, you will receive a call from a senior staff member within the first 24 hours of camp. We’ll let you know how your child is adjusting to camp and help make sure that you are at ease. Be aware that we have many calls to make on four phone lines. We may not reach you until late in the evening.
Calling Camp
We believe strongly in partnership and open lines of communication with parents. We regularly call parents to share information and ask for advice. You can expect to hear from your camper’s head counselor at least a couple of times during the camp session. You can also call the camp office any time to leave us a message about your child. Please be aware that we are with campers and staff during the day and will typically return phone calls in the evenings. Also, while Debbie and Eric are always available to you, most camper-related calls will be returned by one of our excellent head counselors. (As a reminder, head counselors are not your child’s in-bunk cabin counselors; they are more experienced senior staff members who oversee several bunks at Akeela.)
Special Situations
If an emergency or special situation necessitates immediate contact during the office hours of 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, please call and speak with our office staff. During the evening hours of 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm, please call the main camp number and leave a message. The camp answering machine is checked regularly during that time period. After 11:00 pm, the camp directors can be reached for emergency purposes using an emergency extension available to you when you call the main camp number: 866-680-4744. Please do not use that extension unless there is a true emergency.
Communication After Camp
Part of the reason for our commitment to partnering with parents is that it contributes to the ways in which campers can continue to grow and learn, even after the summer ends. Each family will receive a written summary of your in-season conversations with their child’s head counselor. In addition, please know that we are always happy to speak to or provide written communication with any professionals or organizations/schools who might want to learn more about how your child did at Akeela.

Our goal for all of our campers is that they develop lasting friendships at camp. To facilitate those relationships, we will distribute a contact list for each camp session, so that your child can keep in touch with friends. The list contains mailing addresses and parent emails. (If you prefer to have your child use a personal email address, please feel free to pass that information along to his or her friends after camp. Likewise, if you do not want to have your family’s information shared with the other children in our community, please let us know before the end of your child’s camp session.)

Communication With Counselors
Campers often ask us for their counselors’ contact information. We ask that our staff members not share their personal email addresses with campers. We also ask that they do not “friend” a camper on Facebook or other social media. We do this in an effort to protect their privacy and because we believe that, as a parent, it is your right to monitor communication between your child and any adults in his/her life. If your child would like to write to his/her/their counselor, you can send those notes to us via email and we will forward them to the Akeela staff member. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this policy.