Frequently Asked Questions - Unleashed Summer Camp

ABOUT CAMP REGISTRATION

How will I know that my registration is complete?
When your registration is complete, you will receive an e-mailed confirmation, sent to the e-mail address you provided during the registration process.  Please review this confirmation for accuracy and contact us as soon as possible if you notice any errors. If you do not receive this confirmation within one hour of completing the registration, please check your bulk mail filter, as confirmations are sometimes delivered there by mistake.

What grade level should I register my child for?
Please register your child for the grade they will be entering in the fall of 2010.

My child is going into 4th grade, but is as old as some of his 5th grade peers.  Can I register him for the 5th grade camp? 
OR
My child would like to attend camp with her older sibling.  She's going into 4th grade, but can I register her for the 5th-7th grade camp anyway so that they can be together?
No.  Activities in our camps are tailored to the age levels of the children in the group.  Making exceptions to our grade level groupings poses a challenge to staff, who may need to adjust their programming to accommodate a wider range of ages.  To maintain the best camp experience for campers and staff, we will not make exceptions to the camp grade levels.

Can I register my child for more than one week of camp?
No.  To run our camps efficiently, we repeat many activities from week to week.  In addition, many of our camps fill up, and we'd like to reach as many students as possible.  For these reasons, we limit each child to attending once each summer.

Can I register my child for two half-day sessions?
No.  At each grade level, there are full-day camp sessions available; families looking for full-day camp options should choose one of those sessions.  Please note that half-day camps will not include field trips due to time constraints.

Why don't I see half-day sessions available for my 6th grader?
Half-day sessions are available only during certain weeks for our youngest campers.  We do not offer half-day options for all camp sessions or for students in grades 6-12.

What's included in my child's registration fee?
Your camp registration fee includes a T-shirt, water bottle, and string backpack, as well as snacks, materials, and field trips.  Campers in full day camps are required to bring a lunch each day.  (Note: half-day camps will not include lunch periods or field trips.)

My child would like to attend camp with a friend.  Will they always be grouped together?
Each camp day includes activities for the full group (12-26 campers, depending on location) as well as small groups (3-6 campers).  These groups are shuffled regularly to encourage kids to interact with new people throughout the week.  Campers who attend with friends will have plenty of opportunities to be together, but we will not guarantee that they will participate in every activity together.

I don't have a credit card, or would prefer to pay with a check.  Can I register by mail?
Yes.  To register by mail, please download and complete the registration form, and return it to us with your payment.  Please note that registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and registrations by mail require 2-3 days processing time.  Registrations will not be processed until payment is received; we cannot hold spaces without full payment. Mailed registrations will be confirmed by email or mail.

What is your cancellation policy?
If your registration is cancelled more than 14 days prior to the camp start date, your registration fee will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee ($25 for half-day camps).  No refunds will be offered for camp registrations cancelled less than 14 days prior to the start of the camp session. If space is available, campers may transfer their registration to another camp session at no charge.

Are there scholarships available for Unleashed?
Unfortunately, our scholarship funds for 2010 were extremely limited and have now been depleted.  No additional scholarships are available for this year.

MORE ABOUT CAMP

What time does camp start in the morning?
Full-day camp hours from from 9AM-4PM.  Half-day sessions run from 9AM-12PM or 1PM-4PM.

Can I drop my child off early, or pick them up late after camp?
Unfortunately, AHS is not able to provide an extended childcare option.  If camp hours are a challenge for your family, invite a friend whose family would be able to provide transportation.  Or select the "I am interested in carpooling" option on the camp registration form and AHS will share your contact information with other families who are interested in carpooling.

Where do I bring my child for the first day of camp?
Campers should enter through the main Adoption entrance at their camp location.  Because our shelters do not open to the public until noon on weekdays, campers who arrive early will find the shelter doors locked.  Camp staff will unlock the doors and greet arriving campers shortly before 9AM.  Please note that all campers must be signed in and out by a parent or caregiver each day.

For maps/driving directions to any AHS location, please click here.

What kinds of activities do campers participate in?
Please read more about Unleashed, including a description of camp activities, here.  We are still planning this year's camp activities, but a sample itinerary of 2009 activities can be found here.

My child attended Unleashed (or an Unleashed Express mini camp) last year.  Will this year's activities be the same as last year's?
No.  We have many children who attend camp with us year after year, so we make a point to offer a variety of new activities each time.  Some activities simply can't be changed (animal interactions, for example, are limited to certain activities for the safety of the campers and the animals), and we sometimes repeat activities that were especially popular - but staff strive to plan as many new themes, games, crafts, and learning activities as possible for every camp year.

Will my child be working directly with shelter animals?
Each day at camp includes at least some time where kids are interacting with shelter animals, but that's only one part of the camp experience - Unleashed includes lots of other animal-related activities, too, like special guest speakers, field trips, animal-themed crafts and games, learning activities, and service projects.  Time in our adoption center is very limited and closely monitored. Students will have daily opportunities for contact with a variety of animals, including shelter animals and visiting guests, but should not expect to spend significant time with animals waiting for adoption.