Camper and Caregiver FAQs

Attending campers must be 6 months out from the death of their person by the start date of the program they are applying to.  Experience Camps is open to campers who are rising 4th-12th grade (depending on location) who’ve experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. To participate in the Experience Camps leadership program (LIT) for rising 12th graders, campers must attend at least one year of camp beforehand. You can view all program dates, locations, and grades here.

Yes. Your child can go to another program location. We do, however, encourage campers to attend the camp closest to their geographic region because we provide bus transportation to camp AND there are regional reunion events for campers during the year they can attend and reconnect with fellow campers.  Experience Camps is unable to offer travel scholarships to campers outside of a program’s geographic region.

Returning camper applications are typically processed within 24-48 hours of receipt. Experience Camps will email you with either an enrollment or waitlist confirmation once the application is processed.  For new campers, Experience Camps requires an intake interview with the camper’s caregiver.  You will receive an email from campers@experiencecamps.org with information about scheduling that call. If you did not receive an email, please check your spam folder and if you still don’t see it, email us at campers@experiencecamps.org.

When a spot becomes available for your camper, they will be enrolled and you will receive a confirmation email and text. Enrollment closes for each program 2 weeks prior to opening day. If your camper has not been enrolled by that point, you will receive an email with instructions on how to apply for camp next year.

Yes, our organization recognizes that grief and loss impacts everyone and our programs are affirming of all of our campers and families identities. Our staff are trained to create safety and inclusivity at camp and our programming is designed with the intention of inviting campers LGBTQIA+ identities in. Your Clinical Directors are available if you’d like to talk more about your camper’s needs or concerns. Click here to read our Gender Inclusion Policy.

All grieving kids, of all genders, are welcome to apply and come to camp. While our camp programs are split between boys and girls, your camper can choose which program they feel most comfortable attending and will self-select when they apply. Click here to read our Gender Inclusion Policy.

All of our bunk counselors participate in a grief training program led by our licensed clinical mental health professionals who specialize in grief work. A number of our volunteers have also experienced the death of a parent or sibling personally and wish to share their experiences with campers.

If you’re logging into your CampInTouch account, forms will be available in the Spring.  You will receive an email from Experience Camps when the forms are available.

Sometimes certain email providers filter ExCamps emails into a “Promotions” folder. See here for a step-by-step guide to ensure our emails land in your primary inbox. If you need help, reach out to campers@experiencecamps.org.

Packing lists are available in your Caregiver Handbook. The link to your Caregiver Handbook is emailed to you when camper forms open in the Spring.

Please see the Travel FAQs.

See the Travel FAQ here for details on flying to camp.

Travel scholarship applications are available in the Spring, and are reviewed and processed on a case-by-case basis. Scholarships are first-come first-served.

Having cold feet about coming to camp is a natural response. You can reach out to the clinical director of your camper’s program for more guidance on easing their anxieties and answering any questions they have. At the end of the day, camper participation should feel voluntary and the best outcomes result from campers who want to come to camp and don’t feel coerced by their caregivers.

We will host a Spring Camper Meet Up for new & returning campers and caregivers.  There will also be opportunities to connect virtually prior to camp.

Download the Campanion app on your mobile device at campanionapp.com. Install the app, sign in using your same login for CampInTouch, and upload a photo of your camper to train the *amazing* Face Finder system to quickly find your campers in our summer photos! You can also fill out all of your forms on the app.

After camp, we will email the contact information so that your camper can stay in touch with their bunkmates and friends from camp. If you would prefer that your information NOT be included in this list, you can reply to the email to opt out of the bunk contact list.

At this time, we are not requiring pre-camp COVID testing or COVID vaccines for campers. For the well-being of our campers, their families, and our staff, we strongly encourage all eligible campers to get vaccinated.

If your child is exhibiting symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, they may be quarantined as recommended by our medical staff. With a confirmed positive test, you will be required to make immediate arrangements to pick up your child within 36 hours of notification. This includes campers who have flown to camp.

We will continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC and our medical advisors. We reserve the right to amend these requirements at any time based on those recommendations. 

Your camper’s health and safety is our number one priority. Click here to learn more about camper safety guidelines and protocols.
While we will use our best efforts to keep your child safe from the COVID-19 virus, we cannot promise or guarantee that this or any other pathogen will not enter camp, and that by the very nature of the interactions that take place in the camp environment, there is always a risk of your child becoming ill with this or any other communicable disease. We want you to be fully aware of this risk in making the decision to send your child to camp this summer and ensure that you are willing to assume and accept that risk on your child’s behalf.