Winding Trails
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Camp Tours / Visitors

We would be more than happy to give you and your camper a tour of the facility and can be arranged in the spring prior to camp starting or summer while camp is in session prior to your campers fist day. If you would like to arrange a tour please call (860) 677-8458 ext. 12 or send an email to camp@windingtrails.org.
We do not have an open visitation policy at Winding Trails Summer Day Camp. The way the schedule is set up and the dynamics of the campus does not allow for visitors to be a part of that process. Also, some campers may become homesick if they see parents or visitors of other campers. This is why we do not allow visitors during the camp day. If you would like to see your camper during the day for any reason we can certainly have them brought to the camp office by their counselor. If you would like feedback on how your camper is doing we can also have your childs counselor call home. The counselors will make a phone call home during the first week of each session regardless to touch base with you to let you know how things are going and see if you have any questions. We thank you for understanding our policy and reasons behind it.

Friend Requests

We do our best to accommodate one friend request per camper per season. Please put your friend request in writing to the camp office no later than April 1st as groups are finalized in early April. Friend requests are accepted but are not guaranteed. Friend requests must be mutual and exclusive, meaning the two campers must each request each other and only in pairs, we do not allow multiple pairs of campers to be joined into groups.

What to Bring/What to Wear

  • All campers will need to bring a lunch each day, which will be refrigerated. Please make sure their lunch bag is labeled with their name.
  • Campers are required to wear closed-toed shoes, preferably sneakers, while at camp. And yes, Crocs are OK as well.
  • Campers should bring a water bottle, swimsuit, towel, insect repellent, and sunscreen each day in their backpacks.
  • Dress for the weather in play clothes- nothing that cannot get dirty.
  • Do not bring anything valuable or any electronics at all- we do not allow cell phones at camp.
  • We will supply all necessary camp equipment, i.e. sports equipment, fishing gear, arts and crafts supplies, etc. If your camper would like to bring their own equipment (lacrosse stick, fishing pole, etc.) we do need to approve that request so it can be kept safe while not in use.

Expectations for Camp

Summer Camp is where campers can be themselves, make new friends, try new things- but camp is much more than that! Campers and counselors work together, learn new skills, and build an honest, caring and respectful community where all individuals grow. It is this strong sense of community that translates into an unparalleled loyalty and fondness for Winding Trails, among counselors and campers alike. The heart of our programs has much to do with stretching to meet mental and physical challenges, gaining confidence and becoming skilled at teamwork. Our programs incorporate the natural surroundings and require a can-do attitude, cooperation and age appropriate independence.

Active and successful participation in the day camp experience at Winding Trails entails the ability to independently, safely and cooperatively:
  • Cooperate with similarly aged campers in a unit, and take part in the social and play time of the unit.
  • Exhibit suitable behavior without needing more than the usual amount of individual attention.
  • Be responsible for personal care, and individual health and safety.
  • Follow a varied individual and group activity schedule, that is age appropriate with graduated skill development.
  • Maneuver rugged terrain and distances between activities that are part of the natural surroundings.
  • Understand and respond to group instruction for most of the activities offered at Camp.
  • Act appropriately in case of an emergency.
  • Contribute positively to the overall spirit of the Camp community.
Winding Trails Summer Day Camp endeavors to arrange reasonable accommodations to make Camp accessible while preserving the rustic facilities, natural surroundings and a quality camping experience for all.

A Few Words on Behavior

CAMPER BEHAVIOR POLICY
Winding Trails is a safe, caring community where individual differences are valued, where people are supported in reaching their goals and accomplishing challenges, and where everyone can have fun! Since creating such a community requires the commitment of all participants, we ask everyone to agree to the behavior expectations listed below:
I Will Show Respect for Others
I Will Show Respect for Myself
I will Show Respect for the Environment and Camp Facilities
I Will Show Respect for Everyone's Health and Safety
Consequences
If a camper has difficulty following Winding Trails' behavior expectations, our staff will:
  • Remind the camper of expected behavior.
  • Review the Behavior Agreement above with the camper.
  • Discuss ways staff members can support the camper in making necessary behavior improvements.
  • If a pattern of inappropriate behavior continues, Winding Trails staff will work with the camper to set specific, appropriate behavior goals and outline consequences for continued inappropriate behavior. Winding Trails staff may ask parents/guardians for suggestions to help improve behavior or create a written behavior contract.
Three Strike Policy
1st time behavior agreement is broken: Verbal warning
2nd time behavior agreement is broken: Camper will sit out of activity
3rd time contract is broken: Camper calls their parent. Counselor fills out an Incident Report to be given to their Coordinator.
If the camper continues to have difficulty following the behavior agreement, they may be sent home, and the Camp Director/Admin team will determine when and if the camper can return to camp. 

Guidelines for the Bus
Campers should observe the following rules when riding the bus:
  • Be courteous to others on the bus
  • No profane language
  • No eating or drinking on the bus
  • Keep the bus clean
  • Cooperate with the bus driver and bus monitor at all times
  • No smoking
  • Do not be destructive! Seat padding is there for your safety. Anyone caught defacing property will pay for damages
  • Stay in your seat at all times- no standing!
  • Keep hands, head, and feet inside the bus
  • Keep aisles and exits clear
  • Bus drivers are authorized to assign seats if necessary
Rewarding Positive Behaviors
In regard to camper behaviors, we also try to encourage and rewards positive actions at camp. We do this in a number of different ways:
  • Camp Cup: Each week, a unit is chosen from each section of camp (Lower, Middle, and Upper) to receive the Camp Cup. Campers and groups award points throughout the week for positive attitudes, going above and beyond typical responsibilities, cleaning up trash around camp that wasn't created by them, dressing up for the theme days, good sportsmanship, helping fellow campers, etc.  We find that creating a fun way to celebrate positive contributions helps engage the campers and makes them want to showcase their behavior to hopefully help their unit win the camp cup!
  • Special Tasks/Camper of the Week: Some campers will also be asked to carry the flag to opening in the morning or be given other important tasks as recognition for excellent behavior, or for something special they have done, like helping another camper overcome a fear of heights, or helping younger campers learn something new. Each camp group selects a Camper of the Week' every week, based on their actions going the extra mile!
  • Counselor of the Week: We don't want to forget about our counselors! Each week, our camp admin team selects one staff member from each section of camp (Lower, Middle, Upper, Specialists and Lifeguards) as the Counselor of the Week', for going above and beyond for camp and our campers.

Publicity and Photographs

Throughout the summer, the opportunity may present itself that your child's picture may be taken for our publications, social media, etc. It will be assumed that the parent condones this practice unless a written note stating otherwise is received prior to camp beginning.

Hot Days/Rainy Days at Camp

We take every precaution to keep your children cool and comfortable during heat waves. As you know, your child's safety and well-being are our number one concern. All campers are schedule to swim each day. We also have sprinklers set up around the camp. Our Counselors will ensure that campers are taking frequent drinks at the drinking fountains and refilling water bottles regularly. Please be sure to send your child to camp well hydrated and have a conversation with them about the importance of drinking water throughout the day. In addition, during the days of extreme heat, counselors will move physical activities to shaded areas whenever possible. As the heat builds, sports and other physical activities will be replaced by games (drip-drip splash, etc.), and other non-strenuous activities in the shade.

We will run camp as normal as possible on rainy days and campers will most likely get a little wet- please send them with a raincoat on these days. Most activities will run as planned, but some may be altered to make sure the activity remains safe. Free swim and swim lessons will still take place unless thunder and lightning are in the area. In that case, swimming will be replaced by on-land water safety talks in a covered space. If the rain persists throughout the day, a rainy-day schedule may be implemented which will keep campers under cover while Specialists and Lifeguards rotate to the campers with fun alternative games.

In the event of weather that forces us to change ours chedule and head indoors, we will provide shelter in several buildings around camp. Campers and Counselors will be sent to Garmany Hall, Nature's Porch, and the Camp Office Building that has four inside rooms available for units to be placed. The Counselors, Specialists and Lifeguards will keep the campers active with fun games, songs, dancing, and board games until the weather has passed.

While we understand the wish to have your children with you during inclement weather circumstances, we can assure you that your campers are safe while at camp and we encourage you NOT to try and pick up your campers during this time if at all possible.