Camp FAQs

• Water Bottle

• *Snack (non-refrigerated, non-microwavable, nut-free)

• **Lunch (non-refrigerated, non-microwavable, nut-free)

• Weather-appropriate clothes and footwear

• Hat

• Sunscreen/Bug Spray

• A bag or backpack to hold it all

It is a camper’s responsibility to keep track of all of their belongings while at camp. To support campers’ success in this area, we encourage families to label all belongings with a camper’s first and last name and send all items in a bag or backpack.

* For the safety of our campers and staff, we are a peanut and tree nut free camp.

**Your child only needs a lunch if he/she is enrolled all day.

We ask that all electronics, toys, food products containing nuts etc. be left at home. Children staying for aftercare are allowed to read, but these items need to be kept in the coatroom during camp activities. Camp Explorations is not responsible for lost or broken toys, especially handheld video game systems or valuable trading cards! PLEASE leave these things at home.

Your child should bring a non-refrigerated, non-microwavable, nut-free packed meal. Lunch will take place between 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the museum. Your child will be supervised during the lunchtime. Lunch takes place outside on the North side of the building.  In the event of inclement weather, lunch will take place inside.

Please make sure you put this information on the registration forms. Campers that have serious allergies that require emergency medication (epi-pen, asthma inhalers) should carry it with them. Other medication must be given to camp staff and stored in the Camp Director’s Office.

You will also need to complete an Over-the-Counter Medication Authorization Form. Please contact the Camp Office for this additional form.

Note: Unless we have parental authorization, we will not administer ANY medications or make OTC medications available to participants unless necessary as part of general first-aid treatment.

We strive to create an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and inspires curiosity for all campers. For this reason, campers must be able to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.

• Maintain appropriate language and actions

• Hands to themselves

• Respectful language to fellow campers and camp staff

• Stay with their group

• Listen to camp staff and follow directions

If your camper is struggling, we will have a quiet, friendly space that campers can take a break and calm down or recharge before returning to their group. Camp Explorations reserves the right to remove any child from camp if his/her/their behavior is overly disruptive, inappropriate, creates a safety hazard, or is in violation of the COVID-19 Policy. In such cases, the child will be immediately removed from camp and asked not to return, possibly for the remainder of the camp and/or the remainder of the summer. In these cases, no refunds will be given.

We greatly appreciate any information, suggestions or tips you would like to share with us. Filling out the registration form with as much detail as possible will give us the opportunity to prepare any special accommodations and give your camper the best experience possible. Camp leaders are not always available to speak to, but you are welcome to email our summer camp team at ummnh.camp@umich.edu or call the Camp Office at (734) 674-6421. Anything you wish to be communicated with your camper’s counselor will be communicated prior to the start of the camp week.

Camp will go on!  We will change our programs to stay indoors when necessary.

Morning Session   

• 8:00-8:30 a.m.   Camper Drop Off  
• 8:30-11:30 a.m.   Camp Activities & Snack  
• 11:30-11:45 a.m.   End of Day/Wrap Up  
• 11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.   Gather belongings and get ready for Pick Up OR get ready for Lunch  

Afternoon Session   

• 12:45 - 1:15 p.m.   Camper Drop Off 
•  1:15 - 3:30 p.m.   Camp Activities & Snack  
• 3:30 - 3:45 p.m.   End of Day/Wrap Up  
• 3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.   Gather belongings and get ready for Pick Up OR head to Aftercare  

Little Explorers Session   

• 8:00-8:30 a.m.   Camper Drop Off  
• 8:30-11:30 a.m.   Camp Activities & Snack  
• 11:30-11:45 a.m.   End of Day/Wrap Up  
• 11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.   Gather belongings and get ready for Pick Up
  

Camp Explorations has contact-free drop off and pick up. Drop off and pickup is located at the Museum’s School and Group Entrance located on Washtenaw Ave. There is a curb cut where you can pull in and drop off your child.

 You will receive an email a week before the camp starts with pick up and drop off information. You will need to sign your child in and out each day.  Please make sure anyone who will be picking up your child is added to the Pick Up Authorization Form. Please be ready to show your ID at pickup.

Please let us know ahead of time if you will be dropping off your child late so we can make sure someone is available to sign your child in and take them to their group.

Please let us know ahead of time if you will be picking up your child early so we can make sure someone is available to get your child from their group so you can sign them out.

Yes, as long as his/her name is listed on your registration sheet. If the individual is not named on the sheet, we will have to call the adult listed for pickup permission. This includes parents if they are not listed on the registration sheet.  If you need to add a name to the authorized persons pickup list, please call Camp Explorations at 734.647.6421 or send an email to ummnh.camp@umich.edu.

Most camp sessions are full. Send an email to ummnh.camp@umich.edu to be added to the waitlist.

Depending on U-M COVID-19 protocols and staffing levels, additional spaces might be added by the end of May.

Campers are placed in small groups by age and our counselor to camper ratio is 1:9 or fewer.  For the Little Explorer sessions the counselor to camper ratio is 1:6 or fewer.

Aftercare is available for campers enrolled in the afternoon sessions. The cost for after care is $75 a week and is available between 4-6 p.m. If your child is not picked up by 6 p.m., a late fee of $10 per child for 15 minutes or portion thereof that you are late will be charged. Aftercare is also available on a per day basis for $15 per day and can be added the week of camp.

Of course!  We will try our best to keep your child engaged and learning while at Camp Explorations.  However, we are not able to provide interpreters for your child at camp.

We occasionally take our group on walking field trips or a U-M blue bus (for Adventure Sessions).  Field trip safety will continue to be reassessed based on recommendations from public health officials. Parents/guardians will be notified if their camp has a field trip opportunity.

On days that we are going on field trips, we ask that your child wear comfortable shoes, weather appropriate clothing, and the Camp Explorations T-shirt.  We also suggest that your child bring a water bottle, backpack, bug spray, and sunscreen.

A $25 cancellation fee is applied to all refunds. Refunds will be given if requested at least 14 days before your camp start date. No refunds will be given if requested after 14 days of your camp start date.  Please notify the camp office in writing for any cancellation requests. In the event that the child does not meet the health requirements in the Camp Explorations COVID-19 policy, a refund will be given for the days of camp missed. 

Camp Explorations reserves the right to remove any child from camp if his/her/their behavior is overly disruptive, inappropriate, creates a safety hazard, or is in violation of the COVID-19 Policy. In such cases, the child will be immediately removed from camp and asked not to return, possibly for the remainder of the camp and/or the remainder of the summer. In these cases, no refunds will be given.

A $15 processing fee will be assessed for any requested registration changes after confirmation of your registration. Please double check your schedule and registration form before submitting your registration. Please contact the camp office for any changes to your registration.

Campers are placed in age appropriate groups for each session. We make every effort to accommodate requests for campers to be in the same group as a friend, though requests are not guaranteed.

If you would like your camper to be placed in the same group as a friend and you did not indicate it on your registration form, the request can be made in writing to the Camp Director at ummnh.camp@umich.edu.