Camp Lakota is a community of nearly 400 campers and staff. The guidelines below exist to make that community safe, fair, and genuinely enjoyable for everyone in it. We find that campers settle in fastest when expectations are clear from the start, so we ask that both campers and families read through these policies before the summer begins.
Camp Lakota is a fully screen-free campus, and we take this seriously; it’s one of the things that makes a Lakota summer genuinely different.
Just because your child is away doesn’t mean you’re out of the loop. Camp Lakota has a few ways to keep families connected throughout the summer.
To help campers transition smoothly from home life to camp life, we ask that calls home are held off during the first week of the session. After the first week, campers can set up one phone call home per week.
In our experience, this approach helps campers invest fully in their new environment and settle in faster. Most parents tell us their child sounds happier and more settled than they expected.
Read our tips to reduce homesickness
Through your Bunk 1 account, you can send your camper an unlimited number of Bunk Notes at any time. Each note is printed, folded, and delivered to your camper with the daily mail, just like a real letter, but without the stamp. You can also use your Bunk 1 account to view photos of your child daily and read blog updates from across campus.
Old-fashioned letters are always welcomed and encouraged, and for many campers, getting something in the mail is one of the best parts of the day. If you’d like to send a care package, please read our full guidelines below, and share these guidelines with friends and relatives who may want to send something during the summer too!
It is practical for campers to keep a small amount of cash at camp for use at the Camp Store, where they can buy things like batteries and stamps, as well as souvenirs on camp trips.
All cash is kept securely in a labeled individual envelope in the camp office. Campers have daily access to their envelopes.
All cash, passports, and other important valuables must be kept in the camp safe in the office, not in the cabin. Camp Lakota cannot assume responsibility for money or valuables kept by a camper in their bunk.
These are some important things to keep in mind when packing for camp:
Camp Lakota has its own on-premises laundry service. Campers’ laundry is picked up once a week, washed, dried, and folded, and returned within 24 hours. There is no need to pack beyond the quantities on our packing list.
All clothing and gear must be labeled with your camper’s full name, nametape, stamp, or permanent ink.
Pack practical, machine-washable clothing suited to active outdoor camp life, and keep in mind clothing items may get torn or stained.
Camp Lakota has a fully equipped health center staffed with registered nurses and an on-site doctor, available day and night. Here are some of our policies for health related concerns:
No camper is permitted to leave the campgrounds except as part of a supervised camp activity authorised by the camp administration.
Camp Lakota is a beautiful place and everyone who uses it shares in maintaining it. Campers and counselors are jointly responsible for the cleanliness and safety of their cabin. To support this:
We’re always happy to talk through any of the above. Call us at (845) 888-5611 or reach out through our Contact page, our director Hannah is happy to answer any questions before the summer begins.