A Note From The Director

We are so excited to have you join us at Camp Casco’s Overnight Camp this August 2024!! Camp is so important to our kids, so I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your time and energy with our campers this summer! We literally could not run camp without dedicated volunteers that continue to give of themselves. We see you and appreciate you!

It is my pleasure to be your Camp Director again this year and we are so excited for the amazing schedule of activities we have in store! We are especially excited to be bringing back the theme of Olympics that wasn't able to happen in summer 2020. In this packet, you will find information about getting to and from camp, how to pack for camp, and what to expect. Please look over the attached packet at your convenience, but I encourage you to do so sooner than later so you have ample time to get all of the supplies you need as well as get any and all questions answered well in advance of camp. August 18th will be here before you know it!

While we will have a virtual pre-camp mixer and training session on August 14th (mandatory for new volunteers, and optional for returning volunteers,) if you want to connect with other camp volunteers in the meantime, I encourage you to join our private Facebook group! And follow us on all social media platforms as well.

We know that this week of camp will be a ton of fun, and we hope that you are excited! If you have any additional questions, please email me anytime at victoria.valencia@campcasco.org. I look forward to meeting you all in Groton very soon!

Sincerely,
Victoria “Scout” Valencia
Overnight Camp Director

Camp Director, Scout, holding the cutest bunny at Overnight Camp 2023

Getting To Camp

We will be staying at Grotonwood Camp and Conference Center for the duration of our time at camp. It is located at: 167 Prescott St. Groton, Massachusetts, 01450

Going to Camp Casco: Arrive on Sunday 8/18 at 9:00 AM

Departing: Leave on Saturday 8/24 by 11:00 AM

When you arrive at the campsite, please park in the parking lot right as you enter. In the map below, the parking lot is located in front of the Gymnasium

If you anticipate being late or have trouble finding us, 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 related theme. Some of our counselors go all out dressing up for our theme days, and we coordinate games, crafts, and sometimes meals 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: Ancient Greece- dress in a toga, or perhaps just in blue and white (Greece’s most famous color combo), dress like an ancient warrior, or perhaps just wear a laurel crown
Tuesday: Winter Olympics- dress as a snowflake, wear a winter tracksuit/ski outfit, maybe accessorize with scarves and mittens
Wednesday: Summer Olympics- dress in your summer best in stereotypical summer attire, dress like your favorite summer Olympian complete with gold medals?
Thursday: France- dress as a mime, wear your striped shirt, put on a beret, carry around a basket of bread all day…

We will have a Paris themed dance this night! Come dressed to impress!!

Friday: Countries/Heritage- represent your city/country/region etc. This is your chance to showcase your “hometown” pride!

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 will likely 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 or in the cabin.

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 activities

Outside Gear:

Backpack, fanny pack or tote bag
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Watch (see note about smart watches further down)
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 locked box 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. Medication must be stored in the Med Shed, even if locked.

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. IMPORTANT: OUR CAMP REMAINS NUT FREE! Do not bring snacks or items with nuts.

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.