HIGHBROOK CAMP PROGRAM
Our philosophy is simple:
All people have abilities and our mission is to enable all people to realize their full potential through the recreation activities at Highbrook.
Safety is paramount to this mission
Our counselors have a background check that includes a criminal background check through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal investigation. All staff participates in a week-long orientation that includes sessions to train them in sighted guide techniques, accessibility for the people who are blind and visually impaired, CPR and First Aid certification provided by the American Red Cross. Emergency drills and procedures include weather, fire, injury and lost camper. We have a resident Registered Nurse on staff to treat injuries, dispense medication and carry out physician ordered treatments for conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and glaucoma, and educate about wellness. Geauga County Hospital is literally within walking distance and each year we communicate with the sheriff, fire and police departments in the area to announce our summer arrival. We are grateful for their service and assistance in maintaining a very safe environment at Highbrook Lodge. Attendance is taken several times daily. Children are always supervised by counselor teams.
We ask to be partners with parents in our efforts to provide a safe camp experience for their children. Our application provides ample space to provide information related to a child’s special needs including vision, behavior, health and dietary. Please be as thorough and complete with information as possible. No tidbit is too trivial when a child becomes homesick, displays anxiety or anger, or has difficulty ‘fitting’ in. In the event of injury or incidents, we call home to ask your advice and inform you of any unusual circumstances. When you arrive to pick up your child at the end of their camp session our goal is to ensure that you will not have any surprises.
Our program for children is structured and progressive. Our day begins at 7:00 am, and progresses through meals and 3 to 6 activity periods depending on age group, evening program and cabin time. Our campers are kept busy and active throughout the day and usually are ready for bed at night. Our activities and procedures are based on traditional camp experiences, and are designed to instill confidence, high self-esteem, peer support, getting along with others in a diverse world, trying new things and mastering old skills. Campers are challenged to be as independent as possible, make decisions about activities, make choices in their day, help others and be active.
For some children the camp experience may be overwhelming. Every effort is taken to help a child have a successful camp experience, but we will not force a child to endure a full session if they are overwhelmed by homesickness or other anxiety.
From time to time children and teens test the limits of authority and disciplinary actions need to be imposed. Highbrook Lodge staff will first discuss and correct inappropriate behavior, if behavior is not corrected. It most often is, and depending on the situation, a child may receive a brief time-out from an activity (never sent to their cabin or away from the group), a loss of privilege such as the camp store, or a proactive assignment such as providing extra help during cabin clean-up (but never to clean the cabin alone, for example). Corporal punishment, cabin hazing, initiations and the like are forbidden at Highbrook Lodge and should be reported immediately to the Camp Director if reported by a camper to their parents. We ask parents to discuss the golden rule with children prior to coming to camp and reinforce their need to listen and obey, get along with others, ask permission from their counselors, mind their manners and respect others' person and property.
Campers will be sent home for threatening behavior, physical or verbal, toward others, inappropriate or sexual advances, bringing alcohol, illicit drugs, weapons or offensive materials to camp, refusing to participate or follow directions, stealing, or destruction of property.
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