Parents' Handbook

Mission

KODA Camp Midwest promotes Kids of Deaf Adults (KODAs) by  enhancing their self-identity,  sense of belonging, confidence, leadership skills, and love by attending KODA camp program run by Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs) surrounded in nature.

Vision

We believe that every KODA deserves the chance to experience the ability to find their identity, grow in their self-confidence, have KODA love, and accept their belonging.

Financial Policies

Please refer to registration and costs for full financial information. Camp fee must be paid in full for each camper attending camp before the start of camp to attend. If the camp fee is not paid in full, the camper will not be allowed to attend camp. 

Why we are “KODA” Camp

At KODA Camp Midwest, we understand that there may be other relatives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, such as siblings, grandchildren, or nieces/nephews, who are also interested in attending KODA Camp. Everyone with a Deaf or Hard of Hearing relative has unique experiences, memories, and relationships with them–ones that deserve to be celebrated! 

However, we have a specific focus on KODAs and limit attendance to this group for a few reasons. KODAs often experience unique challenges and opportunities as a direct result of their specific status as children of Deaf/Hard of Hearing adults–thus, KODA Camp provides a safe and supportive space for KODAs to connect with each other, share their experiences, and build a sense of community. Although KODAs and other relatives of Deaf/Hard of Hearing people often share some experiences–such as exposure to/experience in ASL and Deaf culture–the experiences and relationships between them and their Deaf/Hard of Hearing parents/relatives are different. Most KODAs are raised by their Deaf/Hard of Hearing parents while those with other Deaf/Hard of Hearing relatives have a different relationship dynamic that may not be relatable to the KODA experience. By focusing specifically on KODAs, we are able to tailor the camp experience to the needs and interests of KODAs. We believe that by limiting attendance to KODAs, we can provide a more focused and meaningful experience for the small and close-knit KODA community. 

We appreciate your understanding and support in maintaining the mission of KODA Camp Midwest!

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. 

Communication

Starting in June, you will receive emails from KODA Camp Midwest about your camper's specific session. For the youth and teen session, expect about 3 emails, and for the kids session, expect about 2 emails. If you do not receive any communication, please check your junk/spam folder first. Then contact Karen Voss at karen@kodamidwest.org 

Packing

We have a full list of what you can bring (and can't!) bring to camp. Follow our packing list here! Packing Do's and Don'ts

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. Please teach your child on how to use a separate bag for dirty clothes. I can't tell you how many times the child lost their clothing.

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. 

Here is a short video tour of the dorms.  

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

Cabin Assignments

Campers are assigned cabins by age. There are two pods each for boys and girls. Each camper selects a bunk bed. Each pod houses 15 campers. All counselors also lives and sleeps in the cabin with the campers. All cabins have electricity and is air conditioned.

Growth

Much of the growth and development children experience at camp comes through the experience of living together in a camp setting with their counselor. Camp allows children to develop newly found confidence in dealing with real-life situations including camper health and safety.

Rules of the Cabins

Living in a cabin with children of different backgrounds encourages campers to work together as a team. Early in the camp session, all counselors meet with the cabin members to establishing rules of cabin conduct (each camper participates and gives input at every cabin meeting). Campers take turns sweeping, and doing cabin chores, striving to have the cleanest cabin at inspection time. Each camper is reminded to maintain personal hygiene daily.

Cabin Wrap Up Each Night

Each night, counselors lead informal “rap” discussions with their cabins. Campers love the sense of validation, belonging, and self-respect they gain from living together in their own cabin group. Counselors may read bedtime stories and have special group sharing time each night in the cabin prior to lights out.

One Week Before 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. 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 Time

Before your child's camp session starts, the counselors are already working hard and preparing for camp. Please respect the pick up times for your session. 

Teens Session

• Between 1-5PM on Sunday

Youth Session 

• Between 1-5PM on Sunday

Kids Session 

• Between 10AM-12PM on Sunday

Check In Logistics

Check-in begins at 1PM on Sunday of the Camp start date. Parents like to gather ahead of time, but registration will not begin until 1PM promptly. 

To get to KODA Camp Midwest:

Please park in the parking lot and make your way towards the registration area. 

Suitcases 

Please drop off suitcases/bags in front of the long drive. Counselors will load the car with suitcases and bring it to the dorms. 

Check in 

During check in process, you will:

•  State your child's name

• Hand over any and all medicine (labeled with times, amount etc. in a plastic bag)

• Hand over the pre-paid card for field trips

• Camper will get their picture taken

• Parent discuss any details/concerns about their child for counselor to notate 

• Then head over to the lodge for ice breaker activities (bed signs, setting up the bed, games etc.). 

Please do not leave any of these items at home. BRING IT!

Camp T-shirts & Group Photo

As part of KODA Camp Midwest tradition, each camper recieves a custom T-Shirt specifically made for that year's camp session on Camp on the last Thursday of the week. A group photo is taken on that Thursday (before the camper's shirt gets too dirty!) of the session. All photos are posted to the Archives section of KODA Camp Midwest. 

Pick-Up Times

For all sessions:

• 9AM arrival

• 9:30AM closing cermony

• 11AM all campers must be out. 

For arrivals, please respect the 9AM arrival time. We know how excited you are to see your camper! But please remember to respect the arrival time. Campers will be eating breakfast before you arrive and we want to make sure our campers are fed (and don't leave hungry!) before you arrive. 

A closing ceremony aka Parent's Morning is held at the end of each session, Friday morning at 9:30AM and all friends/family members are encouraged to attend (and bring your camera!). The campers show off their groups and their special flags. After the campers present, there is a 30 minute (or less) discussion on any questions you may have of camp or other special announcements. 

Please do not bring your dog or other family pet to camp. All the kids must leave the camp by 11AM. If special arrangements are needed, you must let the Executive Director know in advance.

MacKenize Center Store

Since KODA Camp Midwest does not own the MacKenzie Center, there is an opportunity to purchase items from the MacKenzie Center store from 9AM-11AM on the last Friday. The store has various items including t-shirts, sunglasses, flashlights, key chains, and other fun logo items. Some campers like a memento of the MacKenzie Center (but this is not required). 

If you would like to purchase KODA Camp Midwest items, KODA Camp Midwest has an online store year round. You can view and purchase items here. 

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 & Social Media 

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. Please visit the Archives page to see photos of your specific camper during their specific session. 

Phones at Camp

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.  Please view our cell phone policy for full information. 

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.

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 the many years since we've started KODA Camp Midwest, 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.

Additional Information about Health & Safety

We have an entire page dedicated to the health and safety of our campers since they are our number one priority. Camp can't run without our campers being safe! Please view the Health & Safety page for detailed information on how we keep your camper safe. 

About the Staff

KODA Camp is for Kids of Deaf Adults run by CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults) most of KODA Camp Midwest's staff have attended KODA Camp before (or another KODA Camp)! We always welcome any CODAs to apply. 

KODA Camp Midwest staff go through an intense training week the week before camp to get them prepared to be counselors. Staff training week covers health & safety, activity prep, teamwork and communication, diversity & inclusion, mental health training, and more!

See this year's staff here.

Full details of Camp Activities & Programs

There's even more to share about the specifics of Camp Activities & Programs. For a more detailed look, please visit our Camp Activities & Programs page. 

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 at camp 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. 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. We hope to see trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse campers continue to attend KODA Camp and enjoy all it has to offer!

Please view our full policy for more information. 

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