| Is
homesickness a common problem, and how do you handle it?
We help minimize homesickness by making sure each camper is welcomed,
introduced to his bunk mates, given lots of individual attention and
is immediately in an active and interesting program.
Nonetheless, some boys do get homesick. This is a very normal adjustment
reaction and it usually goes away the first day or two.
How
do you handle discipline problems at camp? Our first objective
is to try to minimize discipline issues by keeping everyone busy
in an active and interesting program. Good supervision and participation
by the staff, also helps keep problems to a minimum. However, we
all know kids will test the rules and there will be disagreements
during the summer. Each boy, each age and each situation is different,
so our responses will vary. If the counselor finds he needs help,
he will ask for the unit director's assistance and if the problem
persists the camp director will also help. Only in rare cases, a
camper might be asked to go home. Physical punishment would
never be used.
What
do you do if a boy wets his bed? All children grow out
of bedwetting at different times and it is not an unusual problem.
We recognize that this is normal and that they have no control over
it. We also recognize that they are embarrassed by it. We will
help by limiting the amount they drink in the evening. Later in
the evening, when the counselor goes to bed, he will get any possible
bed wetter up to go to the bathroom. If an accident still occurs,
the counselor will discreetly help the camper change his bed.
We don't let kids tease others about this and find with good guidance
that most kids are very understanding. You can help by letting us
know ahead of time and by providing an extra set of sheets and a
rubber sheet.
What
are your visitation policies? We recommend one visit a
session and ask that no one visit the first weekend. For Saturday
dinner, we have an outdoor buffet which we invite you to join, after
which we have an awards assembly where certificates are handed out
for achievements and campers report on the trips for the week.
Following this we have an Indian Council Fire ceremony that you
shouldn't miss, which ends with feathers being awarded for achievement.
If you would like to take your son out of camp, Sunday is the day
for this. After morning cleanup at approximately 10:00 AM, your
son should be free to go out for the day.
How
are activities assigned? Instructional activities for the
week, as well as trips, are chosen by the individual campers on
Sunday night. Swimming is an activity everyone participates
in twice a day, one instructional class in the morning and recreational
swimming in the afternoon.
Do
you teach ecology? Yes. In our nature study and camp craft
classes at camp, we talk about the protection of our environment,
plant and animal life. We take part in projects to rejuvenate and
protect endangered or damaged areas. On trips, we adopt the "Leave
No Trace" practices by carrying out everything we carry in
and traveling and camping using the latest low impact techniques.
We often discuss the effects of acid
rain, global warming and other concerns that may be affecting the
beautiful wilderness we are in.
What
happens at lights out? Is there night supervision?
When campers go to bed at night, we encourage staff to talk
with them about their day and to read a good night story in the
younger encampments. When everyone has quieted down, the staff
may leave the cabin in charge of the "hill-duty man" and
have some time off. The hill-duty man in each encampment has
a campfire in a central location, easily accessible to all campers.
He makes regular checks of all campers and stays on duty until all
cabins are covered.
Are
there any nearby girls camps or coed activities? There
are nearby girls camps, that sisters of our boys often attend.
The nearest, 4 miles away, is Camp Waukeela. Occasionally,
Panthers and Wolves have coed activities such as dances, mixed doubles
tennis, volleyball and softball games.
What
other charges are there in addition to tuition?
Purchases
at the camp store, rentals, tutoring, phone calls and transportation
to and from camp.
Do
you have a camp uniform?
On
Sundays, campers wear a camp T-shirt and navy blue shorts.
The rest of the week the boys wear regular play clothing. |
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Available for Download (PDF)
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How
do you become a counselor
?
(10th
grade) - campers who demonstrate a positive attitude and maturity
in judgment during their wolf clan years are encouraged to
apply for the counselor-in-training, (CIT) program. Up to
9 individuals are selected to participate in this intensive
leadership development opportunity. Boys rotate through camp,
spending 2 weeks within each of the younger three age groups.
They live in the cabins and assist in all aspects of encampment
life. It proves to be one of their most challenging and rewarding
of summers.

At
Tohkomeupog, the responsibility for accomplishing our ideals
falls largely on a fine group of counselors. Most of these
young men have been intimate with camp for many years and
hold fond memories of their own camper experiences. They are
capable leaders and compassionate mentors. It is their goal
to make the program interesting and fun - and to challenge
in a way that will engage and inspire the camper. The magic
they work is undeniable. Through their efforts, a boy who
spends a summer at Tohkomeupog should come away with a fund
of useful knowledge, a higher degree of independence, a collection
of happy memories and a wealth of new friendships.
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