What To Bring to Camp

• Please label all of your camper’s items with full name.
• Please dress your child appropriately for the weather, as we will be enjoying the summer outdoors!  
• Camp fun can be dirty and wet. Please send your child with clothes/shoes/bags that can get dirty/wet

For All Campers:

• 1 liter reusable water bottle
• Backpack (bags with wheels do not work on our trails)
• Extra clothes
• rain gear
• sweatshirt or jacket,
• Hat or bandana
• bathing suit & towel.
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Closed-toed, comfortable shoes

For Half Day Campers:

• A snack is provided
• Bring change of clothes

For Full Day Campers:

• Please bring your lunch and snacks for the day.

For Overnight Campers:
Thursday Dinner, Friday breakfast and lunch are provided

In addition to the items listed above for All Campers and Full Day Campers (Lunch for Thursday Only); please bring the following:

• Flashlight
• Hair brush/comb, toothbrush and toothpaste
• Sleeping bag or sufficient blankets
• Camping ground pad
• Sleep attire and change of clothes for the next day
• Quick-drying long pants
• Long-sleeved top
• Towel and washcloth if shower is needed

Please label all of your camper’s items with full name if they are unable to keep track of their own belongings.

For Trek Campers

• Backpack: simple, 3200 cubic inches internal frame. (i.e Weekender hiking back)
• Sleeping pad: light-weight foam rubber mat
• Sleeping bag: compression sack, minimum 40 degrees F temperature rating
• Pillow: optional, small, if any

Clothing: Outer Shell

• Rain gear: waterproof and wind proof, top and bottom also used as wind breaker (no ponchos)

Insulating Layer

• Warmer top: (1) (expedition weight) or 100 weight fleece--no cotton
• Wicking Layer (pulls moisture away from skin, making you feel dryer and warmer) Fabrics like polypropylene, light weight wool, and capilene are made to wick moisture quite well.
• Long underwear bottoms (1) (mid weight)
• Long underwear top (1) (mid weight)

Footwear

• Socks: (5 pairs total) Synthetic fabric or lighter weight wool will work better than cotton in a backpacking setting.
• Closed toed-comfortable shoes
• Optional--Boots: comfortable with adequate ankle support, broken in Hiking Boots
• Optional--Water Sandals/Athletic Sandals: (they have to have an ankle strap)

Head Gear

• Bandanas (3-4) —tons of uses!
• Hat (that shades eyes)
• Sunglasses

Quick Dry Clothing (jeans and cotton t-shirts do not dry fast!!!)

• T-shirts (3 total) (Next to skin layer) a lightweight polyester, wool/capilene T-shirt
• Shorts (1) Nylon soccer shorts and other nylon fabric shorts dry quick and are lightweight
• Long Pants (1) (no jeans, they take too long to dry and are heavy) Recommended: zip off leg “convertible” pants will be acceptable for shorts and long pants)
• Swimsuit (1) (board shorts double as shorts)
• Undergarments (4)

Toiletries

Toothpaste (travel size, no big tubes)

Toothbrush

• Waterproof Sunscreen lotion (SPF > 15)
• Bug repellent (lotion, not spray can type)
• Lip balm
• Medications (labeled and contained)
• Small bottle of hand sanitizer
• If you wear contacts, wear glasses this week
• Towel (for beach or personal use) I recommend MSR Pack towel (worth the price for the weight!)

Miscellaneous

• Two 1 liter Nalgene water bottles
• (1) spoon lexan spoons are light and durable
• Small flashlight, with AA or AAA batteries or head lamp
• Small paperback book
• Binoculars
• Small pocket knife
• Small drybag for weather sensitive gear

Please bring a lunch for Monday! All other meals until pickup at 5pm on Friday, will be provided

Which form do I need?

Certain Camps require certain medical forms or waivers. Please find your Camp listed below and click on the waiver to download.  

For camp questions:  Registrar (269) 381-1574 ext 24 or email register@naturecenter.org

Camp Director: Tanequa Hampton, (269) 381-1574 ext 24 or email thampton@naturecenter.org

2019 Camp Bus Schedule

Save fuel, ride the bus! Pick the schedule that works best for you. 
· Buses only run to and from KNC from the scheduled stops and at the scheduled times (see below.) Please arrive at least 5 minutes early to your stop. 
·If you would like your child to walk home from camp or a bus stop, please inform the Camp office.
·Busses will not leave campers unsupervised at bus stops unless you have indicated on the registration form that they will walk home. If no one is at the stop to meet non-walkers, campers will be returned to KNC Camp where an authorized person will need to pick them up.

Note: You must be registered for the bus option through Campwise for your camper to be eligible to ride the bus.

For camp questions:  Registrar (269) 381-1574 ext 24 or email register@naturecenter.org

Camp Director: Tanequa Hampton, (269) 381-1574 ext 15 or email thampton@naturecenter.org

Lost and Found

We ask that all personal belongings be marked with the camper’s name. At the end of each day we will make an effort to match lost items with their owners. Lost & Found will be kept for one week. All unclaimed items will be given to a local charity. Please do not bring items of great value to camp. KNC is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

We are unable to give refunds for cancellations within one week (5 business days) of the camp’s start date. A $50 processing fee will be charged for any cancellation prior to one week before a camp’s start date. There is no fee for switching to another available camp of the same price in the current camp  season. If prices differ, you will need to pay the difference or we will refund or credit you the difference.    

Camper Sign-In/Sign-Out

ALL campers MUST be signed in and out DAILY by a parent/adult guardian. Photo ID is required at the time of pick-up. Please have your license or photo ID ready to show to our staff whether we know you or not.  There is space on the health form to list additional adults authorized to pick up your child. Anytime someone other than those designated will be picking up your camper(s), you must add those extra persons to your child(ren)’s registration form. Whether or not we already know you, you must bring your ID to your child’s counselor. This procedure is to ensure the safety of your child. If your child is walking/driving home from camp or the bus stop, they may check in and out  themselves with a signed waiver from a parent/guardian (see Self Check Out Authorization.

Medication

“Medication” is any substance a person takes to maintain and/or improve their health. This includes vitamins and natural remedies. If your child will be taking medication while at camp, fill out and return the Permission to Administer Medication form and provide enough of each medication to last the entire time at camp.  Medications must be brought in the original pharmacy container. Bring only enough of the medications needed while at camp. Any unused medications will not be carried home by the camper. Medications are returned to the parent/guardian at check-out.

Emergencies/Illness at Camp

Should there be any emergency involving your child, or if your child becomes ill while at camp, we will contact you immediately. If you cannot be reached, we will call the individuals you have  designated as alternate emergency contacts. Please make sure all information provided is accurate. If you have a family emergency at home and need to pick your child up early, please call the Camp Office Phone 269-381-8865.

Camp Director: Tanequa Hampton, (269) 381-1574 ext 15, (269) 815-8326, or email thampton@naturecenter.org

Nature Center Gift Shop

You will be notified in advance if your camper’s group has a planned visit to our gift shop. Not all camp groups schedule a visit to the gift shop. The gift shop is open all year during KNC’s normal business hours, 9 am - 5 pm. There are many value-priced souvenirs in the shop, and we ask that you send no more than $10.00 with your camper per session. We do not encourage the purchasing of candy, snacks, and soft drinks. Select items will be for sale at the Camp Office.

Ticks, Mosquitoes and Poison Ivy

It is possible that while exploring the habitats at the Nature Center and beyond, your child may come in contact with ticks, mosquitoes or other biting flies, or poison ivy. Our staff will do their best  to remind campers to check themselves for ticks and reapply their bug spray. However, you must check your children each night when they get home because ticks hide in places that it is only appropriate for parents to check. We will teach your children how to identify and avoid poison ivy and other plants that may irritate the skin. The general recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics to limit the use of DEET-containing products on kids to those that contain 10% or less DEET. Check the parent section of our website for information on how to choose the right bug spray, how to check for and remove ticks, how to identify the signs of a tick bite, and the symptoms and signs of poison ivy.