WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP

First Day

All items should be labeled with camper name and unit and/or placed in labeled ziploc bag:

• Water Bottle labeled with name -- We refill these many times during the day!  These will stay at camp during the week.

• Swimsuit and towel

• Extra change of clothes with socks and shoes in a ziploc bag

• Any medications labeled with camper name in the original bottle (We suggest removing any medicine that will not be used at camp and only sending the exact number needed. Medicine must be picked up by a parent on the last day of camp.)

• Sunblock and bug spray (Please practice applying these safely with your camper BEFORE camp)

• Poncho

• Hat

• Bandana (This is separate from the unit bandana we will hand out. Help us save trees by bringing an extra bandana to use as a hand towel!)

These items will stay in the unit tent all week! Please pack them accordingly.

Every Day

• STURDY CLOSED-TOE SHOES WITH SOCKS

• PLEASE APPLY BUG SPRAY AND SUNSCREEN BEFORE LEAVING YOUR HOME AND HEADING TO CAMP!  We will have times throughout the day for reapplying, but it will save time and is more effectively protecting our girls.

• Lunch in a ziploc bag. -We throw away all lunch trash and extra food after lunch to avoid critters in our unit tents. Please do not send extra snacks or sugary drinks. We provide 2 snacks each day.

DO NOT BRING TO CAMP (Campers and Adults)

• Do not bring cell phones (except adults), iPods, electronic equipment, money, valuables, toys, candy, gum, vaping/cigarettes, alcohol, or any weapons.

MEDICATIONS:  All prescription and over the counter medications must be administered through the camp medic. All medications should be given to the camp medic on Monday morning and must be in the original container and labeled with the child’s name and instructions on how to administer. Prescription medication will only be administered to the camper whose name is on the prescription bottle.

THURSDAY NIGHT CAMPING

Brownies and up who have completed a successful night away from home may participate in the Thursday night overnight at parents’ discretion.

Permission slip and tent form will be sent home with campers. 

If your girl has a tent they can bring, please make sure this tent is designed for outdoor use (No Dora, Paw Patrol, etc...) and that your camper has experience putting it together!  

Campers also have the option of staying for evening activities and checking out before lights out.

Need help paying for camp? 

There are a couple options to HELP PAY FOR CAMP this year.  

1. VOLUNTEER: Register as a full-time Adult Day Camp Volunteer for the week and bring one Girl Scout from your household to camp for free using coupon code STAFF.  (You must volunteer the entire week to be eligible.)  

2. JOYCE SEYMOUR SCHOLARSHIP: Anyone can apply for this scholarship, it is not based on income, so if you need help paying for camp this year and your daughter couldn't otherwise attend, please apply for a scholarship!!   If approved for a partial scholarship, we will send you an invoice and will require payment of the difference prior to May 15th.

   • CLICK HERE to apply for the Joyce Seymour Leadership Fund Scholarship and make sure to register for camp with coupon code JOYCE.  

   • When filling out the scholarship:  Choose = "Day Camp"  Cost = "$100"   Name of camp = "Houchens Day Camp

PICK-UP & DROP-OFF

Camp Houchens access is a one lane road! Therefore, drop off and pick up are dependent on volunteer traffic guides to keep things running smoothly. For the safety of all the girls and our volunteers, please listen carefully to directions and keep your speed low. Allow plenty of time for drop off and pick up this year!

• Camp drop-off is between 8:00-8:30am each day. Campers should be dropped off before 8:30.

• Pick up begins at 3:00 daily and runs until 3:30 Monday through Wednesday. Pick up will run as usual for Daisies on Thursday and others not staying for the overnight.

• Friday morning pick up is from 10:30 - 11:00 am for campout participants.

• Our camp is staffed completely by volunteers! Please be considerate when picking up by arriving on time. Parents who are consistently late (after 3:30) will be assessed a baby-sitting fee.

• CARPOOLING IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED AS THERE IS NO BUS!

LATE ARRIVALS - EARLY DEPARTURES – ABSENCES:

If you know your child will be absent or arrive late please notify camp the day before in writing/email at houchensdaycamp@gmail.com

If this is not possible, please notify us at camp (270-781-1135) before 9:00 AM. If your child needs to arrive or leave other than at regular times, you need to check her/him in or out at the lodge.  It takes approximately 20 minutes to sign a child out and pick them up, please plan accordingly. If someone other than a parent is signing a camper out they must be on the girl's camp forms and present ID.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUND POLICY: If you need to cancel, please email HouchensDayCamp@gmail.com ASAP.  Cancellation Policy: Full refunds will be processed for all cancellations received prior to April 15th.  50% refunds (less any payment processing fees) will be processed for cancellations received prior to May 1st.  No refunds will be given after May 1st for cancellations.  

SAFETY AND EXPECTATIONS: Safety of our scouts is the most important factor of camp! Therefore, our leaders will go over camp rules and expectations the first day of camp. Please remind your scout that these guidelines are put in place to keep them safe and ensure they have a great week at camp! Any camper who is constantly violating rules/boundaries will be dismissed from camp without a refund.

HEALTH HISTORY FORM: After you submit your registration, you will be automatically sent to the Health History Form page.  We need this filled out for ALL CAMPERS, CAMP AIDES, and ADULT VOLUNTEERS prior to attending camp.  If for some reason, you were not redirected to the form after registering, you can fill it out HERE.  

Thank you to Morgan Southard for taking some amazing pictures!

HOUCHENS CAMP 2023 by Morgan Marie Photography (pixieset.com)