Frequently Asked Questions
Parents
We have perfected our packing list over the years. The official packing list becomes available for enrolled families in the online Parent Portal in early Spring. Important items to note include: a rain jacket, water shoes such as crocs, a sleeping bag, and a headlamp.
Supporting campers with homesickness is our specialty and it's a normal part of sleepaway camp. If homesickness pops up in a cabin, our counselors and Village Leaders are trained to work with the camper. When necessary, our Camper Care Team will get involved. The Camper Care Team, led by Kat Harlan, our Head of Community, and Sam Bloom, our Director. Our Head Nurse and Camper Experience Coordinator also make up the Camper Care Team to ensure an all-hands-on-deck approach. The Camper Care Team supports the camper and their counselors to make sure they get the attention and encouragement they need. Sometimes this includes some tough love because we know that overcoming homesickness will boost a camper's confidence. As much as possible, we will work with the camper to overcome homesickness before calling home. If our tactics at camp don’t seem to be working, you will hear from either Kat or Sam so we can all work together to build up your child and have a successful time at camp.
Many families choose to drive to drop off or pick up their camper(s). We also provide a coach bus Shuttle Service to and from the Greater DC Area. If the drive to camp becomes inconvenient or cumbersome, we highly encourage you to utilize the Shuttle Service to camp, from camp, or both ways for your camper(s). Some families plan their trip to include a few days of exploring the area before, after, or during your camper’s session.
Our number one priority is the health and wellness of our campers. At Camp Hidden Meadows, we have a well-equipped, modern Health Center stocked with the supplies needed to take care of our community. We hire a dedicated team of medical staff each summer, including two Registered Nurses and a few staff members with additional first responder certifications. There is one nurse on duty at all times during the day and throughout the night.
Across all of camp, our staff to camper ratio is 1:2. We hire a lot of staff to make sure our campers are supported throughout the day. We have a minimum 1:6 ratio of counselors to campers in each cabin, with 2-3 counselors in every cabin.
During the non-summer months, hiring a dynamic, child-centered staff is our top priority. We are always looking at the most innovative ways to find counselors who are the right fit for our camp. All of our staff go through a thorough, considerate hiring process, including multiple interviews, personal and professional reference checks, and background checks. Staff members arrive one to three weeks before campers for Staff Orientation and additional certifications and training, such as for lifeguarding and climbing. Staff Orientation consists of everything from cabin life and activities to homesickness, safety, and emergency procedures.
Our online Parent Portal is a parent’s best friend and great resource in the summer. We have a one-way email system that allows parents to write daily emails to their camper(s). These emails are printed and delivered to the campers in their cabins. We have brought back eLetters to allow for campers to write handwritten eLetter replies that are scanned and emailed to the parents each day through the online Parent Portal system. Campers can also write old-fashioned snail mail home. Our Camp Photographer on staff takes photos throughout the day and uploads between 300 - 500 photos each day for parents, family members, and friends to see all that is happening at camp.
Yes! Kids need summer camp more than ever and we are happy to help families who cannot afford the full tuition of a session. Camp scholarships (“Camperships”) are need based and require an application. Visit our Financial Assistance page to learn more about our Campership Program.
Campers
You can stay or attend for more than one session. If a camper is attending for consecutive sessions, there is a limit on the number of camper spots available to stay over on the weekend for an additional fee. Parents can also pick up their camper on Saturday for a one-night visit in-between sessions, and then drop them off again on Sunday. Contact our office to learn more about attending for more than one session at Camp Hidden Meadows.
We work hard to create a kid-friendly, healthy menu for three meals a day and two snack breaks between meals. Each meal has well-rounded options to fill their plate, and standard alternatives that are offered every day if campers do not want the main dish. For example, fresh fruit and yogurt on the buffet for breakfast every morning, and a salad bar available for every lunch and dinner. Learn more about food and nutrition at Camp:
Campers may request up to two cabin mates of other campers who are attending for the same dates of a session. While cabin requests are not guaranteed, we make every effort to accommodate requests where possible and where it makes sense for cabin life. A group of three or more campers requesting each other may be split up to encourage making new friends and a sense of community within each cabin.