Aren’t ALL camps ACA accredited?
Where do most of your campers come from?
How many campers are in camp and how are they divided?
Where does your staff come from?
Tell me more about your staff.
How does my child(ren) get to camp?
How about getting my camper’s luggage to camp?
What do the campers do at night and what time do they go to bed?
Does everyone eat at the same time?
What type of food do you serve?
What if my child takes regular medication? How is that handled?
Do all summer camps have a doctor on-site?
Aren’t ALL camps ACA accredited?
No! Absolutely not. We take pride in being ACA accredited. It is the best evidence parents have of a camp’s commitment to a safe and nurturing environment for their children. This voluntary accreditation assures parents that camp practices have been measured against national standards and go a step beyond a state’s basic licensing requirements. Accreditation is based on a commitment by the camp to best practices. Accreditation requires the camp to pour substantial time, energy and financial resources into achieving and maintaining the accredited status. Accreditation is a sign that the camp is willing to go the extra miles to ensure the camp is safe, the staff is well-trained and the programming excellent. For more information, click here.
Where do most of your campers come from?
Our campers come from all over the world and all are welcome to Camp Tall Timbers. A portion comes to us from the Washington/Maryland/Virginia areas. Additionally, we have campers from Pittsburgh, PA, Atlanta, GA, Florida, Spain and France.
How many campers are in camp and how are they divided?
Camp Tall Timbers operates a program for between 150-175 campers. We cap our enrollment to ensure that each camper gets the attention he/she deserves and that our facilities are readily accessible and abundant. Division is made by both gender and the school grade they have just completed. We have found that by dividing by grade works as a better barometer of maturity than going strictly by age. A cabin group is made of approximately 8 campers and 2 staff members.
Where does your staff come from?
We operate camp with a few different levels of staff persons. First, our counselors. These young men and women come to us from colleges and universities from across the country and from around the world. We spend a lot of time in the off season traveling to college campuses interviewing and hiring qualified staff. A portion of our staff comes to us from Great Britain. They, too, are college students who go through a rigorous application and review process prior to coming to camp. In addition to these talented people, we employ administrators, or unit leaders who oversee cabin and activity areas in camp. These staff members are a mix of teachers and coaches that provide added supervision in the camp setting. We have a 4 -1 ratio of campers to staff.
Tell me more about your staff.
Based on our years of experience we know that the staff we have working directly with our campers makes all the difference in creating a memorable summer. The entire team at Camp Tall Timbers is a wonderful mix of teachers, coaches and college students. Each staff member is carefully selected for their teaching expertise in a given activity area, their personality, as well as their interest in working with children. The staff reports to camp several days ahead of our campers so that they may go through our Counselor Institute. Some of the situations we thoroughly review during Institute are daily responsibilities, staff conduct and emergency procedures. Additionally, by the time our campers arrive, our staff has reviewed all the information about their individually assigned campers as provided by their parents. This is one more way we strive to ensure a safe, fun and personalized camp experience.
Our counselors eat, sleep and interact with their campers. Background and reference checks are just two of the procedures we go through to ensure a staff member is right for our camp setting. Many are graduates of our “counselor – in – training” program and/or are former campers. Were proud of our 4 to 1 camper to counselor ratio.
How does my child(ren) get to camp?
We provide charter bus service from Baltimore, MD, Rockville, MD, Tyson’s Corner, VA and shuttle service from Dulles International Airport. These services are available at no additional cost. You are of course welcome to drive your child to camp as well. As we continue to grow, we will offer service from other areas. Call us for detailed directions.
How about getting my camper’s luggage to camp?
We request that your child’s luggage arrive at camp prior to their arrival. This allows us to take the time to unpack and store their luggage. Then, when your child arrives at camp the cabin is already set up and we are ready for them to get involved in camp, not hassle with unpacking. Luggage service is available at the bus pick up locations, and via UPS.
Camp dress is casual and no uniforms are required. We do recommend that all campers have two Camp Tall Timbers t-shirts so that we, as a group, are easy to identify when on an off site camp trip. A camp baseball hat is also recommended. We have a recommended clothing list available for your use. Check out the Camp Tall Timbers store!
What do the campers do at night and what time do they go to bed?
Each evening we plan an activity for our campers. It may be Campfire, Song Pantomime Night, Cheesy Skits, Pool Party or Game Night to name just a few. After an evening snack, campers’ bedtime varies depending on their age and the pace of our day. Lights out range from 9-10:30.
Does everyone eat at the same time?
While we may stagger the times that campers enter the dining hall, the entire camp population eats together.
What type of food do you serve?
We serve well-balanced meals, professionally prepared in our kitchen. Breakfast consists of a hot entree in addition to bagels, toast, and a fruit and cereal bar. Milk and juice are also available. Lunch always contains a salad bar and a rotating, kid-friendly, main course and side items. There is Grilled Cheese, Pizza, Turkey and Pasta, just to name a few. Dinner is another well-rounded meal with a hot entree with vegetables and a full salad bar. All lunches and dinners include dessert. Low fat and vegetarian options are always available.
All of our cabins are new or have been renovated over the last 5 years. All have full electricity, showers and toilet facilities. The cabins are constructed to be used in spring, summer and fall. They are insulated and have screened windows for better temperature control and have closed ceilings. Shelving is provided in the cabins so that campers may store their clothing and not have to live out of a trunk or suitcase.
What if my child takes regular medication? How is that handled?
For safety reasons and in conjunction with the American Camp Association guidelines all medications are kept locked in the infirmary. Our nurse brings all medications to the dining hall at mealtimes. Campers can simply come to the medical table, take their medication and continue with their meal. All medications are properly labeled and strict records are kept to record the medicine dispensed. We can even give routine shots at camp. Please call us to ask any questions that you may have concerning our medical department.
Do all summer camps have a doctor on-site?
No, many camps do not. We feel it provides added peace of mind for our clients that we have a Doctor living at camp. While our registered nurse can handle most medical situations, having a physician at camp brings even more expertise to any situation.
