Loading...What should I wear? You need to wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty. You will definitely get dirty and you will not want to ruin anything that you wish to keep. Do not bring valuables or anything that if you lost it would make you really sad. You may want to bring an extra pair of clothes/shoes/socks because some kids get wet exploring the creek.
You must wear socks and athletic shoes that tie—you will not be allowed to participate if you do not have the correct shoes. No Crocs, sandles or shoes with the back out of them. You should bring a water bottle with you. There are no cups to get water out of the jugs.
What if the weather does not cooperate? You need to bring appropriate clothes. You are outside most of the day and we only go indoors for SEVERE weather. Even if it is snowing or raining we stay outside unless there is thunder and lightning! Excessive heat or cold does not change our programming either, so dress accordingly.
How will I know what we are going to do? Your organization has scheduled your groups and activities with us and a schedule of those activities will be posted in our dining hall. Your group leader can be contacted for more information.
Will I starve? Our eating plan is designed so that you should not feel hungry. For overnight participants–we eat 3 meals and 2 snacks every day. Our meals are served cafeteria style and correct portions are given. There are no second helpings because we are trying to teach you how you SHOULD be eating at home. You can always have extra salad at lunch and dinner. It is true that you may miss fast food if you eat there a lot. But those cravings do go away quickly.
We eat normal stuff like spaghetti, pizza, brownies and root beer floats. We also have BBQ’s with real meat! We have a great cook and you will like most of the food. We do try new things though. Some things you will love and others you may not choose again, but that is what makes life interesting. Besides we are very busy and you do not have a lot of time to think about food.
We drink a LOT of water and sometimes have kool-aid, but water is the ONLY thing that gets put in a water bottle while at camp.
What about the bathrooms? Although camp is camp–we have modern plumbing with single showers and toilet stalls for privacy. No one needs to see anyone naked!
Will I make friends? Absolutely! The atmosphere is a supportive family environment and we help each other. You will make new friends and find new things out about old friends.
Will kids make fun of me? Bullying is never allowed at our camp. Our key staff is very aware of what is going on in camp because we live here. Our key staff along with your group leaders and other staff work with campers. Parents are involved if there are problems and an action plan may be developed by the camp, group leader, camper and parents to improve behavior. Although camper behavior is the responsibility of your group leader, we will not tolerate bullying!
Where will I sleep? You will sleep in an air-conditioned and heated dorms/cabins with 8 – 10 different kids. This is best since you will make friends more easily. Unlike other camps that house two campers to a room–Living Well Village offers the opportunity for campers to make friends with the diverse people in their cabin. You will learn how to get along with a lot of different people.
What kind of bed will I have? There are bunk beds with built-in ladders to the top bunk and side-rails so you can’t fall out. You can also request a bottom bunk if you tell your group leader.
What if I wet the bed? You will not be the first camper nor the last camper with this problem. No one needs to know except for a few adults. Just let your group leader know that this is a concern and we will teach both of you how to deal with it. (There are washer and dryers in the cabins.) We will not embarrass you and you will have a great time without worrying about it! It really is no big deal to us.
What if I get homesick? Many of the kids coming to camp have not been so far from home for an overnight. Our staff understands this and can help the group leader and kids through the tough times. We have so many camper activities that you will be very busy at camp and time will fly.
What if I get really sick? Your group leader will help take care of you or make the decision with your parents to send you home. Since we are the closest camp to St. Louis this is usually not a problem. There is also St. Anthony’s Medical Center with a Pediatric Emergency room within 7 miles of camp if you should get suddenly really sick or injured. If this were to happen then your group leader will be speaking to your parents, so they know what is happening and can make decisions together.
What if I need to talk to my family? Our philosophy is “fair does not mean that all kids get the same treatment, fair is that all kids get what they need”. We look at each individual situation and decide what is the best decision we can make for the camper. Your parents can always contact our office at 636-674-5014 and we will let you know if there are any problems. Most kids are perfectly fine for the short time that they are at camp. Your group leader will work with you and your family for a positive experience.
What if I cannot swim? Many groups are not allowed to go near the water as determined by their group leader and organization. If your group chooses this type of programming then you will always have a life jacket on when we are boating or swimming in the lake! Our lifeguards are excellent!
What if I cannot play sports? We are a non-competitive camp really. We play for fun. We learn to play together. Those that know how to play will teach the rest of us. All we ask is that you try your best each day and everybody’s best will be different in different things. We help find what you are good at doing.
How can I stay in touch with camp? By attending camp you participate in our Bronze Membership. You will receive invitations to events and we encourage you to become a part of our TEAM LIVING WELL run club.
