Outdoor Ed experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take hiking shoes if weather forecast is rain, if not, no need for hiking shoes. One sturdy sneakers will be enough.

Hiking shoes aren't necessary, but a second (dry) pair is. And dry socks. My kids use an old pair for the sloppy stuff.

Check the forecast for the area of site..if no rain you don't have to have a second pair. If it gives you peace of mind to have as a back-up pair though, take it. Agree dry socks and a few pairs should be packed.

[Anonymous]

I volunteered, though not overnight. My kid loved the evening activities teachers planned but didn’t love the outdoor Ed curriculum itself during the day. He’s never wanted to do overnight camps so I am thrilled he got a taste of that experience, albeit forced. They served MCPS food and kids could have as much as they liked, but maybe the other site is different re: one slice of pizza poster.

[Anonymous]

No cell phone policy for chaperones too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteered, though not overnight. My kid loved the evening activities teachers planned but didn’t love the outdoor Ed curriculum itself during the day. He’s never wanted to do overnight camps so I am thrilled he got a taste of that experience, albeit forced. They served MCPS food and kids could have as much as they liked, but maybe the other site is different re: one slice of pizza poster.

+1 mixed review from our child

[Anonymous]

Story I heard when they came back is: all the kids were trying to take multiple refills of juice from the juice machine so the dining staff [or teacher] shut off the juice machine. Apparently all the students were upset they couldn't get endless cups of juice (while their parents weren't there on this trip!). Ah to be in middle school again.

[Anonymous]

The overnight chaperones should not have to pay! This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The overnight chaperones should not have to pay! This is ridiculous.

Our school didn’t mention anything about chaperones having to pay. Maybe the PTA is paying for them?

[Anonymous]

To supervise the boys cabin for two nights is a job that should be paid. Not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Kid had fun, liked food. Our school did not allow chaperones. Cell phones were nominally banned but not in practice. Sent travel pillow, sheet, light blanket, and flip flops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To supervise the boys cabin for two nights is a job that should be paid. Not the other way around.

Do they give coffee to sleep deprived chaperones?

[Anonymous]

My kid went in the fall to the Smith Center. My husband chaperoned overnight one of the two nights. My kid loved the experience and has decided to attend his first week of overnight camp as a result. He enjoyed most of the academic-related activities (they did something with measuring stream water quality, and some sort of game in the wood where they were assigned to be predators or prey) and really liked the evening activities (s'mores, something with reptiles where my spouse had to help hold a huge snake, I think?). He said the food was fine and he enjoyed the dining hall antics, songs, KP duty, etc.. He didn't shower because he was feeling nervous about someone walking in, but said many kids did shower. He said the first night was raucous and kids didn't settle down for a long time, but the second night (when my spouse was there) he said they must have all been tired because it got quiet pretty quickly at lights-out.

It sounded like no-cellphone was enforced for kids but not for chaperones. They definitely had coffee for the chaperones. The chaperones did not pay to attend, but they did have to pay to get background check and fingerprints (around $25).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s worth doing. You can volunteer to chaperone if you want. Prepandemic I don’t know anyone who did a daytime only version

Not all schools accept parent chaperones. Honestly, schools are more nervous about parent chaperones since background checks don’t screen out racial or religious bigots, homophobes, and other other miscreants that can spout off, ruining a child’s experience.

[Anonymous]

Smith center will have a library at its site

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smith center will have a library at its site

At all of four sites. Smith, skycrodt, letts

[Anonymous]

If you are a chaperone, you do not need to send medication to the school. You can carry it to administer for your own child.