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Parent FAQs
How do you know when your child is ready to come to camp?
A child’s enthusiasm about the idea of camp is the best indication that she’s ready. Have her take more responsibility for herself at home and see how she responds. Successful sleepovers with friends and other family members also indicate a readiness to spend more time away from home.
Should my camper come for the whole summer, or one of the half sessions?
We believe in the value of the full, 7-week experience, we recognize that half season is better for some families. Some campers come for the whole summer starting at the age of 8, and others return yearly for a half session. Campers gain more independence, confidence, activity skills and new friends the longer they are at ALC.
How many campers return every summer? Staff?
ALC is an ever-growing family. Many of our campers and staff return year after year, and often they bring us their friends. Every summer is a balance of old and new faces, with returning campers and staff eager to share ALC with those new to camp.
Where are the campers from?
Our ALC family typically includes campers and staff from over 30 states and 20 countries.
Will my camper get to go on a hiking or canoeing trip?
All campers go on a tent overnight on ALC property. In addition, a variety of canoeing and hiking trips for all age groups are offered throughout the summer. Participants are selected based on their attendance and enthusiasm at the canoeing and/or outdoor explorations activities and their overall citizenship in camp.
How does my camper make activity choices?
With 3-5 activity choices each period, campers define their own program. Some campers plan in advance, while others make a decision at the end of each activity period about what they do next. Some want to try everything, and others focus on those activities that interest them the most. All campers have assigned swimming lessons and those who choose to ride have assigned riding lesson times.
How do you place campers in tents?
Tent placement is based on age and grade completed in school, and we strive for a mix of returning and new campers from a variety of hometowns. Four to six campers and one counselor share a tent.
How do you get your staff and where are they from?
Most of our counselors were once campers or CTs at ALC. All new counselors have demonstrated experience working with children and enthusiasm about coming to ALC. Like our camper group, we have counselors from all around the country and the world.
What is the food like and what about allergies or picky eaters?
ALC serves healthful meals designed to provide campers with all the nutritional values required by active youth. Our menus are reviewed annually by a Registered Dietician. ALCers are encouraged to try new foods, and healthy snacks are available throughout the day. ALC is a nut free community. If your child has a medically diagnosed food sensitivity/allergy, we ask you to contact us.
What if my camper is homesick?
If a camper struggles to adjust, we keep her busy, support and comfort her, and validate her feelings by reminding her that it is ok to have fun at camp and miss home at the same time. When a camper knows her parents believe in her ability to succeed at camp, she will believe it too.
How do I communicate with my camper?
Campers and parents write letters, simultaneously communicating and creating a keepsake that will be treasured in the future. We do allow international and west coast families to communicate via email where we will print the parent email and scan handwritten camper letters.
What happens if my camper does not feel well?
We have RNs who reside in camp and provide coverage 24-hours-a-day. They work closely with our pediatrician in Rockport who also happens to be the father of ALC campers. Pen-Bay Medical Center is the closest hospital and is about 15 minutes away. We contact parents if a camper spends the night in the Infirmary, is seen by a doctor, or if she experiences a recurring illness.