Page 13 - Camp Horseshoe Parent Handbook 2024

The Shoe Community, Rules and Policies
Your child’s safety throughout the summer is of great importance to us. Our staff are trained to promote a healthy and safe camp environment. We ask that you review and reinforce the following rules with your child before camp begins.
CAMPER BEHAVIOR
We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and friendly community. For our community to thrive, we expect our campers and staff to display positive and inclusive behavior while at camp; treat each other with mutual respect; follow the instructions and guidance of their counselors and other staff; stay in cabins between lights-out and wake up; attend and fully participate in scheduled activities and meals; be a team player; treat camp property with respect; and respect others’ belongings and personal space.
Failure to live within the expectations of the camp community or abide by the stated policies of the camp could result in immediate dismissal from camp with no tuition refund.
The following behaviors are unacceptable: bullying and other forms of hazing or harassment against campers or staff; pranks; hurting another physically or threatening violence; the use of foul language, name calling, teasing, spreading rumors or exclusionary behavior; and destroying property or stealing from others.
DRUG, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND PARAPHENALIA POLICY
Camp Horseshoe reserves the right to dismiss, with no tuition refund, any camper found to be in possession of and/or using alcohol, drugs, tobacco (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, Juul, vaporizers of any kind) and/or drug paraphernalia. We have a zero-tolerance policy. Visual observation need not be necessary for immediate dismissal if there is enough evidence that these risk-taking behaviors have occurred.
Additionally, fireworks, knives and weapons of any kind are prohibited at camp. Anything that may be perceived as a weapon will be immediately confiscated and the person in ownership may/will be sent home.
GAMBLING
Gambling is not permitted at Camp Horseshoe.
CABIN PLACEMENT
We spend a tremendous amount of time working on placing each camper in the cabin group we feel will be the best fit. The procedure for making the cabins is an ongoing process that is not complete when the campers arrive. Cabin placement is a daunting task and there are many factors that we must consider as we work through the process. We take your suggestions and requests, of course. In addition, we must consider several other factors, including personality, group dynamics, geography, years at camp, session and numbers per cabin.
Campers should request 3 cabin mates. We will try and honor at least one of those requests. We value your input, and we also ask for your understanding. Although we try, we can’t make 100% of our camper’s 100% happy with cabin placement. While we cannot guarantee that all the requests will be met, we do our best to create cabins that have every camper’s interest in mind. The success of Horseshoe has been our ability to create cabins that lead to lifelong friendships and connections.
We ask that you trust us to place your son in the cabin in which we feel he will be happiest and most successful and convey this to your him before he comes to camp. We have each camper’s best interest at heart, and we will never knowingly place a camper in a bunk in which he will be unhappy. We do our best to accommodate everyone’s wishes. Please note that we do not accept “dis-requests.”
Your son’s cabin will be sent once all campers have arrived on the 1st day of each session.
ALL CABIN REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA MYCAMPMINDER NO LATER THAN MAY 1ST.
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