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THIS PACKET INCLUDES PRE-SUMMER PROGRAM INFORMATION NEEDED

FOR YOUR WEEK AT CAMP

SUMMER 2019

FAMILY GAMES Family Games has a long standing tradition at camp. The whole goal is to bring families together with some friendly camp competition. Building off of last year’s success, the staff is rigorously preparing and creating new games and twists! Make sure to bring some clothes and accessories in your team’s colors for Family Games night! If you are a returning camper, you will be the same color as last summer; if you are a new camper or switched weeks, please call the camp office to find out your family’s color.

BOOK REVIEW

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland By: Jim DeFede

When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. The citizens of Gander met the stranded passengers with an overwhelming display of friendship and goodwill.

As the passengers stepped from the airplanes, exhausted, hungry and distraught after being held on board for nearly 24 hours while security checked all of the baggage, they were greeted with a feast prepared by the townspeople. Local bus drivers who had been on strike came off the picket lines to transport the passengers to the various shelters set up in local schools and churches. Linens and toiletries were bought and donated. A middle school provided showers, as well as access to computers, email, and televisions, allowing the passengers to stay in touch with family and follow the news.

Over the course of those four days, many of the passengers developed friendships with Gander residents that they expect to last a lifetime. As a show of thanks, scholarship funds for the children of Gander have been formed and donations have been made to provide new computers for the schools. This book recounts the inspiring story of the residents of Gander, Canada, whose acts of kindness have touched the lives of thousands of people and been an example of humanity and goodwill.

WATERFRONT ORIENTATION HORN BLASTS:

One horn blast will be blown 10 minutes before every hour if campers are waiting to take out a boat. Please be aware of the time and fellow campers that may be waiting.

Three horn blasts indicates all boats must come back to the Boathouse Four horn blasts is used for communication between the Waterfront Staff.

BOATING:

Lifejackets must be worn at all times by all campers while on the lake

Row Boat: must be a minimum of 9 yrs old and a green swimmer

Canoe and Kayak: must be a minimum of 12 yrs old and a green swimmer

Single-Sail Sailboat: must be a minimum of 13 yrs old, a green swimmer, and have at least a DV JR. Skipper Card

Dual-Sail Sailboat: must be a minimum of 13 yrs old, a green swimmer, and have a DV Skipper Card

Stand-up Paddleboard and Windsurfer: must be a minimum of 13 yrs old and a green swimmer

GENERAL RULES:

All sail boats must stay at least one mast length away from other boats

Any sailor under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult

Campers are not permitted to go behind or dock on the island

Boaters need to remain in-sight of the waterfront staff at all times. This includes the coves near the chapel, nature center, and zipline

Always remain seated in your boat, please do not stand up

If you need assistance, wave your arms or paddles to signal for help

All personal items, including trolling motors, need to be removed from the boat after each use

An adult (18 and older) may sign out a rowboat for after hours boating. If you are interested you must attend the After Hours Boating orientation

No fishing from any boat dock or within 10 yards of the swimming area

LUCY BROWN: WATERFRONT COORDINATOR Hello! I am thrilled to be returning to camp this year for my third summer on staff. I live 3752 miles away from Deer Valley on the South East Coast of England, where I have just graduated from university with a degree in Exercise Science. My love for Deer Valley has continued to grow after my first summer on staff in 2016 as a 7-9’s counsellor. Whether you are new to camp or returning for your favorite week of the year, on behalf of the waterfront team, we look forward to seeing you all very soon!

SWIMMING GENERAL RULES: Swimming is not permitted unless the waterfront is open and there is an active lifeguard on duty

The red water swimming area is not guarded, swim at your own risk

Swimming is permitted outside the designated swimming area

All swimmers, 13 years of age and under must pass a swim assessment and wear the appropriate swim color necklace while in the swimming area

Children are not permitted to play in the swimming lane area (to the left of the H-dock). This area is strictly for lap swimming, all others are encouraged to swim in the H-dock area

No diving, dunking, or pushing allowed anywhere in the waterfront area

No running on any of the docks

Inflatable items are only allowed in red and yellow water

Use of inflatable is at the discretion of the lifeguard on duty

Always be aware and listen to the lifeguards. They are here to help you and keep you safe!

SWIM ASSESSMENT: Everyone 13 and under must take a swim assessment each year. All swim assessments must be

done without a PFD. If adequate skills are not demonstrated, the swimmer will be a red water swimmer. All campers may move up one color when within arm’s reach of a guardian

GREEN WATER: Can swim in any swimming zone. Campers must be able to demonstrate these skills without wearing a PFD: Jump in the water on one side of the H-Dock

Swim to the opposite side of the dock using any stroke,

except the backstroke

Put your head underwater at some point during the swim

Immediately swim back, stop half way and tread water for

30 seconds while singing “Happy Birthday”

Finish swimming back to the H-Dock

If the skills demonstrated are not adequate, the lifeguard will administer the yellow swimmer test

YELLOW WATER: Can swim in the red and yellow swimming zones. Campers must be able to demonstrate at least one of these skills without wearing a PFD: Jump in the water making sure your head goes under

water and then stand up. Lift up legs and submerge your head and then stand up

Jump in the water and tread water for 15 seconds with your head above water. When asked, submerge your head under water, recover, and tread water for an additional 15 seconds

If the skills demonstrated are not adequate the swimmer will be a red water swimmer.

RED WATER: Can swim in the red swimming zone. Red water swimmers do not have the skills to be a yellow or green water swimmer. These swimmers must be within an arm’s reach of a parent or guardian at all times while in the red swimming area

***All campers may move up one color when within arm’s reach of a guardian.

CAFÉ NIGHT Join us in ‘your best’ camp clothes for an entertaining evening of singing and dancing. Our talented staff have already started to prepare for this special performance, just for you! Attendees must be 14 years or older. Kids 13 years and younger will enjoy a choice of several movies. Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to select the movie their child will enjoy.

HEALTH HISTORY FORM If you did not already, please complete a Health History Form for everyone under the age of 18. Everyone under the age of 18 must have a completed form submitted to the office either prior to arriving or upon arrival. These forms will remain confidential within the program department. Anyone who does not have a completed form will not be able to attend kids/teen group. Health Forms can be found on the website: Summer Forms

We will be offering time on Sunday for you to meet with your child’s counselors. This is a great opportunity to ask questions or address concerns, but also to share any information that will be helpful for our counselors to better serve your children.

CAFÉ COOKIE SHARE To go along with the entertainment from the staff, we are hoping you will help supply some of the refreshments. We are asking families, if you are willing, to bring along a dozen or two of your favorite cookies. We are going to setup a cookie table at café night so everyone can enjoy the baked treats. Do not worry about storing your cookies until Wednesday night, as we will be glad to store them in the kitchen. We recommend bringing cookies in disposable plates/platters, however we will wash and return any personal dishware. Our kitchen staff will also be adding to the mix with some of their favorite cookie recipes. We are looking forward to seeing the variety and personal touches in each batch of cookies. Thanks for supporting Café Night!

KID’S GROUP Children ages 3 - 18 years old will enjoy meeting with their age group each day during the week. Our staff are planning a variety of activities to peak everyone's interest. Some of the traditional activities include hiking, sports, games, swimming, water games, adventure, and crafts. We recommend bringing comfortable play clothes and shoes, but also some old clothes that you are not afraid to get wet or muddy.

REBEKAH SKINNER Kids Group Coordinator

PASS THE BUCK To go along with all the new items in the Deer Valley Gift Shop, we will also continue to have a ‘Pass the Buck’ section where you can donate gently used Deer Valley apparel. If you have classic gently used clothing that no longer fits or just takes up space in your closet you can donate it to the Gift Shop to be offered to fellow campers. We are also looking to collect and eventually display vintage Deer Valley camper and staff apparel.

BUCK-A-ROO This program is designed to give you some special time at camp while we care for your kids!

This special program will be offered again, in a similar fashion as last year. The morning and evening will be strictly babysitting, however the afternoon will include some special Buck-A-Roo activities for children six and under and their parent/guardian(s). There will still be opportunities for babysitting in the afternoon, but those times will be offered around the Buck-A-Roo activities (specific times will be provided at the beginning of your week). Below is the overall schedule for the program:

10:00am - 12:30pm for children 2 and under; or 3 year olds not ready for the 3 - 4 yr old group

Afternoon: Schedule will include specific activities and babysitting times for children 6 and under

8:00pm to 11:00pm for children 6 and under

As DV weekly camp rates are free for children two and under and minimal for young children, babysitting does cost an additional fee of $7.50 per hour and specific pricing will be set for the afternoon activities; based on staff, time, and supplies needed. Sign-ups will be available on Saturday evening after dinner in the Dining Hall. If you would like to save a buck or two, you can sign up ahead of time for all the morning sessions (6 sessions total) for the entire week and save on the fee! Paying per session will cost you $112, however if you sign up for the entire week, at least 2 weeks prior to arriving, it will only cost you $89 (included is Sunday 3:00pm to 5:30pm and Monday through Friday 10:00am to 12:30pm). All fees incurred during the week will be placed on your tab. Space is limited for the Buck-A-Roo program, we recommend signing-up ahead of time.

SARAH GELICK

Buck-A-Roo Staff

SAMANTHA GURTH

Buck-A-Roo Staff

BINGO Bingo is a great way to spend time with the whole family. Please help us keep this tradition alive by bringing fun prizes (remember they are mostly for kids, and kids at heart). The more prizes you bring the longer the BINGO fun can go! Prizes that can be used at camp are always popular (i.e. - frisbees, sidewalk chalk, sport balls, bubbles, beach toys, glow sticks and other fun things).

HORSEBARN

Everyone is gearing up and getting ready to go at the Deer Valley Stables! We are excited for another year in the new barn which includes an indoor riding arena with viewing area, ten large stalls, and lots of space for grooming and getting to spend some quality time with our horses! We have hired a terrific trio of Stables staff including our Coordinator Cari Zbel, Katrina Ackerman, and Tara Thorpe. Remember to pack long pants and boots so you can join us for an unforgettable experience at the stables this summer!

ASSESSMENT

Any rider wishing to attend an Intermediate or Advanced ride and/or lesson must attend the designated skills assessment each year. No exceptions can or will be made. The Horse Barn Coordinator is the only person who may access and assign camper riding levels. This is for your safety and the safety of our horses. Thanks for your understanding.

HORSEBARN

BARN RULES

Always be aware around the horses and listen to the Deer Valley Staff members. They are here to help and keep you safe.

We love having visitors, however, please only enter the barn area when accompanied by a staff member.

All children must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult at all times in the barn area.

No horse play (running, jumping, or shouting) in the barn area as the horses scare easily.

All visitors, riders, and non-riders must wear closed toed shoes when in the barn. Sandals, crocs, and water-shoes are not permitted.

Do not feed the horses unless accompanied by a barn staff member.

RIDING RULES

All riders must be at least seven years of age, under 250 pounds, and 44 inches or taller.

All riders must wear an approved helmet, long pants, and closed toed shoes. Sandals, crocs, and water-shoes are not permitted.

Deer Valley requires that all riders wishing to attend an Intermediate or Advanced ride/lesson complete a skills assessment test each year with the Barn Coordinator before being permitted to ride. Skills assessments are only offered on Sunday afternoon.

Make sure to always listen to the Deer Valley Staff members. They are here to help and keep you safe.

Always keep one horse length away from the horse in front of you. Have fun and enjoy your ride!

HORSE BARN TICKET RETURN POLICY

In order for refunds to be issued ride tickets must be returned one day in advance. This allows us the opportunity to re-sell the ticket. If a scheduled ride is cancelled or postponed then a refund will be offered. No refunds will be given for no-shows on a ride that goes out at the scheduled time or for tickets returned less than one day in advance.

CARI ZBEL HORSE BARN COORDINATOR Hello, my name is Cari and I will be the horse barn coordinator this year. I staffed the summer of 2016 and I am excited to be back again! I have been riding horses and working with them from a young age. I am trained in the English riding discipline, and I used to show jump. I love spreading knowledge about horses and I am excited to meet you all at the stables this summer!

SPORTS Camp offers a wide variety of sport courts, games, and opportunities from the very traditional to new and creative. We want everyone to be able to participate and having the right equipment is the best place to start. Below is a list of sports equipment that you may want to bring for your week at camp!

Tennis Rackets and Balls - you must bring your own tennis equipment

Pickleball Rackets and Balls - while we plan on having some equipment for camper use, we recommend bringing your favorite racket and a few extra balls if you have them

Hockey Sticks - camp has a variety of plastic sticks that are available for use

Bikes - if you are interested in biking in and around camp you must bring your own bike; camp does not have bikes available. There is a bike repair station next to Alexander Hall. Stop by to fill your tires or tighten your brakes.

Golf Clubs - once a week camp organizes a golf outing. If you are interested you will need to bring your own clubs. Tennis, Pickleball, and Hockey Courts: Make sure to pack your rackets and hockey sticks to play tennis, pickleball, and hockey on our new courts. The area will feature two tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and a hockey court. While camp will have some equipment available, we encourage campers to bring their own, if they already own it, so they can play at their leisure. Athletic Field Update: Contractors are currently working on renovating and expanding the athletic field. Unfortunately, even if we have perfect spring weather, there is a good chance the field will not be ready until mid-summer. We understand this may come as a disappointment to many campers, but we appreciate your understanding as this project will setup a safer field for sports for many years to come. Once the field is ready to be used, we will do our best to update campers so you can pack the following sporting equipment.

Softball/Baseball Glove - camp hosts an adult men’s and women’s softball game. We have several bats and our staff are always willing to share a glove

Soccer Ball - camp will have a new soccer field

Cleats (Soccer/Baseball) - camp offers a variety of sports that you may want to bring cleats/spikes (no metal cleats) for, however they are not necessary.

TEEN PROGRAM

Hi Friends! My name is Emily Pilewicz and I am from Sewickley, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh. I just finished my junior year at The Pennsylvania State University where I study Early Childhood Education. I love being outside, running, playing all different sports, spending time with my family and friends, and making new friends! I have been camping at Deer Valley my whole life. This is my third summer on staff and I am so extremely excited to get to spend it with the teens!

Hey teens! My name is Nick Einolf and I am from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I currently attend Mount St. Mary’s University where I study biology. I am a lifelong Deer Valley camper and this will be my 3rd summer on staff. Some of my hobbies include, swimming, drumming, and playing volleyball. Lastly, I’ll say this: Teen group is awesome! And you all are awesome! So let’s make this an awesome summer at camp! We cannot wait for this summer and to get to do some awesome stuff with all of you! We definitely want to make sure we are including feasible ideas

that you all have for this summer and we can’t wait to hear them. We also have plenty of ideas already in store for you all! As for the teen dance we cannot wait to have a GLOW DANCE!! Bring your coolest neon or white clothes! Get ready for a memorable week! We’re so excited to get to spend it with you!

INTERNATIONAL STAFF Each summer we hire staff from around the world to help support our family camp program. Not only is it a great opportunity for them to travel and learn about American culture, but it offers you the opportunity to learn about their culture. We encourage you, as with all staff and Rising Leaders, to take the time to get to know our international staff members.

TJ McCORMICK International Coordinator

CRAFT SHOP

CRAFT OF THE DAY This year, along with all the usual arts and crafts we will be offering a special craft each day. Be sure to stop by to see some of the cool and unique crafts that will be available. Below are some of the crafts that you will need to plan for prior to arriving if you want to participate.

TIE-DYE & REVERSE TIE-DYE The most popular craft is back! Pack your 100% cotton t-shirt to tie dye. We will have Deer Valley shirts and a few other tie-dye-able items available in the Gift Shop. As long as you bring your own shirt, this craft is free!

We will also be offering reverse tie-dye. Bring a colored clothing item to create your masterpiece. This is a great craft to use old clothes that may be stained.

CRAFT SHOP COORDINATOR: MADELINE DREXLER Hi everyone! I am so thrilled to serve this summer as your Craft Shop Coordinator! I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA but I currently live in Greensburg, PA where I attend Seton Hill University and am earning a BFA in Studio Art with a minor in Art History. As a life-long camper, I share in your love and passion for camp and have been working hard to create another awesome year in the Craft Shop! We have a bunch of new and exciting things going on this year as well as many of the crafts that you know and love. I can't wait to be back and get crafty with you all!

CAMP SERVICE PROJECT Have a few t-shirts that the kids have outgrown? That you just don't wear anymore? Bring them to the Craft Shop and repurpose them! We're going to make dog toys that we'll be donating to animal shelters throughout the area (you could even take some for a shelter in your area)! This is a quick and simple project for campers of all ages - and a great one to work on as a family. So toss a few old t-shirts in your bags (and a dead tennis ball or two if you have them), and swing by the Craft Shop!

AGE RESTRICTIONS While most crafts do not have age restrictions, we do encourage parents and guardians to be present when their child is purchasing and/or beginning a craft. All sales are final and we are not able to offer refunds.

Pottery: To throw on the wheel, you must be at least 10 years old

GREEN INITIATIVE Deer Valley is taking steps to be proper stewards of our environment and we need your help.

WATER BOTTLES Rather than bringing disposable bottles of water or using single-use cups please bring a refillable water bottle and refill it at our water bottle refill stations located in the Nature Center, the Dining Hall and Hecker Hall or at the orange coolers located at the volleyball courts, waterfront and tennis courts.

With the new water bottle filling station next to the snack bar, we will no longer be serving single-use cups of water at the Snack Bar. We appreciate your understanding of our efforts to reduce waste.

RECYCLING Deer Valley is making a committed effort to recycle. Across camp there are blue recycling bins for plastic, glass, aluminum, and metal. Please dispose of your recycling in the blue bins. The blue bins can be found in the Dining Hall, Hecker Hall, Nature Center, Main Office, at the Lower and Upper Bathhouse, and the blue trailer next to the tennis courts/parking lot. We appreciate you making the extra effort to get your recyclable to those bins.

We understand that your community may be able to recycle many more types of items, however our recycling center is only able to accept plastic, glass, aluminum, and metal. Please do not place any bags, paper, or cardboard in those bins. We have paper recycling bins available in the camp office, as we are able to drop that off separately in Pittsburgh. Please let us know if you are willing to take a load of paper or cardboard home with you to recycle in your community!

DINING HALL COMPOSTING We need your help to compost at every meal! At every table there will be either a green plate or white bucket to place all compostable items. The main items that are compostable include: napkins, vegetables, fruit cores/peels, tea bags, naked salad, and coffee stirrers.

FOOD WASTE All food items that come out of the kitchen will either be consumed or thrown away. This is one of the main reasons our kitchen staff do not overflow the serving trays/bowls with food. To help reduce waste, before you raise a serving bowl/pitcher/platter for a refill, ask the campers at your table who else wants more. This way, you can tell your server so they bring back the proper amount of food. For example, if you are the only person who wants another hamburger bun, and the server brings three more out, the other two will be thrown away even if they are still in the bag. Another way to reduce waste if you need a refill, is to ask the tables around you if they have any extra of the food item you are looking for. Our servers are not allowed to do this, but if you are comfortable, you can share with the tables around you.

Help us practice good stewardship because like Pennsylvania’s own Rachel Carson said, “In nature nothing exists alone.”

LINENS

If you are traveling a long way or don't have room in your vehicle, make sure to rent linens if you are interested in having your bedding, pillows, wash-cloths, and towels provided by camp. Linens must be reserved at least two weeks prior to the start of camp. Linen packs are limited, so we encourage you to complete your rental as soon as you are able. Follow the instructions posted on the Deer Valley Summer Program page for more information or to rent.

MOTORIZED VEHICLES Due to legalities and restrictions we can no longer have personal motorized vehicles in camp during the summer for safety purposes. Deer Valley no longer owns any golf carts; however through an outside source we will rent golf carts to those in need. Please call the camp office if you have any questions.

RAINY DAYS Over the years, plenty of umbrellas have been left at camp. We labeled all lost and found umbrellas (on the handle and on the material covering your head). Please feel free to use any umbrella labeled ‘DV’ or ‘Deer Valley.’ Please do not use garbage bags as ponchos (as it is a waste of resources). Thank you!

RISING LEADER PROGRAM During our summer season, we offer two volunteer Rising Leader programs. The first is called SALT (Service and Leadership Training) and is for students who are entering their junior year of high school. The SALT program focuses on service leadership with participants supporting the Dining Hall. The second is called Clipper (Camp Leadership Instructional Program) and is designed for students who are entering their senior year. The Clipper Program focuses on core camp leadership including working with the waterfront, craft shop, kids groups, horse barn, and specialty areas. It is designed to focus on service, teamwork, and leadership.

You will see the SALTS and Clippers in and around camp. We encourage you to get to know them, just as you do the staff. They are passionate and dedicated volunteers who are here to learn and share their time and talent.

KELLY MCSTEEN Rising Leader Coordinator

SEE YOU SOON!

Thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully read through this information. Please share these important details with your accompanying family and friends. We want all campers to arrive ready and prepared to enjoy their week. If you have any questions for concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the camp office. 1-800-962-2386. See you soon!