Recognizing that day camp is often the first experience away from home, counselors provide a caring environment, facilitating personal and group adjustment. Each group is named for a bird and consists of approximately 15-20 campers, two Head Counselors, one Assistant Counselor, and one Counselor-In-Training (CIT). Lower Camp counselors spend the entire day with their groups. They attend all activities together, many of which are planned by Special Activity Counselors. Lower Camp groups swim every afternoon.  All campers must be completely potty-trained and able to use the bathroom independently.  We do not consider campers in pull-ups potty-trained.

Program Activities with Group Counselors

Indoor/outdoor activities
Story time
Snack and juice daily
Games
Nature walks
Hot lunch
Carnival for parents and friends
Special theme days
Sleeping cots provided for daily rest periods

Special Counselor Activities

Art	Crafts
Cooking	Computer
Dance	Science
Pottery	Physical Education
Music	Special Projects
Drama	Daily Swimming

Sample Day for Lower Camp

Middle Camp is for campers who have finished kindergarten and will be entering first grade in September. Each group consists of approximately 20 campers, two Head Counselors, one Assistant Counselor, and one CIT (when available). Middle Camp provides a transition from Lower Camp to Upper Camp. Middle Camp children are scheduled to attend all activities that are offered to both Lower Camp and Upper Camp. Each day, one of the activity times scheduled will be a free choice period. During free choice periods, counselors help campers make choices by selecting three or four Upper Camp activities from which the campers may choose. Middle Camp children are escorted to and from all activities. Each afternoon Middle Camp groups have a scheduled swim time.

Every counseling group is named for a bird and consists of approximately 25 campers, two Counselors and one Counselor-In-Training (when available). Upper Camp children have opportunities to choose what they wish to do during five periods of the day. In daily assemblies, Special Activity Counselors announce the projects they will offer that day. Campers are free to choose their own activities, and they are expected to participate in the activities chosen.

Activity	Examples
Art	Collage, 3-D Sculpture, Drawing and Painting
Crafts	Lanyards, Bookmaking, Tie Dye, Jewelry
Dance	Movement, Gymnastics, Improvised Dance
Drama	Talent Show, Puppets, Theatre Games
Music	Percussion Instruments, Singing, Music Games
Photography	Spy Photography, Digital Photography, Video
Pottery	Pinch Pots, Beads, Masks
Science	Nature Studies, Experiments, Fishing
Swimming	Free Swim, Waterslides, Structured Water Games
Field	Capture the Flag, Basketball, Baseball
Computer	Strategy games, Backyard Sports games, Problem-solving games
Outdoor Adventure	Team-building, Survival and Camping Skills

Sample Day for Upper Camp

8:30 - 9:00	Arrival
9:00	Group Activity
9:30	Assembly (games, announcements, list of choices for the day)
10:00	1st Free Choice period
10:45	2nd Free Choice period
11:30	Lunch
12:35	3rd Free Choice period
1:20	4th Free Choice period
2:05	5th Free Choice period
2:45	Group Snack
3:10	Dismissal

In addition to the numerous daily activities offered, there are many special events and activities scheduled throughout the summer in coordination with weekly themes. The exact dates of weekly themes and activities are not decided upon until the start of camp. Some weekly theme examples include Hawaiian, Hollywood, extreme, beach, space, Halloween, Olympics, animal and Mardi Gras Weeks. Special activities have included a luau, camp movie, talent show, extreme field day, sand castle contest, reptile show, star lab, watermelon carving, Halloween in July, Velcro wall, climbing wall, an inflatable slide and an inflatable obstacle course. Pony rides and the puppet mobile are scheduled each session for Lower and Middle Camps.

Upper Camp Special Evening Program
Session 2 only

Campers in Upper Camp may attend a special evening program with their group and counselors. The special evening program will begin following the regular camp day and conclude around 8:00pm. Group games, swimming, a pizza party and s’mores around the campfire will fill the evening. Each Upper Camp group schedules one special evening during the second session of camp. The exact dates are not determined until the beginning of camp. There are no refunds or makeup days for missing the program.

Upper Camp Field Trips
Session 4 only

A field trip is scheduled for Upper Camp to Groveland Oaks on August 13. At the metro park, group games and activities are organized, a picnic lunch is served and children have the opportunity to swim. Upper Camp children who choose not to attend the field trip may not attend camp that day because all counselors will be on the field trip.  (No refunds will be issued for absences on that day.)

Roeper Summer Day Camp has two in-ground pools, which opened in 2004. One is a 1200 square-foot leisure pool with depths between six inches and two-and-a-half feet. This pool is used for Lower and Middle Camp children who are not quite ready for deeper water.

The second is a 25-yard pool with depths between three-and-a-half and eight feet. The leisure pool has a raindrop water feature, and both pools have water slides. Both pools are fenced, and Red Cross-certified lifeguards are on duty at all times. Water safety is stressed for all ages. Colored wrist bands are worn by all swimmers to identify areas of the pool which they are allowed to swim.

Swimming lessons, taught by certified lifeguards, are available after camp. Student/lifeguard ratios for these lessons will not be greater than 5:1. There are five lessons per session, each lasting 30 minutes, offered at 3:45pm or 4:15pm. The cost of these lessons is an additional $60 per session. The number of students able to take swimming lessons will depend on the number of certified lifeguards on our staff.

Forms to sign up for swimming lessons will be mailed with your registration confirmation letter.

Included in your child’s tuition is a daily hot lunch. Each day two entree selections are served with beverages. Salad bar, sandwiches, fruits and dessert are other items that children may choose from during the lunch period.

For working parents, before- and after-camp supervision programs are available at an extra charge of $4.00 per hour. This program can be used as needed; no prior arrangements are necessary. Parents will be billed for the time used at the end of each session. Before and After Care is located in the Domes.

Mornings    7:30 – 8:30am
Evenings    3:30 – 6:00pm