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1. What about Chatuga's staff?
2. Will my children have fun?
3.
Chatuga's price is so reasonable. What about quality?
4.
How safe will my child be at camp?
5.
Why do you accept only 150 campers each session?
6.
What if I don't live in Greenville, but would like to use
the camp transportation from there?
7.
What kind of religious emphasis does Chatuga have?
8. What is
the weather like?
9. What is a
typical menu?
10.
Which session should my child attend and what happens if
a camper is homesick?
11. Can campers
call home?
12.
Where do Chatuga's campers come from?
13.
Is it 'politically correct' for Chatuga to use an American
Indian logo?
14.
Why should my child even attend camp?
15.
Why should my child return to Chatuga instead of trying
a new camp?
16.
What does the daily schedule
look like?
17.
What does the Mountain Rest area have
to offer?
18.
What do I have to do to be a Leader
In Training/ Service Camper?
What
about Chatuga's Staff? Chatuga
invests in caring, competent, mature staff who attend
a thorough pre-camp training where they are certified
in First Aid & CPR, train in Chatuga's Emergency Water
Safety course, learn about the children's needs, safety
procedures and Chatuga's routine. We have an outstanding ratio
of less than 4 to 1 campers to staff. The counselors live
in the cabins with the campers. We also have a Camp Mom
to help out with the younger campers. All staff members
are age 19 or older, with the average age of a cabin counselor
being 22. The directors are all parents ourselves, so
we know your concerns about your children. Back
Will My Children Have Fun? "Fun"
is Chatuga's middle name! Our campers & staff are
known for being down-to-earth, fun-loving people. Suggestions
from campers, parents & staff help us continually
find new activities & fun programs. Back
Chatuga's
price is so reasonable. What about quality?Chatuga
has the American Camp Association's stamp of approval.
Seeking accreditation shows our commitment to quality.
Chatuga is in a beautiful, natural setting with "real
camp" facilities. We specialize in not being a country
club, but in being a traditional, fun camp. We work hard
to keep our fees reasonable so the camping experience
can be available to most families. The cost of living
in South Carolina is reasonable, we have no debt obligation,
our video is staff- and camper-produced, and we do what
we can to minimize costs without sacrificing quality.
We depend on our reputation and our alumni's word-of-mouth
for most of our advertising. Back
How safe
will my child be at camp? Statistics show
that children in camps have fewer accidents than children
at home. But going to camp is definitely not risk-free.
Chatuga's ACA accreditation reflects our commitment to
safety. So does our A-rating from the SC Dept. of Health
& Environmental Control. We treat your children like
our children: we give them a measure of independence in
as safe an environment as is reasonable. We also emphasize
freedom from the peer pressures of drinking, drugs, dating,
etc. while campers are at Chatuga. Back
Why
do you accept only 150 campers each session? Chatuga
has had more campers than that, and it was just too crowded.
Camp is more fun when it's smaller and more personalized.
And personal attention is one of Chatuga's trademarks!
What's best for the campers and staff is our concern.
Back
What
if I don't live in Greenville, but would like to use the
camp transportation from there? We can do
it for 2- or 4-week campers! We offer free pick up from
Greenville for families who live there, those driving
a long distance, or those flying. All flight pick-ups
are at Greenville/Spartanburg Airport. Back
What
kind of religious emphasis does Chatuga have?
Chatuga is a traditional coed camp with a Christian philosophy.
Percentages of campers' religious affiliations are approximately
65% Protestant, 20% Catholic, 12% Jewish, 3% other or
didn't say. All beliefs are respected. We have optional worship
at camp on Sundays of longer sessions. Jewish campers
studying for their bar mitzvah may bring their materials
to camp. Back
What is the weather
like? We have wonderful summer weather. Daily
average temperatures are mid-80s Farenheit. We rarely,
but some-times get as high as upper-90s or as low as mid-70s.
Evenings are a welcome cool mid-60s. Back
What is a typical menu?
Our chef, Ronnie, has been with us since 1978 and is very
popular with the campers. We eat family-style meals sitting
together at the tables. Every breakfast includes cereal
choices, milk, and 100% juice. Typical breakfast menus:
scrambled eggs, grits & bacon; boiled eggs, toast,
fruit; oatmeal, bagels, raisins; homemade biscuits and
gravy, fried eggs, sausage.
Every lunch and supper includes
a salad bar with several choices (including vegetarian)
and peanut butter & jelly with brown bread. Meals
are health-conscious as much as possible while still being
kid-friendly. Meals include: hamburgers, hotdogs &
fries; pizza; spaghetti & cantalope; tacos with fixings;
Southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans;
hoagies and homemade soup; and much more. Fresh fruit
is available to campers all day. Back
Which
session should my child attend and what if a camper gets
homesick? Each of our sessions will
be equally fun & action-packed, with some variety
for campers who attend two sessions. A younger camper
very tentative about leaving home could try a 1-week session.
New campers of any age who are thrilled about attending
camp are ready for a 2- or 4-week session which has a
"tamer" trip day of rollerskating or a more adventurous
trip day for the enthusiastic camper depending on the
session. Homesickness is rare at Chatuga, but our staff
are trained to recognize and handle it. Counselors give
a listening ear and direct campers to make friends
and join in camp life. All campers adjust after a few
days when parents support that adjustment. We suggest
that you never tell a child they can leave camp if homesick;
if they know they have to stay the entire session, they
make up their minds to have a great time. Back
Can campers call
home? Every camper for the 2- and 4-week
sessions has the opportunity to call on trip day (during
the second week of camp), but most do not call because
they don't want to stand in line at the phone and they're
too busy having fun! This does not mean your child doesn't
miss you; it just means you've raised a well-adjusted
individual. Cell phones do not work in our remote area
nor would we allow them. Parents may not call campers,
but may talk to their child's counselor or other staff
member any time. This is a policy that comes from our
experience in camping since 1956, and we've found that
changing times and technologies have not changed the wisdom
of this policy. Parents MAY email
or fax their children daily. Campers cannot email back
because of the logistics of having 150 campers trying
to do that! We do require campers to write home.
Back
Where
do Chatuga's campers come from? Although the majority
come from the southeastern United States, we have campers
from just about every state and numerous foreign countries.
Our staff is approximately one-third international. Back
Is
it 'politically correct' for Chatuga to use an American
Indian logo? We certainly think so! Our Indian
chief (see Home page) is not a caricature; he is dignified,
and has been used since the start of Chatuga. We also
carry the American Indian theme through camp with tribal
names for each cabin, which educates campers about the
variety of American Indian tribes. Some counselors (internationals
find it especially fascinating) even research the history
of their tribe to teach campers more. American Indians
lived close to nature, and that is also a theme of Chatuga.
"Tsa-tu-ge" (Chatuga) was a Creek word adapted by
the Cherokee that means "we crossed here." Back
Why
should my child even attend camp?The camping experience
is just so unique that no child should miss it. Where
else could your child experience and grow to love such
a diverse group of people? Where else could they swim,
ride a horse, walk in the woods, be a big fish in a small
pond, shoot a bow & arrow, go barefoot, drive a go-kart,
make up their own bed, talk with friends, camp out under
the stars, improve an athletic skill, lie on a hill and
discover cloud shapes, be themselves, learn to waterski,
create a unique craft, live without a TV or modern technology,
and learn to appreciate nature?! Back
Why
should my child return to Chatuga instead of trying a
new camp? Kids live in a world of uncertainty.
People move often, they sometimes divorce, they might
remarry, they change jobs, they have more kids. Kids go
to different schools, get new teachers, become adolescents!
Chatuga can be one of the certainties in their lives.
We're always here in the same place. We always have the
same directors. And we always care. That's why over 60%
of our campers return each summer and why former Chatuga
campers are now sending their own children! Back
What
does the daily schedule look like?
Daily Schedule
8:00 Reveille (wake up)
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Cabin Clean-up
10:00 Activities
1:00 Lunch
2:00 Rest Hour
3:00 General Swim/Free Time/Canteen
4:30 Afternoon Activity
5:50
Supper
6:30 Canteen
7:15 Evening Program
8:45 Younger campers Call to Quarters
9:15 Older campers Call to Quarters
9:30 Lights out for younger
10:00 Lights
out for older Back
What
does the Mountain Rest area have to offer?
Click here for Things To Do Links
page
Click
here for Hotel Information
Back
What
do I have to do to be a Leader In Training/ Service Camper?
Email to a request for application to mail@campchatuga.com
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