Camp Policies

1. Homesickness

Homesickness is increasingly common among campers. Kimball Camp staff and directors make every effort to keep your child focused on the present moment and the many fun activities and new friendships that can happen at camp, yet complaints of homesickness, or symptoms related to homesickness, can still occur.

It is up to you to determine how you would like to handle the potential of homesickness for your child, to prepare your child for their stay at camp and the possibility of missing home, and to take ultimate responsibility for picking up your child if complaints and/or symptoms of homesickness become unmanageable for camp administration and staff. 

As part of this registration form, you will have the opportunity to choose how you would like homesickness to be handled by camp staff if it occurs. Children occasionally request to call home. It is up to you to determine whether you would like the camp to allow your child to call home or not. Your selection will be confirmed with you and your child when you arrive at camp. It is important for your child to know that the camp is not making this decision, but is honoring the decision made by the parent or guardian, if the request comes up.

Calling home does not mean that the child will go home. Sometimes, a chat with a parent or guardian helps a struggling child feel supported and encouraged to jump back into the camp experience. Other times, it can distract them further from their experience at camp and make the adjustment harder. 

Likewise, asking that your child not call home does not mean that you do not care about your child. You may see it as a necessary step in helping your child to develop independence and resilience. Ultimately, there is no single right answer that can be applied to all situations, and it is up to you to determine how you would like this situation to be handled if it occurs. We encourage you to discuss the topic with your child before they attend camp.

The camp reserves the right to call home regarding any serious concerns about your child's wellbeing or behaviors that seriously impact the camp experience for your camper or other participants. Kimball Camp staff and directors do everything in their power to enable your child to stay at and have a fun experience at camp. However, the camp reserves the right to require the parent or guardian to pick up their child at any point in the camp stay when health or behavioral concerns, including those related to homesickness, cannot reasonably be managed by the camp. In such cases, the refund policies as stated in this form apply, even if you as the parent or guardian disagree with the decision made by a camp director to require an early pick up.

2. Behavioral Issues

Kimball Camp staff and directors will do everything reasonably possible to support your child in the case of behavioral challenges, with the goal of enabling them to experience a full and fun week at camp. Yet, the quality of the experience for all participants must be considered. If the behavior of your child has a negative impact on their own experience and/or the experience of those around them, and reasonable efforts to support and encourage your child to choose more constructive behaviors are not successful, a camp director may at his or her sole discretion require you to pick up your child early from camp at any time during their stay. In the event that a camp director calls you to request that you pick up your child, you must do so at the earliest possible time after receiving the request. All of the refund policies expressed in this form will hold true in the case of an early pick up resulting from camper behaviors, even if you as the parent or guardian disagree with the decision made by a camp director to require an early pick up.

If you are concerned that behavioral issues may prevent your child from being successful at camp, we highly recommend having a sincere conversation with them on the topic before your arrival. We also encourage you to call the camp office in advance and talk with us about your specific concerns. We are not here to judge; we are here to encourage and support. The goal is for every child to have a successful and fun week at camp. Your honest communication can help us better prepare for and support their success.

Kimball Camp directors want every camper to have a fun, safe, and full-length stay at the camp regardless of any challenges they may face along the way.

3. Refund Policies

A $30 deposit is required upon initial registration to confirm your child's place in the summer program. Some weeks fill to their maximum capacity, and requiring a deposit ensures that spaces are only held for children who will actually attend, therefore giving all participants a fair chance to attend camp. The deposit also ensures that a small percentage of the cost of preparing the facilities, staff, and program for all participants is covered even in the event of cancellations.

Payments may be made in part or in full prior to the participant's arrival at camp, and any balance due is required upon arrival. Every participant's stay at camp must be paid in full upon their arrival at the very latest. Kimball Camp accepts checks made out to Kimball Camp YMCA (a $30 fee applies to returned checks), online payment using the "pay" tab on the website, cash upon arrival, and candy sale credits as payments for all camps offered, as well as for photos, videos, or camp store items.

No refunds will be provided for payments made using candy sale credits, at any time, for any reason. All proceeds from the candy sale and resulting credits are fully nonrefundable and must be applied to the week of camp for which a participant is registered at the time of signing up for the candy sale. The candy sale provides participants with an opportunity to fully fund their camper's stay at camp, including camp store credit, with no out-of-pocket expense. It does not provide an opportunity to receive a cash refund to use for other purposes if plans to attend camp change or a camper goes home early.

Payments made using a check, cash, or card may be refunded in full if the participant cancels before arriving at camp, minus the $30 non-refundable deposit.

No full refunds will be provided after a camper arrives at the camp, except under extenuating circumstances as determined by a camp director. No full refunds will be provided if a camper goes home early due to homesickness or behavioral issues. If a camper goes home less than 24 hours after their arrival at camp, a 67% refund may be issued. If a camper goes home more than 24 but less than 48 hours after their arrival at camp, a 50% refund may be issued. If a camper goes home more than 48 hours after their arrival at camp, no refund will be issued.

4. Food and Snacks

Kimball Camp provides three meals and two snacks per day to residential (overnight) campers, and one meal and one snack daily to day campers. Additionally, fresh fruit is available at all times from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm at the lodge, and water is available 24/7, in the lodge during the day and in cabins at night.

Kimball Camp is committed to meeting every camper's basic needs and more during their stay at camp. If you feel that your camper would enjoy additional snacks or a greater variety of snack options than that provided by the camp, please put sufficient money in their store account for them to purchase snacks at reasonable prices from the camp store.

Snacks are not permitted in camper's luggage or in their cabins. Snacks found in these locations will be confiscated and returned at the end of the camp week. Gum is strictly prohibited in all areas of camp and will be confiscated if found. By submitting this form, you agree to abide by this policy and not pack snacks or gum for your camper. This policy is in place to prevent messes and pests in the cabins. If your camper has specific needs, or you have dietary preferences for your camper that require bringing in outside food, please contact the camp office to make arrangements. 

5. Policies Regarding Language and Dress

The directors of Kimball Camp do not wish to impose their personal beliefs about language, dress, or any other sensitive topic upon campers or any other program participant. It is for parents and guardians to direct their own children in these areas, as they see best. However, the camp does have a responsibility to maintain a camp environment that is comfortable, safe, and enjoyable for all participants, and for that reason, some boundaries are necessary. By completing this form and sending your child to Kimball Camp, you agree that meeting these expectations will be required of your child during their stay at camp, even if they differ from the expectations placed on your child at home or in other settings.

Language and Sensitive Topics:

Foul language is not permitted at Kimball Camp, nor is crude speech regarding sensitive topics, as determined by camp staff or a camp director. Whether or not a word or topic is appropriate for camp may be subjective, and campers may sincerely disagree with a staff person's decision. Your child is allowed to disagree and may even respectfuly explain their disagreement, but the camp staff person has final say during your camper's stay at camp as to what language and topics are permitted or not permitted. Disregarding the staff person's decision may be cause for a camper to be sent home, and all refund policies will be upheld even if the parent disagrees with the decision of a director to require an early departure from camp. We must balance the experience of your camper with the importance of providing a camp environment that is enjoyable for other campers from a variety of backgrounds.

Respectful, age-appropriate conversation about controversial or sensitive topics is allowed at Kimball Camp, as determined by camp staff or a camp director. Such topics could include losing a loved one, experiencing mental or emotional struggles, difficulties at school, or conflicts with parents, siblings or peers, etc. It is important that children and youth are able to process their life experiences with their peers, provided that this is done in a respectful, constructive manner, and that those who wish not to have a part in it may choose not to.

Dress Code:

Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times except during waterfront and other water-based activities. One-piece swimsuits are not required; however, bikinis and thongs are not permitted. 

Closed-toed athletic shoes are recommended in all areas of camp, and required for participation in high ropes and the climbing tower.

For Gym and Cheer Camp, leotards or another type of tight-fitting athletic clothing is required for safety reasons. Loose t-shirts can become caught on equipment. Exposed midriffs are not permitted due to the risk of being scratched during a routine. Close-fitting athletic shorts are permitted and can be worn over leotards or in combination with a close-fitting top. Snug athletic shoes are required.

For Horse Camp, close-fitting clothing and sturdy boots are required for safety reasons.

6. Phones and Electronics

Despite the many constructive uses of cell phones and other electronic devices, it is beneficial for participants to take a break from them during their weeklong stay at camp. Campers under the age of 18 are not permitted to possess devices with internet connectivity or the ability to make or receive calls while at camp. By completing this form and sending your child to camp, you agree to communicate and enforce this policy. 

If a camper under the age of 18 is found to have such a device, it will be confiscated and returned at the end of the week.

If you wish for your child to have access to this type of device during their stay at Kimball Camp, the device must be turned in upon arrival. Campers will be allowed use of the device once per day during a planned half-hour period after dinner. We understand that the ability to connect with you and others, or even keep up with a snapstreak, may be important for your camper. We believe that technology can be a good thing, when used intentionally, in moderation, and in balance with other important life experiences.

Day Campers are not permitted to bring celular devices or other devices with internet connectivity to camp. Because Day Campers go home before dinner, there is no planned time in the day for them to use such devices.

Cameras are permitted at camp. Please note that we cannot guarantee that anything your child brings to camp will return in the same condition in which it came (or at all), and keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to send valuable items like a camera to camp with your child. Cameras are not permitted in bathhouses or bathrooms, and may be stored in your child's luggage in their cabin, but should not be used in cabins. If these policies are broken, the camera in question will be confiscated and its contents reviewed in the presence of at least two adult staff. If no concerning content is found, the camera will be returned to the camper with a reminder of camp policies.

7. Losses or Damages to Personal Property Occurring at Camp

Although camp directors and staff do what they can to prevent loss or damages to personal property while at camp, they cannot guarantee that your or your child's personal property will not be lost or damaged. No refunds, reimbursements, or credits of any kind are offered in the case of lost or damaged personal items.

Please keep in mind that camp is a place where kids play outside and can get dirty. Please do not send items to camp with your child if you would be very upset if they were to become dirty, lost, or damaged.

8. Authorization to Pick Up Campers

Only individuals listed as authorized to pick up your camper on this form, and able to prove their identity with a photo ID, will be allowed to pick up your camper.

Remember to bring your photo ID when picking up your camper. The person running check out may not know you personally. Even if you are the camper's parent or another close relation, you still need to be prepared to show a photo ID. This is for the protection of all campers.

Parents are not automatically authorized to pick up their child. Only the people listed as authorized on this form are authorized to pick up the child. In some cases, a parent may send his or her child to camp without authorizing the other parent to pick up the child. We cannot assume; we can only release the child to people listed on this form as authorized to pick up.

9. Late Drop Offs and Early Pick Ups

A person authorized to do so may drop off or pick up a child outside of the regularly scheduled times. Please communicate with the office in advance. The person doing the drop off or pick up is required to check in at the office immediately upon arriving at the camp. This policy is for the protection and comfort of all campers.

Children will not be pulled from activities until a person authorized to pick them up has actually arrived at the camp. Please allow up to 20 minutes at pick up time for camp staff to bring your child to the office while following camp policies regarding camper/staff ratios, etc. In most cases, your child will be ready to go much sooner.

10. Medications

All medications to be used by the camper must be listed on this form. The medicine itself must be turned in to the health officer at drop-off. It must be in the original prescription container, and the prescription information on the container must match the directions for use provided on this form. Please send only the amount of medicine that will actually be used by the camper during their stay at camp.

No medication of any kind, including over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, medicated creams or lotions, etc., is permitted in any location at camp other than in the health office after being turned in to the health officer upon arrival.

11. Staff/Camper and Adult/Minor Interactions

For the protection of campers, staff, and the reputation of the camp, Kimball Camp maintains a "rule of 3" that applies to all interactions between staff and campers, as well as adults and minors regardless of the role of the minor at the camp. Adults are defined as any person age 18 or older, and minors are defined as any person age 17 or younger.

Whenever any staff person has any interaction with any camper, regardless of the age of the staff person and the age of the camper, at least three total people must be present. Whenever any adult has any interaction with any minor, regardless of the role of the adult or of the minor, at least three total people must be present. 

Although the weight of the responsibility for upholding this policy falls to the adult/staff person in any given situation, the policy is so important that every parent and child should also be aware of it. If you become aware that this policy has been broken at any time for any reason, please report it immediately to a camp director.

If you are unsure about any camp policy or need more information in order to determine if Kimball Camp YMCA will be a good fit for your family or child, please do not hesitate to call the office at 517-283-2168 or email the Program Director at program@kimballcamp.com. We are here to serve you and help your child have a fun, meaningful summer while meeting your family's desires and needs, even in the rare case that that means recommending another great camp that will be a better fit for your child or family. Our goal is for you and your child to have a great time outdoors, both this summer and for a lifetime!