The Campground

We need to make a deal. The deal is that you cannot laugh at my attempt to create my first video with my new Flip video camera. (Smiling.) When I was in the Virgin Islands a few months ago, I took tons of footage (well, I thought I did anyway) and this is all I was able to get. I promise I'll get better!

Tracey
Camp Director
CampCaribe

Water Camps

Sometimes I think I know something and sometimes I just know. I was talking to a Jack & Jill mom and she confirmed what I do know about the lack of diversity in camps that specialize in water activities. She sent her daughter - who had an interest in marine biology - to a program where she spent an entire 2 weeks (?) on a boat in the interest of searching out the patterns of whale migration. Very cool. The boat/camp made a U.S. land stop and participated in a 4th of July parade where her daughter was stared at by the locals. Not because she smelled like fish; and not because had on a funny hat. She was - yet again - the only Brown Girl in the program.

What I don't know is why parents from diverse backgrounds don't necessarily expose their children to sea camps. Even if a child doesn't have the best swimming skills, a life vest becomes the necessary support and any Adventurers best friend. After all, nothing can compare to the delight in a child's eyes when she sees a school of dolphins right off the edge of a boat. It beats Sea World, that's for sure.

Tracey

Camp Director

CampCaribe

Parent Communication: Camp Safety & Security

Other than having a fantastic time at camp, safety for your children is of primary concern at CampCaribe. This learning adventure program was intentionally set to take place in a United States territory in a U.S. National Park (Virgin Islands National Park), where regulations are strictly enforced and emergency services are the same as in any other area of the U.S.

Here is what you need to know about safety and security at CampCaribe. Please feel free to post any questions or comments:

1. Water and Food on St. John: The water and the food are safe on the island.
2. Critters. Mosquitoes can be pesky after a spate of rain, but insect repellent helps to keep them at bay. There are no dangerous animals, but it's not a good idea to pet the donkeys that roam the island—you could get kicked. When snorkeling, watch out for the mustard-colored fire coral and the black, spiny sea urchins. The coral can burn, and if you step on a sea urchin, it's hard to get the spines out.
3. Staff Screening: All staff members, including the Camp Director, are thoroughly screened. Copies of staff background checks (with personal information redacted) will be provided to parents upon request. All CampCaribe counselors are or will be trained in First Aid and CPR.
4. Emergency Plan: Although there is a First Aid Kit at the campground main office, we will have a First Aid Kid of our own for any minor injuries. All water activities are supervised by qualified and certified instructors. (The U.S. National Park service has STRICT guidelines.) Upon registration, all parents will be provided with a list of island Emergency Telephone Numbers in each Parent Packet.
5. Local Law & Park Enforcement: In addition to the U.S. Park Rangers, the local Police Department will be notified of our arrival and departure dates. Cinnamon Bay has its own dedicated Ranger.
6. Hospital Care. The Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center is located on St. John. It handles all emergencies. If necessary, transportation to St. Thomas is via the Star of Life ambulance boat and then on to Roy L. Schneider Hospital in an ambulance. (See http://www.rlshospital.org/.)
7. Adventurer Orientation. CampCaribe will assign each Adventurer with a Buddy at the airport. Buddies are responsible for one another for the duration of the learning adventure experience. They must go to the restroom together, to the beach together, etc. Upon arrival at camp, Adventurers will be oriented to the environment (by staff and a U.S. Park Ranger) and given all Camp rules. Cottages are attached to one another with 4 campers in each cottage. Counselors will sleep in the middle cottage. Locks to cottage doors will be retained by Counselors.
8. Hurricanes & Tropical Storms. According to the National Hurricane Center, "hurricane season" is June 1 - November 30. Whew.
9. The Glorious Sun: Sunscreen is mandatory (SPF 45) and will be used daily.
10. The Glorious Sea. Adventurers will be required to wear life vests for sailing, snorkeling & kayaking activities. Before anyone gets in the glorious sea to frolick, Camp Counselor Alley will perform a swimming evaluation so as to determine Swimmer Level. (To see Alley's swimming credentials, please see 5/20/09 blog post "About Alley.")
11. Cinnamon Bay Security/Rules and Regulations: There is a Security Desk at the Front Desk of the campground that operates from 6pm to 7am. Quiet hours are from 10pm - 7am and no unregistered guests are allowed on the campground after 7pm.
12. Medication. Any medication required by parents will be locked in the Counselor cottage and dispensed as needed.

Safety is number 1! With that all taken care of, the only thing left is to have a great time! I look forward to your questions and/or comments.

Tracey

CampDirector

CampCaribe

Alley is Excited!

Alley - the Assistant Camp Director and Aquatics Director for CampCaribe - is a special Brown Girl Adventurer with lots of exciting global travel under her belt. She respects the environment and is affectionately referred to as a "tree hugger" by some of her friends. She has been hiking and whitewater rafting in Russia; she's hiked the Inca Trail in Peru; she's lived in the jungle, explored caves and gone horseback riding in Belize; and she's been mountain biking and rafting in Canada. She is a perfect fit for CampCaribe!

Alley wanted me to send along this note when I asked her to say a few words. She is as excited as I am...and hopefully...as excited as you are too!

From Alley:

How could I possibly pass up this exciting opportunity with a group of Brown Girl adventurers?!! When Tracey first asked me to be involved, I immediately said yes. I wasn't really sure what my role would be, but it didn't matter because I was so excited to do whatever was needed!

My first camp experience was in the 6th grade for a one week stay in the mountains. My second was in junior high school (again in the mountains); this time for three weeks. Just to give you an idea of how much I enjoyed myself: I still have the souvenirs from both camps!

My camp experiences opened my eyes to a world beyond city life. I learned how to respect nature in all its glory. If you mess it up, clean it up.

I am happy to have been chosen to be one of the camp counselors, and I'm looking forward to meeting all of you. This is going to be so much fun!

See you soon!

Alley

Parent Communication

Over the next several weeks, I plan to discuss several areas surrounding camp that will likely be of interest to parents: Camp security & safety, crisis management, staff recruitment & screening, self-esteem, diversity, healthy eating and physical activity. If there is anything else you'd like to see discussed, please post your comment on this blog and I'll be sure to discuss it as well.

In the meantime, take a look (click here) at a nice public service announcement about camp from some celebrities you might recognize.

Bye for now...

Tracey

Camp Director

CampCaribe

U.S. Passport

My passport expires in March 2010 (a month before camp) so I went to Kinko's the other day to have a new photo taken. The photo I took looks so bad that I'm going to take another one! (Laughing.) At first I didn't care; but I thought about it and since a passport is good for 10 years, I figure I might as well like the way I look. I think I'll have a Passport Photo Contest at camp...for the Adventurer with the Most Winning Smile. (Everyone at camp will vote.) Don't forget to smile for the cameraaaaaaaaaaaaa....

Click here to see how to apply for your first U.S. Passport. There are special requirements for those under 16.

Tracey =)
Camp Director
CampCaribe

Registration is Now Open!

Registration is now open for the Spring Session of CampCaribe 2010!

Please feel free to visit the new CampCaribe site and download the OBG Adventurer Registration form or - to make things simpler - you can click here. There's an affordable payment plan in place and you can even see a little bit of the itinerary on the new site. We're almost there...