Summer Communication Guidelines

From the moment your child arrives at camp to the day they leave, every minute is packed with excitement. We want you to know how much fun your child is having while still creating an environment where the campers are able to be “present” in their camp experience.

While we know how much home means to each child, it is important for their transition to the camp setting that they have a balanced connection with their contacts outside of camp. Our communication policies are created to allow parents and campers to communicate all while not compromising this delicate balance.

Photos

Once a day approximately 60 – 80 pictures will be posted using the CampMinder photo platform, which can be accessed by using your CampMinder account. There may be multiple days during the session that your child will not appear in pictures, or might be pictured but not smiling to your liking :)

Please know that this does not mean your camper isn’t enjoying themselves. Some campers are just a little camera shy, and others might be too busy.

Facebook and Instagram

Camp will regularly post pictures and updates to the Camp Nageela  Midwest Facebook page and Instagram account (@NageelaMidwest). Instagram will have camp media as both posts and as an “Instagram Story”. Feel free to friend and follow our Camp Director, Ari Strulowitz, as well for occasional Director updates via Facebook and Instagram.

Blog/Newsletter

A couple times a week, there will be a blog post to our page “Around the Campfire”. Blogposts are written by members of our headstaff and may be a general overview of what is going on in camp, what will be happening or a short anecdote.

Email

Important information will be communicated to parents via email to the parent email addresses listed on each camper’s application.

Weekly Videos

On Friday afternoon in camp, our camp media team shares a montage of photos and videos to recap the week. At the beginning of the following week, these videos are uploaded to both YouTube and Vimeo. The link is shared on the blog and on our social media channels.

Medical

There are three occasions in which the Camp Director and/or Medical staff will contact a parent; a) if the child is being given medicine that is not “over the counter”, b) if the child needs to or has spent a night in the infirmary, c) if the child needs to be taken off campus.

The nurse will call the primary parent’s phone number as it is listed on the camper’s application.

Behavioral

In the event that a parent needs to be made aware of a behavioral situation during the camp session, the parent will be contacted by either the Camp Director or the Director of Camper/Staff Life.
Parent Facebook Page

Camp Nageela Midwest parents have developed a wonderful online community of sharing information and advice with each other through the Parents Facebook page. Feel free to join in on the conversation.

From Parents:

Letters and Postcards – Parents and friends are encouraged to send mail as often as they wish.

Mail is delivered before noon and distributed during or immediately after lunch time. To send mail to a camper simply address the envelope or postcard as follows:

[Camper Name]
Camp Nageela Midwest
26710 W Nippersink Road  
INGLESIDE, IL 60041

Packages

Campers may receive packages in flat envelopes only, not larger than 12” x 15” and 1” thick. We will not accept any boxes or envelopes larger than that size and will be returned to the distributer. Please note that food and snacks cannot be sent to camp. Camp Nageela Midwest reserves to right to check all packages before distributing.

Should there be a need for a parent to send a larger package please reach out to the Director of Campers. Please note that many missing toiletry items are available in camp and can be replaced should a camper need it.

Parents are encouraged to send emails to their camper via CampMinder by using their CampInTouch account. Camp Minder does charge a nominal fee for sending emails, using their “camp stamp” currency system. Camp Nageela provides every family with 5 camp stamps per week free.

Please note that when choosing a boarder for the email, it will not be printed in color. Emails are printed in the morning and distributed with the other mail.

Campers can speak to parents over the phone on birthdays and in cases of emergency only. Parents can call camp if they have a matter that needs addressing, and can expect to receive a phone call back within 24 hours. If it is an emergency, it will be addressed immediately.

If a parent has a matter to discuss with camp staff during season, the preferred mode of communication is email. Feel free to email info@campnageelamidwest.org.

From your camper

Postcards

Campers are encouraged to write home often. Parents should feel free to send stationary (paper, pens, envelopes and stamps) so that campers can write as much as they wish.  There are 2-3 days a week that campers are required to send a postcard home which is provided by camp.

 Phone calls are arranged for birthdays and other special circumstances.

As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or comments. We look forward to another amazing summer of Camp Nageela Midwest.