Preschool & Elementary Summer Day Camps FAQ’s
Below are a handful of Frequently Asked Questions we have received about summer day camp at Abiding Presence. Our Children & Family Minister, Michaela Putnam-Kwon, will share this information with you a week before your camper joins us for summer camp, but here are some answers to help prepare you in the meantime. Please feel free to reach out to Michaela if any other questions emerge by email at Michaela@AbidingPresence.net.
When will my registration be confirmed?
Your camp registration will be confirmed by email from our Children & Family Minister within one week of receiving your registration.
How do I pay for camp?
There are a few ways you can pay for camp, online through Tithly, our giving platform, online through Paypal, or by check made out to Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. If you pay online we do ask that you plan to cover the associated transaction fees. We also offer scholarships, no questions asked, just email Michaela if you are interested.
Where does camp take place?
Camp takes place outside (weather permitting) and inside at Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. Students will rotate to five or six workshop stations in our fenced off Playground area, on our back patio (entering through the church), in reserved spaces in the Parking Lot, or in our inside classrooms. In the case of inclement weather or heat index warnings we will remain open and move indoors for camp.
What does a “typical” day at camp look like?
During camp, your kiddos will go inside to Bailey Hall for check-in. Kids can head in to find their cabin leaders where the leader will check them in and give them a name tag. We will open with a welcome, camp songs, camp rules, and prayer before dismissing students to their first workshop activity. Students will rotate though six stations each day with varying themes, including Bible, Art, Games, Science and Snack. Each day they will learn about a Bible story and see it come to life at their other stations. For example, we may learn about Moses and the Burning Bush by creating marble paintings at the Art Station or by playing Lava Tag in our Games Station.
Who is running/supervising camp?
Our Children & Family Minister, Michaela Putnam-Kwon, directly supervises camp during the summer. She is outside monitoring the workshops and supporting camper needs as they arise. Alongside our Children & Family Minister is our Associate Camp Director, Ryan McGowan, who will be providing hands-on supervision and support of all campers. Prior to camp, Michaela, Ryan, Senior Pastor Meredith Keseley, and Associate Pastor Kelsey Kresse, will run trainings with both our college-aged and high school interns to prepare them for camp leadership.
During our Preschool Camps (running May 27 through June 13) we have a staff of college-aged interns who take on a handful of different roles from workshop teachers to cabin leaders. Each cabin will be supervised by 2-3 college students or graduates. Our Elementary Camps (running June 17 through July 26) have even more supervision with the addition of our High School (10-12th grade) Abiding Fellows who become our cabin leaders. Finally, we run a Counselor-in Training for rising 7-9th grade students who accompany our campers as helpers. This looks like 1-2 college-aged interns, 1-2 Abiding Fellows and 1-2 Counselors-in-Training supervising and supporting each cabin.
What does my camper need to bring to camp?
Comfortable Clothing - Wear comfortable, cool clothing that is suitable for activities and crafts outside. We will be learning about caring for God's creation. It’s likely these clothes will get messy from running around or from some of our craft activities!
Sturdy Shoes - Wear comfortable shoes for running and playing. Please no flip flops or sandals. Sneakers are best, if possible.
Reusable Water Bottle - We will help refill water bottles throughout the morning. Please make sure your child’s water bottle is clearly labeled with their name.
Sunscreen and Bug Spray - Come wearing your sunscreen and bug spray as we will be spending our time outdoors.
Change of Clothes - On the first day, bring a marked bag with a change of clothes and underwear to leave at the church for the week in case of accidents or water play. This is highly recommended for our preschool campers and optional for our elementary campers.
Can I visit the church with my camper prior to camp?
Yes! We understand that camp can be a challenging transition for kids and their grownups and we are happy to support that transition in any way we can. If you’d like to see camp and meet the staff, simply reach out to Michaela and she will schedule a time to meet with you.
What about kids with exceptional (special) needs?
If your child has a special/exceptional need, please be in touch with our Children & Family Minister, Michaela Putnam-Kwon. We seek to make our camp workshops as inclusive as possible. Often, we have enough workshop leaders that we can have someone working one-on-one with a kiddo who might need a little bit of special attention. We have several professionals in the congregation who work with kids on the autism spectrum who are on hand to coach our workshop leaders. If your child wants to give camp a try, reach out so that we can try to make it a positive experience.
Can I volunteer or stay with my child during camp?
At the moment we have a full staff planning to work with us at summer camp so we do not need any adult volunteers for our summer camps. Parents/guardians are always welcome to remain on the church campus during camp hours if that would give you or your camper comfort. You are welcome to sit in our narthex, we have couches and open Wi-Fi, and remain for the entirety of camp. We do ask that you do not enter our camp stations as we only have our trained and background checked staff monitoring those areas.
What are you doing to keep kids healthy?
Our current COVID best practices include staying home if you feel sick. Your cabin will miss you, but our priority is keeping you and others safe and healthy. We encourage those who are able to be vaccinated to do so, and we will continue to follow CDC guidance for best practices.