Parents' Handbook

KODA Camp Midwest Camp Parent Handbook

One week before the CAMP date

The week before traditionally is always exciting and while counting down time to the actual date, I ask you to prepare your child for the camp. During that time, I recommend that the child be weaned off any electronic devices, or at least cut down time spend on the devices. Since the COVID situation is now scaled back, I would like to see limited time your child spends with their friends. This will help to less the chance of exposure at the camp, even if it is just a sore throat. No contact means all the campers will be healthy.  Following this practice will make your child enjoy the camp even more. Please do follow this recommendation, stay home at least a week before leaving for the camp. Also, cut down their screen time with TV and cellphone. Please prepare your child that he or she will involved in a totally different routine than it is at home.

Arrival/Check-In & Pick-Up Times

Since the camp staff is busy with preparation for each camp session, please arrive only between 1 & 5 PM on Sundays. For the one week session, please arrive between 10 am and noon. Pick-up time for all sessions is Fridays by 11 am.  Please plan to bring and pick up campers only at these times as staff is not available before or after these times.

On registration day: bring medicines (label with times, etc in a plastic bag), a card or snack money ($50 for two weeks or $30 for one week), and your child's cell phone. Please do not leave this at home. BRING IT!

PICK UP DAY: A closing ceremony is held at the end of each session, Friday morning at 9 a.m., and all parents are encouraged to attend (bring your camera!). Please do not bring your dog or other family pet to camp. All the kids must leave the camp by 11 a.m. If special arrangements are needed, you must let the executive director know in advance.

Camp Snack Time, Camp T-shirts, Group Photo

Snack time is held each afternoon and each camper may purchase one drink and a snack. Please provide a card or cash for $50 to the registration table on the first day.

Camp t-shirts are provided to each camper on the last Thursday of the week.  

Parents will receive an email link to view photos taken during the session. About a hundred photos are uploaded each day so you can "check in" on your camper.  A group photo is taken on the last Thursday of each session.

You may purchase items from a camp store on the last Friday.  The store has various items including t-shirts, sunglasses, flashlights, key chains, and other fun logo items.

Menu

The menu has yet to be hammered out. Some of your children have dietary needs and this must be communicated with the director. It will be typical camp food with some homemade stuff thrown in (especially the director's famous Spam Quickie Noodle).  You are encouraged to remind your children that the food may be different and need to eat what is available so they don't depend on the snack foods or be miserable with not enough to eat.

Camper Mail, Packages & Email

Mail call at camp is a much anticipated daily event. Write your camper often, but try not to mail letters after Monday of the week he/she is to leave camp. While we encourage campers to write frequently, you may only get one or two letters from your camper (it’s not that they don’t miss you, they may just be too busy having fun). E-mail is another way for parents to write campers. Use karen@kodamidwest.org with a camper name in subject line. No phone calls or sign mail will be accepted to give to the campers. We are joining many other camps that have recently adopted a policy that strongly discourages sending packages to campers for the following reasons:

1. Bulk and volume of packages makes life difficult for both the postal delivery person and camp mail room.

2. Disposal of packaging materials puts stress on both camp and land-fill resources.

3. Packages can cause unnecessary friction and hurt feelings among campers (campers who do not get packages feel left out).

4. Camp is so much fun and most campers are so well adjusted that they do not need materialistic stimulation to feel good about themselves; they are extremely happy when they get letters from home.

5. If you do decide to send a box, please keep the size of box to shoe size or similar to it.  Thanks.

Please discuss this policy with your child, and with extended family who may be tempted to send packages. Parents may send birthday presents or absolutely necessary emergency items to attention of the camp director.

Address:

Camper name

MACKENZIE CENTER Lodge & Dorms

W7303 County CS-Q

POYNETTE WI 53955

Viewing Photos

We take great pride in taking as many photos as possible of your children while they are at camp.  Our photo gallery through this website provides a simple, convenient way for parents to see what’s going on at camp, and offers a bit of comfort knowing that “things are okay.”  It gives you this reassurance without interfering with or intruding into that special experience we call camp.  Parents may view all photos while their child is at camp. 

Telephone & Laundry

Please explain to your camper(s) that the office phone IS NOT for campers’ use since calls interrupt the camp activities. Campers are not used their cell phones at the camp. Their cell phones will be held in a box until the last day when it will be return to the campers. Parents will be called immediately in case of an emergency. 

LAUNDRY facilities are available at camp. Dirty clothes will be washed by counselors as needed. Pack a dirty clothes bag and enough clothes for the length of the session. Please mark all items with your camper’s name. Talk with your camper about caring for his/her clothes and belongings. The camp is not responsible for lost clothing or other items. Be forewarned, clothes can be misplaced so it is up to each child to make sure their clothes are either in suitcase or in their own bag.

Dorm Living

The living space has 15 bunk beds in each room. There are NO dressers to use. Your child will live out of the suitcase during the entire time. There are hooks for towels in the bathroom and please provide a bucket for your child's hygiene supplies. Let me know if you need anything for me to provide.

Here is a short video tour of the dorms.  

Find out more about the Mackenize Center location and amenities here. 

Illness or Accident

In case of illness or accident of a camper, the parents will be called. If the parents and/or the emergency contact listed cannot be reached, the camp director will determine if the child should be taken to a doctor or hospital. The parents are responsible for all medical charges including physician, hospital, X-ray, pharmacy, transportation, and any expense that may be incurred. Parents will be asked to pick up campers if they are sick for more than 12 – 24 hours.

Transportation by Air 

Please have your child fly to Milwaukee Airport. Use Karen Voss' contact name and address to register as an adult to meet at the airport. Should someone else will pick up your child, you will be notified to change the name with the airline. The best time to fly to Milwaukee is in the Sunday morning and to fly out on the last day is Friday afternoon.

Transportation by Car or Train

The camp does not provide transportation other than for those who will fly. We may help parents arrange car pools, if requested. 

Homesickness

It’s really not a sickness. It should be called “missing home.” And, it is normal for some children to experience fleeting moments of homesickness, i.e. missing home. This is a part of growing up. Our program keeps campers so busy that we rarely see anything more than very minor homesickness. We have found that homesickness can manifest itself in many ways: most children do not admit to being homesick, instead they will say they don’t feel good or have a tummy ache. Many times a homesick child will be homesick one minute and the next minute he/she is going off to activities and running and playing and apparently not homesick any more.

Since letters home are written during quiet times when homesickness may manifest more, some parents may receive a “homesick letter”. Usually these letters do not say “I am homesick” but instead may state things like “I don’t like camp”, “My counselor is mean”, “I am really sick” etc. Do not panic. This is normal.

Parents should understand that the camp director and counselors are aware of everything that is going on at camp and that we make a conscious effort to visit individually with every camper daily. We are usually aware of homesick campers and give them extra attention to make sure they get over it easily.

In over 15 years of camping, we have practically never had to ask a parent to pick up a camper due to homesickness, however there are several tips we can give parents and campers to help minimize the impact of homesickness:

1. Before camp discuss this with campers and explain that they may experience an occasional feeling of homesickness. Tell them that the best thing to do if they feel homesick is to find an activity or friend to get involved with.

2. Let campers know that camp is a big step in their growing-up process and that you are proud of them for being able to take this first step towards independence by going to camp.

3. Explain that they will not be allowed to call home even if they are homesick.

4. Tell campers that they can discuss any personal problems (personal hygiene, homesickness, interpersonal problems) with their counselor or the camp director in private and have confidence that the staff member will understand without making them feel embarrassed.

5. Make your farewell on check-in day brief; do not linger at the cabin area for longer than necessary.

6. Avoid sending letters that contain statements that could aggravate homesick feelings. Avoid statements like “we miss you so much here at home”, or “your dog or cat or pet really misses you” etc.

7. Parent (and other family member) visits are not allowed during the camp session: this will disrupt the camp program and can actually cause unnecessary homesickness. Friends and family members are welcome on the first Sunday and the last Friday of each session.

In many cases, the parents are actually more anxious than the campers (kind of a reverse homesickness). As parents ourselves, we understand your concern for your child’s well-being especially when sending them to camp for the first time. We occasionally get calls from anxious parents who need reassurance; and while we understand your apprehension, you can be assured that we are aware of and are constantly supervising all aspects of camp.

Standards of Conduct

Camp is a place where children can be free to have a good time in an un-regimented atmosphere and enjoy many activities with others. We do not expect any discipline problems; however, if a camper’s behavior creates a situation which is detrimental to the other campers, the staff, or the camp program or property, the parents will be notified to pick that camper up immediately. No offensive language or behavior, no pranks, no bullying or intimidation of others, no smoking or tobacco use, no weapons, no cell phones or electronic devices, no alcohol, no drugs or inappropriate reading materials are allowed at KODA Camp. (Discuss this with your camper.) 

KODA Camp respects the rights and dignity of all campers and staff, including individuals with varying abilities, cultures, genders, races and religions. We expect all individuals to act respectfully when they are on our property and to respect the rights of others regardless of their differences. KODA Camp is inclusive to all and staff are trained to set the highest examples of behavior for campers.

Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender-diverse Campers at KODA Camp

At KODA Camp, we celebrate everyone’s unique perspective and identity. We fully support and embrace campers who are trans, nonbinary, or otherwise gender-diverse. Out of dignity and love for all campers, we will refer to campers with their chosen name and pronouns and respect them as their true gender. Though most campers feel safe and loved by other campers in the KODA Camp community, staff are trained to recognize and intervene in any case of bullying, harassment, or hate speech that may occur so that everyone can continue to be authentically themselves in a safe environment. 

Our camp activities are not separated by gender so campers will not feel pressured to align with one binary gender during activities. However, due to the circumstances of KODA Camp’s sleeping arrangements and regulations out of our control, we are unfortunately required to place campers by their gender assigned at birth into either a boys’ dorm or a girls’ dorm. Therefore, we ask that on camper registration, campers are registered under their gender assigned at birth and have their trans/nonbinary/gender-diverse identity and pronouns specified in the open text box provided on the registration form. We understand and regret that this may cause frustration and feelings of dysphoria or invalidation for the campers. We will treat any and all campers who are put in this situation with respect and care to their true gender and strive to help everyone feel validated despite the unideal sleeping arrangement. We hope to see trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse campers continue to attend KODA Camp and enjoy all it has to offer!