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Camp Programs FAQ
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Last update date: 10.21.2022

Frequently Asked Questions- Summer Camp 2023

Below are answers to some common questions about our programs. This document may be updated from time to time - please refer to the update date above. If you are interested in Family Camp True Colors, please view our Family Camp FAQs instead.  If you are already registered for a program, please also refer to the guides sent to you after registering.

What about COVID-19?

What will I do?

Where will I sleep?

What will I eat?

What should I bring?

What is the cell phone/electronic device policy?

Am I the right age?

Who is in charge?

What does it cost? (Camp True Colors)

How does financial assistance work? (Camp True Colors)

When do I pay? Do you offer payment plans? (Camp True Colors)

What does it cost? (Camp Heartland and Leadership Programs)

When do I pay? Do you offer payment plans? (Camp Heartland and Leadership Programs)

What if I have to cancel?

How do I get there?

How do I sign up?

Common questions about online registration:

What information is needed to register?

I don’t see the session I want and/or I don’t see any sessions.  Is it full?

What name should I use? Do you need my/my child’s legal name?

I can’t get into the registration site!

I have a different question!


What about COVID-19?

While COVID-19 continues to be a significant concern (and far more present than we had all hoped it would be by now), we are proud of our ability to hold camp safely.

 COVID-19 vaccination will be required to attend camp in 2023. If you have questions or concerns about your individual camper’s ability to meet this requirement, please contact us before registering.

The health and safety of our campers and staff is, as always, a top priority.  We have been and will continue to closely follow updated information and guidance from the American Camp Association and CDC, along with the recommendations for camp operations during COVID-19 from the Minnesota Department of Health. As summer gets closer, we will continue to evaluate the situation, including any additional COVID-19 precautions that will need to remain in place for summer 2023.

Given the fluid nature of the situation, registered participants can expect there may continue to be updates to some of this information, the information you have been sent about preparing for camp and traveling to camp and potentially to the forms and information we need from you as well. We will keep all registered participants & families updated and we thank you in advance for your adaptability as well as your very important role in helping us provide a safe and successful summer at camp to each and every person who needs it.

What will I do?

The camp schedule is focused on activities to have fun, try new experiences, and enjoy the summer in a safe environment, activities to build community with others with similar experiences, and fun educational activities specific to the session’s focus group, while also allowing participants opportunities to make structured choices about how they spend their time. Aside from having a LOT of fun, camp activities give you the chance to build self-confidence, life skills, friendships, and memories!

Some of the activities we offer are:

Schedule/Typical Day:

A typical day at camp looks like this:

 

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

 

Where will I sleep?

Participants stay in cabins, with approximately 7 to 9 other participants of the same age group, and 2-3 staff. (Photo of some of our cabins below).

Participants sleep on bunk beds and have the option of camp-provided bedding (no additional cost) or bringing their own. Bathrooms and showers are a short walk away from each cabin (between a few seconds and a few minutes, depending on the cabin). All bathrooms, showers, and changing areas provide plenty of privacy for campers.

Cabins are assigned by age group and are gender-neutral/gender-free. For certain sessions, you may have the option of selecting your preference of a feminine- or masculine-leaning cabin instead when registering. Cabins are sorted first by age.  

What will I eat?

Participants are provided with 3 balanced meals and 2 snacks daily, along with access to a designated supply of always-available healthy snacks.

An alternative to what is served is available at each meal, such as the cereal bar, sunbutter/jelly sandwiches, or the salad bar.

With advance notice, we are happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, or medically-necessary gluten-free diets, as well as work with you to accommodate other medically or culturally/religiously necessary dietary restrictions. Due to the nature of our facility, we cannot guarantee an environment free from cross-contamination of any allergen. Make sure to let us know about any dietary restrictions, food allergies, or other unique dietary needs on the Camper Care Questionnaire when you register so that we can properly prepare prior to camp. You will also be asked to confirm any food allergies or dietary restrictions on your camper's Medical Form (due no later than 4 weeks before camp) to ensure that our summer healthcare staff have accurate and up-to-date information.   If your camper has a more complex dietary need and/or you would like to talk about dietary or other needs before signing up, please contact us.

What should I bring?

The packing guide will be sent to you in the Registration Submission Confirmation email. This email is automatically generated and sent to the email that was used to create your account, after you have submitted a complete registration.

What is the cell phone/electronic device policy?

We ask that all participants leave their cell phones and any other non-medical electronic devices at home. This protects the privacy of all campers, and it also allows everyone to be present with each other and enjoy their time at camp to the fullest!

Campers traveling on a commercial flight to and/or from camp without Unaccompanied Minor service (or by another non-chaperoned commercial travel method) are welcome to travel with a cell phone.  We will collect it at the airport as soon as their family has been notified of their arrival and return it to them for the trip home.

If any other participant brings a cell phone or other non-medical electronic device with them, we will hold onto it until they leave camp. We will not charge the phones during this time. Once you get busy with camp activities and new friends you won’t even realize it’s missing!

Am I the right age?

Camp is for youth ages 7-17, though not all sessions have the same age range. Ages for each specific session can be viewed on our website. Age is calculated as of the first day of the session you are registering for.

 

Who is in charge?

Our summer staff are dedicated to making sure camp is a safe, welcoming, and fun place for each and every participant. They are carefully chosen through a rigorous screening process, and all attend an extensive, immersive pre-summer training where they are specifically trained to work with our participants, as well in areas specific to their individual role. Camp staff members come from many backgrounds and many places, but what they all have in common is they are fun, energetic and devoted to making camp a great time for each and every camper!

Individual staff are assigned to cabins based on the age groups they are most suited to working with, as well as their fit with what we know of the unique needs and personalities of the campers in each cabin. All staff that work directly with participants are required to be certified in CPR & First Aid, all activities at the pool and lake are supervised by certified lifeguards, and all healthcare and medication administration is overseen by our licensed medical staff.

One Heartland is licensed as a Youth Camp through the state of Minnesota, as well as accredited by the American Camp Association. Accreditation is a voluntary designation earned through thorough and regular review that signifies a high quality, safe, and nurturing camp program, facility, and staff above and beyond state licensing requirements, and  reflects the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.  For more information about ACA accreditation, refer to their website at acacamps.org.

Know someone who would make a great summer staff, or a healthcare professional interested in spending a week at camp? More information here, or contact us!

If your participant will need additional support from staff and counselors while at camp, we encourage you to contact us at camp@oneheartland.org

 

What does it cost? (Camp True Colors)

It is our goal to make camp accessible to everyone who needs it, regardless of their financial circumstances. The listed full price below reflects our actual costs per participant. We ask that those who are able to pay this cost do so, and we also have reduced prices/financial assistance available for those who need it. If the cost of the program or getting here is a concern for you, please contact us at (888)216-2028.

1-week Camp True Colors Sessions:

Full price: $1,150

Minimum price: $50  

2-week Camp True Colors Sessions:

Full price: $2,300

Minimum price: $100

Included in the cost of Camp True Colors:

There are no hidden costs – options offered by One Heartland such as bedding/linens, transportation from the airport or Minneapolis bus stops, or special activities do not have any additional charge.  

 

Not included:

Any additional individual travel costs, although if the cost of travel to camp is a concern for you, please contact us as resources may be available.

How does financial assistance work? (Camp True Colors)

When registering, you will be asked to select whether you will be paying full price or requesting financial assistance, and to complete a brief request form if you are requesting financial assistance. In the event more requests are received than funding is available, requests will be approved for those who qualify in the order they are received, and additional requests/registrations will be placed on a waiting list.

Once you have submitted your registration, your request will be processed within 14 days. A representative from One Heartland will contact you via email regarding your request.

When do I pay? Do you offer payment plans? (Camp True Colors)

We offer payment plans, with the non-refundable deposit ($50 per person per week) paid to register and hold your spot. If you are unable to pay the deposit, please contact us for assistance at the number above. Half of your remaining balance is due by April 15th and full payment is due no later than four weeks before your camp session, unless you have arranged a different payment agreement with us. However, for those who are able to pay or begin paying sooner we encourage you to do so, as it allows us to begin fully preparing for camp sooner.

If you are paying full price, during online registration you will have the option to either pay in full, or pay the deposit and choose from the available payment plans.

If you are requesting financial assistance, during online registration you will tell us your preferred payment plan option on the Financial Assistance Request form, and pay the deposit.

What does it cost? (Camp Heartland and Leadership Programs)  

It is our goal to make camp accessible to everyone who needs it, regardless of their financial circumstances. The cost of camp is on a sliding scale based on household size and income. When registering, you will follow directions to select the appropriate fee, or to request additional financial assistance if this fee is not affordable. If the cost of the program or getting here is a concern for you, please contact us at (888)216-2028.

Camp Heartland/LIT Sessions:

Full price: $1,150

Minimum price: $50  

Junior Counselor Sessions:

Participants pay the $50 deposit to hold their spot once accepted, receive a stipend for participating

Included in the cost of camp:

There are no hidden costs – options offered by One Heartland such as bedding/linens, transportation from the airport or Minneapolis bus stops, or special activities do not have any additional charge.  

 

Not included:

Any additional individual travel costs, although a limited amount of financial assistance with flight costs is available by request (select this option when registering). If you need flight assistance, it is strongly recommended to register by the flight assistance priority deadline of March 1st.  

Financial Assistance:

The cost of camp is on a sliding scale based on household size and income. When registering, you will follow directions to select the appropriate fee, or to request additional financial assistance if this fee is not affordable.

If you are requesting additional financial assistance, once you have submitted your registration, your request will be processed within 14 days. A representative from One Heartland will contact you via email regarding your request.

In the event more requests for additional financial assistance are received than funding is available, requests will be approved for those who qualify in the order they are received, and additional requests/registrations will be placed on a waiting list

When do I pay? Do you offer payment plans? (Camp Heartland and Leadership Programs)

We offer payment plans, with the non-refundable deposit ($50 per person per session) paid to register and hold your spot. If you are unable to pay the deposit, please contact us for assistance at the number above. Half of your remaining balance is due by April 15th and full payment is due no later than four weeks before your camp session, unless you have arranged a different payment agreement with us. However, for those who are able to pay or begin paying sooner we encourage you to do so, as it allows us to begin fully preparing for camp sooner.

What if I have to cancel?

Cancellation and Refund Policy:  If you need to cancel your registration, all but the deposit amount is refundable until April 15th. From April 15th until four weeks prior to your session, 50% of your fees (minus the deposit) are refundable.  No refunds are available for cancellations received within four weeks of the start of your camp session.

Exceptions to this policy are made only:

In cases that qualify for one of these exceptions, the camp fees will be transferred to another suitable session later in the summer or the following summer.  If another appropriate session cannot be determined, the fees can be refunded, minus the non-refundable deposit amount. Refunds will not be considered for participants who are absent on arrival day without notifying One Heartland, unless it can be shown that an emergent situation occurred that made communication impossible and the circumstances also meet the criteria for an exception listed above.

For those who request and receive flight assistance, any family/participant flight cost sharing amount owed to One Heartland is non-refundable once a flight has been purchased.

 Additional Information:

In all cases of cancellation, we ask as a courtesy to other participants that you let us know as soon as you know that you need to cancel your registration, as there may be other participants on the waiting list.

One Heartland is committed to working to keep costs/financial concerns from being a barrier to attending camp, while ensuring our programs are financially sustainable for years to come. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about this policy, paying for camp, or the cost of camp.

If you have any concerns about making a payment on time, payment method(s), or affording the cost of camp or the deposit, please contact us as soon as you know, as often the sooner we know, the more options we have available.

 

How do I get there?

People come to One Heartland from all over the country! Different transportation options include:

        Dropping the participant off and picking up directly at camp

        Taking a chaperoned bus from a meeting spot in the Twin Cities

        Taking a commercial flight and being picked up by camp staff at the airport

Participants will usually arrive at camp mid- to late-afternoon on the first day and depart from camp in the morning on the last day. Flights should be booked to arrive between 9:00am-12:00pm on arrival days and departing between 1:00-4:00pm on departure days. Flights closest to the middle of these time ranges are best. Large numbers of campers traveling by flight in a single session can impact these times.

You will be asked to select your preferred transportation option during registration, and we will work with you to finalize your travel plans as your session gets closer. Additional details can be found in the Travel Guide sent to registered participants.  

We are here to help your trip to camp go as smoothly as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about travel, please contact us at rbell@oneheartland.org or (612)503-8297. If the cost of travel to camp is a concern for you, please contact us as resources may be available.

How do I sign up?

Registration, the forms to be completed before camp, and payment are all online at https://oneheartland.campbrainregistration.com/ (or through the “Camp Registration Portal” button at oneheartland.org).  If online registration is not possible for you or you need the registration materials in an alternate format, please contact us. For questions about or help with the online registration process, please contact us - we’re here to help make it as easy as possible for you!  

For the Junior Counselor program only, pre-application is required here instead: https://forms.gle/KN1b53H2xdGsLDS76 

Common questions about online registration:

What information is needed to register?

It is recommended that campers and their caregiver/parent are both available while registering, particularly for older campers. To complete the initial registration online, you’ll need to enter some basic information about the participant, like their name, date of birth, address, and emergency contacts.  You’ll also answer some questions about their eligibility for our programs, preferences for things like getting to camp and bedding/linens, and some more detailed questions to help our staff care for them, including accommodation needs.  You’ll also need a credit card, debit card, or bank account information to pay the deposit amount.

If cost or payment is the only barrier to attending camp, please apply for Financial Assistance upon registering for camp. The form(s) to request financial assistance are available during online registration. You will need to know your household size and yearly income for the financial assistance forms.

For the Leaders In Training program, the participant will also need to answer some application questions in their own words.  

Beyond the initial registration, there will be some additional paperwork, such as the Medical Form, required before the camp session, all of which will also be available online. A full paperwork checklist will be included in your confirmation email.  

I don’t see the session I want and/or I don’t see any sessions.  Is it full? 

Not necessarily! You will always still be able to see a full session and add a waitlist spot to your cart.  

If you do not see the session(s) you want as an option, it almost always means the person you are trying to register is not eligible for that session based on age, or incorrect information has been entered to make the system think the person is not eligible. Make sure the birth date of the person you are trying to register was entered correctly on the previous page, that you are registering the correct person from your household, that you are in the correct registration season (Summer Camp vs. Family Camp), and that they will be the correct age for the session as of the first day of the session. If you need help with this or the problem continues, please contact us.

Less often, you may not see the session you want because manual registration approval is needed on One Heartland’s end.  This is true for:  

What name should I use? Do you need my/my child’s legal name?

For participants whose legal/government name is not the name they use, we do not need their legal name except:

For parents/guardians whose legal/government name is not the name they use:

I can’t get into the registration site!

Accounts are by household/family. If anyone in your immediate family/household has attended a One Heartland program before, whether you registered online or on paper, you already have an account.  If anyone in your immediate family/household has started to register online, but did not finish or did not attend the program, you already have an account.  

  1. Confirm you are on the correct registration site - https://oneheartland.campbrainregistration.com/
  2. Try logging in with the email address and password you have used in the past. If you forgot your password, or have only registered on paper, click "reset password" and enter the email address you have previously provided.
  3. If you are still unable to log in, no longer have access to the email address you have previously provided, or previously registered on paper without providing an email address, contact us to be sent a link to re-access your account. Please do not create another account.

If you are completely new to One Heartland, follow the prompts to create a new user (household) account. The first and last name provided must be of a primary parent/guardian/adult caregiver if the participant is currently under 18, and the email address provided should be the main email that communications about camp should go to for your family/household.  If you get an error message that the email address is already in use, follow the steps above.  If you get another type of error message, contact us for assistance.

 

I have a different question!

We’d love to hear from you! You can contact our team at camp@oneheartland.org or call us at (888)216-2028 and we’ll direct your question to the person best suited to answer it.