Welcome, Sibling Camp Counselors!
A Note From The Director
Dear Volunteers,
We are thrilled to welcome you to Camp Casco’s Sibling Camp this August 2024! Camp is an incredibly important experience for siblings to just relax and enjoy the outdoors. As my first year at Camp Casco as your Sibling Camp Director, I am excited to be part of this journey with you all.
I want to thank each of you in advance for dedicating your time and energy to our campers this summer. Your generosity and excitement are vital to our camp and we greatly appreciate each one of you.
We have an amazing schedule of activities planned, and I am particularly excited to announce the return of our Olympic theme, which we were unable to host in the summer of 2020.
On this page, you will find essential information regarding transportation to and from camp, packing guidelines, and what to expect during your time with us. Please review these materials at your earliest convenience to ensure you have plenty of time to gather all necessary supplies and address any questions you might have. August 4th is training day and will be here before we know it!
Additionally, we will be hosting a virtual pre-camp drop-in session on July 23 at 7 PM EST. This will be a great opportunity to get acquainted with one another and learn more about what lies ahead at camp. If you’d like to connect with other camp volunteers in the meantime, join our private Facebook group, or join our Sibling Camp WhatsApp group!
We are confident that your week at camp will be filled with fun and unforgettable memories and we hope you share in our excitement! Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at julianne.kelleher@campcasco.org.
I look forward to meeting all of you very soon!
Warm regards,
Julianne Kelleher
Camp Director
Camp Casco
Camp Director, Sox, showing her creative side with paint on her face
Getting To Camp
We will be staying at Berkshire Lake Camp for the duration of our time at camp. It is located at: 822 Peru Rd, Hinsdale, MA 01235.
Going to Camp Casco: Arrive on Sunday 8/4 by 10:00 AM
Departing Camp Casco: Leave on Saturday 8/10 at 12:00 PM
Please follow the map below and proceed to the parking lot next to the welcome center upon arriving at the campsite. If you have any trouble finding it, please call the Berkshire Lake Camp Office at 413-655-8020. If you anticipate being late, please notify us immediately! Call/text the Camp Casco leadership team at 857-302-2726 as soon as possible.
Theme Days
Theme days are a wonderful way to get into the camp spirit! This year, the theme of the week is OLYMPICS!, with each day having its own special movie related theme. Some of our counselors go all out dressing up for our theme days, and we coordinate games and crafts throughout the week to go along with our theme days. Counselors are encouraged to coordinate their outfits to fit the theme days. This could be as simple as wearing a themed t-shirt that you already have in your closet. Please note that there is no need to go out and spend money on these themes.
This year's theme days are as follows :
Monday: Opening Ceremonies - dress to represent camp Casco in your best green and gold! OR counselors dress as your camp name!
Tuesday: Winter Olympics - represent your favorite winter sport or activity. Think snow balls, hot chocolate, snowman, even Elsa is the snow queen.
Wednesday: Summer Olympics - Represent your favorite summertime activity.
Thursday: Past, Present, and Future Olympics - Represent your favorite host country of the past, present, or future!
Friday: Gooflympics - Free for all!!! Have fun, make it goofy.
Rainbow living up to her camp name with her chosen costume
Packing List
You may want to have a change of clothes for your days at camp as well as a few extra items. Refer to the list below and feel free to bring any other supplies that you think might be useful during your day. You may get dirty or wet during the day so take that into consideration when dressing for the day. Please note that closed-toe shoes are mandatory at all times except going to and from the swimming area.
SUGGESTED ITEMS MAY INCLUDE:
Clothing:
Theme outfits
T-shirts
Tank tops
Shorts
Jeans, long pants
Jacket, sweater, sweatshirt or fleece
Rain jacket
Hat with a brim
Modest swimsuit
Pajamas
Footwear:
Closed toe and closed heel shoes (required)
Sandals or flip flops for swimming at the lake/showering
Toiletries:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, brush/comb, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, chapstick etc.
Towels for swimming or water fights
Outside Gear:
Backpack, fanny pack or tote bag
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Watch
Any and all theme day accessories
Water bottle
Flashlight with extra batteries
Sleeping:
Pillow
Sleeping bag, blanket, sheet
Alarm clock (if watch doesn’t have an alarm, b/c cellphone use is prohibited in the cabin)
Miscellaneous:
A small lockable bathroom bag if you would like additional privacy for your personal medications (see next page for more details on this!)
Any kind of energy drink/snacks that you might need to help refuel for the week. There will be space in the break lounge to store them. (Coffee will be available daily! We are also nut free!).
The amount of each item is left to your discretion, although extras are highly recommended. The above list is a general summary of the items you will need for a week at camp. Feel free to make additions as you think necessary, and please ensure that you have enough clothing to last the entire week.
Important Notes
We will be providing daily breakfast, lunch and dinner along with yummy snacks.
Volunteer meds will be stored in personal brown bags in a single locked cabinet in our Med Shed that all volunteers have access to. A selection of over-the-counter meds for volunteer use will be provided there as well, though we encourage you to bring your own OTC meds if you have a need for a specific brand or type of medication. If you would like more privacy/protection over your personal meds, we encourage you to bring your own small lockable bathroom bag.
Use/possession of weapons, tobacco, alcohol, non-prescribed cannabis or illegal drugs is strictly forbidden, including while on breaks. Violators will be sent home IMMEDIATELY and suspended from attending camp in future years if any of these items are found in their possession or used.
Lost and found items will be held by Camp Casco’s Camp Operator for six days after camp. Camp Casco is not responsible for lost or damaged personal equipment.
DO NOT PACK any gum, candy, fireworks, or valuable items.
It will be hot and humid, so please pack a water bottle or a CamelBak type hydration pack.
Cell Phone Policy: We have a 100% zero tolerance policy on all camper cell phones. Upon arrival at camp, all campers will check in their cell phones at our Med Shed. “Unplugging” is incredibly important to helping the campers bond and make the most of their time at Camp Casco, and we ask for your support in enforcing this rule. Because of this, we ask that you do not use your cell phones at all inside the cabin or when around campers. You may use your cell phones only during breaks and away from view of the campers. This goes for tablets, iPods, and laptops as well. Smart watches are OK if used in airplane mode. Camp Leadership will have their cell phones on them for communication with parents and visitors, and for documenting moments for Camp Casco’s social media platforms. This policy applies to all campers and all volunteers (with the exception of Camp Leadership and their designees) and will be strictly enforced.
One Mission’s Sibling Retreat 2023
