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Camp Innisfree ~ FAQ |
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What’s a Resident Camp? A resident camp is sometimes called a “sleep-away” camp. In general, a resident camp is an extended experience that involves two or more nights (and days) away from home. In most cases, campers live in small screened cabins, make new friends and do a variety of recreational and educational activities not typically done at home. Most of the activities are outdoors and each session has its share of campfires, marshmallows, and camp songs.
What makes it a Girl Scout camp experience? Girl Scout traditions at Camp Innisfree include flag ceremonies, badge work, campfires, cookouts, songs, weekly theme, and generally living in a community that seeks to live out the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Badge work goes along with some of the various camp classes and activities. All campers who work towards a badge will be given a work sheet certifying what they accomplished toward earning a badge. No actual badges will be given out. Part of Girl Scout camp experience focuses on girl choice; therefore activities published in the booklet may vary if the majority of the girls choose to alter their program. Each Monday, girls will have a list of activiies they sign up for, girls will have the opportunity to sign up for horseback riding lessons for an additional $25 fee, which will be collected during check in. Tuesday focuses on our weekly theme, which will be provided in your confirmation packet.
Where do I live and with whom? Girls are assigned living “units” according to the camp they signed up for. Most of the Units are Platform Cabin Units with eight or more cabins with four or five beds in each. All campers will stay in platform cabins unless otherwise specified. Each unit has a Unit Leader and at least 2 Camp Counselors with a staff supervision ratio of between six to one and ten to one (campers to staff). All cabins are located very near to the camp staff cabin(s). Camp staff does not sleep in the same cabin as campers. In addition to the sleeping cabins, each residential unit has an activity building where campers may gather.
Can I share a cabin with my friend? Yes, campers registered for the same camp program and session and who request each other on their registration forms will be placed in the same cabin (campers may request only one cabin-mate and the request must be mutual). Campers are encouraged to meet new people and make new friends. The Camp Director has final say on camp cabin placement.
Camp patches and T-shirts Camp Innisfree will have a special summer camp patch and t-shirt for purchase this summer. This year you are able to pre-order your patch and/or t-shirt on your registration form. There will be a few extra available which can be purchased in the trading post if you did not pre-order.
Special Needs Campers Girl Scouts attempts to offer opportunities to all girls, however we are not able to handle all special needs campers. Please contact the Camp Director in advance to determine if we are able to accommodate your daughter in our summer camp programs. It is important to us that we can offer your daughter a safe and fun filling experience.
Health and Safety As part of check in policies, all campers must go through a health screening process with the health officer and appointed other camp staff member(s). At that time they will collect your health history form as well as a health exam form (required for girls attending more than 5 days of resident camp). If your daughter is on medication, (either prescription or over-counter) the health officer will be administering her medication and documented. All medication must be handed in the original containers upon check in.
Horseback Riding at Camp Innisfree Our Equestrian Center is located on the north end of Camp Innisfree. The Equestrian Center features an indoor arena, 2 outdoor arenas, a farm animal barn, main stable, and a classroom designed to bring animals inside. Horses are owned by Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit and the equestrian center offers lessons all year long. This gives our staff an excellent opportunity to know the horses well. Brownie programs at the equestrian center are 1 ½ hours long per day they are scheduled and Junior, Cadettes, and Senior programs are 3 hours long daily and include approximately 2 hours of riding and 1 hour of horse management class per day. All riders must be able to function in a group riding lesson with a ratio of 2 staff to 8 riders. Riding is a sport that requires physical coordination, balance, and the ability to follow directions.
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What’s a Day Camp and how’s it different from Resident Camp? A Day Camp at Camp Innisfree is a lot like going to resident camp with many of the same program features, except that you do not stay overnight. Day campers arrive at camp each morning by car, car-pool and depart in the afternoon in time to eat dinner at home. The camp will provide your lunch at our Dining Hall.
Do I have to be a Girl Scout already to register for camp? No. But, if you register for a camp and you are not already a currently registered Girl Scout, you will have to register before camp starts. The annual registration fee is $10 and a form will be sent with your confirmation package. Becoming a registered Girl Scout helps to connect you through the Girl Scout Promise and Law to all of the other campers. You can be a Girl Scout who just goes to camp, or you are welcome to join a troop in your neighborhood.
How’s the food? Camp Innisfree has good food! Meals are prepared by our own food service staff. Most meals are served in our Dining Halls. Some meals are “pack-outs” that are eaten outdoors. Resident Campers receive balanced and nutritious meals each day and regular day snacks.
Where do the other campers come from, and what are they like? The camper community is a very diverse group of girls coming from all over the Metro Detroit area and beyond. You will meet and share your camp experience with girls from many different cultures and with different color skin, different sounding voices, different religions and a wide variety of family backgrounds and circumstances. Some girls will seem a lot like you at first, and as you get to know them you will learn how different they may be from you. Other girls may seem a bit different from you at first, but the more you get to know them, the more you will learn how much like you they really are. One of the goals of GSMD Camps is to be a place where a diverse collection of girls can meet, learn, grow together and have a lot of fun along the way. What about showers and toilets? Camp Innisfree has two shower houses, with a private shower stalls and hot water. Your Camp Counselor will make arrangements for your cabin group to use the showers regularly. Each cabin unit has its own latrine. A latrine is a small building with two to four pit toilets and no running water. Latrines are kept clean and well maintained.
Is there help to pay for camp? Yes. The Council works hard to raise money to provide financial assistance to girls to attend camp. In addition, the council works hard to share the cost of going to camp with families by subsidizing the camp programs very significantly. There is a limited amount of funding available to provide at least partial “camperships” to girls in need and their families. There is a confidential application process and it is best to send in your financial assistance application with a completed camp registration. It is very important to work at least 60 days in advance of camp when applying for financial assistance to allow time for processing your request and then preparing your girl for camp. Financial Aid Application Forms may be downloaded from this website or be obtained by contacting the Camp Registrar at 313-972-4475 ext.2226.
Shopping at Camp GSMD Trading Post Be sure to stop by and visit the trading post while at camp. It is located in the dining hall. Trading post includes a great selection of camp souvenirs, t-shirts, patches, jewelry, stuffed animals and more. Don’t forget to pre-order a camp t-shirt and patch designed specially for summer camp on the camp registration form, we will also order a few extra to sell in the trading post. We do accept cash, check, charge (credit or debit), Cookie Dough, Cashew Cash and GSMD gift cards. Look in your camp confirmation packet for information regarding the “Hugs from Home” program for resident campers. For information call: Northwest Service Center 800-334-0883 x 109 Council Shop, Detroit 800-326-0309 x 2264
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FAMILY FRIENDLY PRICING PROGRAM First Camper Full Fee Second camper from same family/household 20% off Third camper from same family/household 35% off
This plan is designed to assist families who send more than one girl from the same household to camp at Innisfree for the summer, or send the same girl more than once. To qualify, the girls must be directly related (like sisters) and living at the same address. The same girl registering for more than one camp this summer is also eligible for the reduced fees for the second and third camps registered for. Registrations for all campers or camps must be sent in together. Whatever camp registered for has the highest fee will be considered the first camper and the full fee will be applied. The camp registered for with the next highest fee will be at 20% and third highest will be at 35% off. This plan may be used in conjunction with a Financial Assistance Request, but that request must be submitted with the Camp Registration. If you have any questions regarding this program, contact the Camp Registrar.
Asistencia Bilingue Si usted necesita mas asistencia traduciendo el folleto del Campamentos Innisfree 2008 a tiene algunas preguntas se puede llamar a la oficina del Detroit (800) 326-0309 y pida hablar con: Carmensita Buentello (800) 326-0309, x2235 Ann Leen (800) 326-0309, x2222
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