Frequently Asked Questions
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How Much Language Will My Child Learn At Camp?
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Tests? Credit?
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Experience and Qualifications
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Background Checks
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There are two or three “official” language classes each day, each about 1 ½ hours. The second language is also spoken at meals, during arts & crafts, song & dance, and cooking classes. H.S. counselors read bedtime stories or teach songs as campers hike to and from activities. Evening activities include all languages, so don’t be surprised if your camper learns a little French or German along with their Korean!
Most of our campers are experiencing the new language for the first time, so there are no entrance exams. Some campers have had some prior language and teachers are able to work with them on a higher level. We have had some years with enough older campers to separate them into their own class. That depends upon the number of campers. Because camp is only one week, there is no credit. Our goal is 50- 75 hours of active language immersion for the week. Each home school district has its own procedures in order to award credit. We have had a number of campers who enter a language program at their home school and are immediately ahead of the game. Most of all, campers learn to relax and enjoy their new language – which makes them more successful language learners.
We employ Ohio foreign language teachers, most of whom are members of the Ohio Foreign Language Association. There is one teacher per language and often a university assistant. In addition we have two program directors so that there is always one person available for supervision or emergencies. We have our own health specialist to dispense medications (no child or high school counselor may keep their own meds) who is CPR and First Aid certified and available 24/7.
High school juniors and seniors are recommended by their home school foreign language teachers. We use one female and one male for each language. Campers stay in cabins by language and gender, i.e. the German girl campers stay in a cabin with the high school German counselor. Sometimes the boys stay in a larger cabin with the male counselors if we have only two or three boys in each language. While we need high school counselors with specific language capabilities, we also look at their prior camping experience. Many have been counselors at their district’s 5th or 6th grade camps or have other experience working with elementary kids. We often use counselors for two years so that our high school staff includes experienced as well as new students. In reality, our high school counselors beg to return. They enjoy using their second language and working with the kids for the week.
High school juniors and seniors are recommended by their home school foreign language teachers. We use one female and one male for each language. Campers stay in cabins by language and gender, i.e. the German girl campers stay in a cabin with the high school German counselor. Sometimes the boys stay in a larger cabin with the male counselors if we have only two or three boys in each language. While we need high school counselors with specific language capabilities, we also look at their prior camping experience. Many have been counselors at their district’s 5th or 6th grade camps or have other experience working with elementary kids. We often use counselors for two years so that our high school staff includes experienced as well as new students. In reality, our high school counselors beg to return. They enjoy using their second language and working with the kids for the week.
Yes, because they are all teachers, they have been fingerprinted and have current background checks through their home school systems. In 20212 we are also asking that they receive the COVID vaccine.
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Living and Camp Arrangements
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Residential Camp
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Daily Agenda
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Campers are divided by language. The language groups are usually small, so the teacher is able to individualize by interest and developmental level. In years when we have enough middle school students we separate them as well. For meal times the campers sit by language, but in the evening the activities are multilingual, so campers have the opportunity to socialize with others their own age. Female campers are housed in cabins according to language. A female high school counselor of the same language stays in the same cabin. The boys often stay in one large cabin with the male high school counselors because there may only be two or three of each language. The adults stay in the rooms under the dining hall – in between both sets of campers. Occasionally, if necessary (homesickness, for example), adults will stay with the campers. If a child becomes ill, s/he is taken to the nurse’s station. High school counselors and teachers, program directors and the nurse have cell phones to keep in constant and immediate communication.
Campers arrive on Sunday afternoon around 3 pm. Parents may escort them to their cabins where their H.S. counselors will greet them and help them get settled. When all campers from one cabin have arrived, they walk to the dining hall together where they say goodbye to their parents. They meet the other campers, counselors, teachers, and directors and begin their week with some get-to-know-you games.
Campers have three meals a day at the dining hall. They also have an evening snack. Activities begin at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast and conclude each evening after snack. Bedtime is 10:00 p.m. Students attend their language, arts & crafts, and song & dance classes by language. They also sit at meals by language. All campers swim and participate in the evening activities together. In 2022 the activities director and the teachers will consider social distancing as they plan lessons and games.
Campers have three meals a day at the dining hall. They also have an evening snack. Activities begin at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast and conclude each evening after snack. Bedtime is 10:00 p.m. Students attend their language, arts & crafts, and song & dance classes by language. They also sit at meals by language. All campers swim and participate in the evening activities together. In 2022 the activities director and the teachers will consider social distancing as they plan lessons and games.
Our campers love learning and we make it a fun experience. We have several short official classes every day, but they also learn their new language at the meal table, through arts and crafts, song and dance and games. In the evening we have multilingual challenges like international dance and scavenger hunts.
See a sample schedule here.
See a sample schedule here.
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Safety Policies
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Tech Policy
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Food
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Allergies
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We will be following the NPI (non-pharmaceutical intervention) guidelines including masks, hand washing, social distancing and ventilation.
The church campsite that we have used since 2005 has a site manager and an assistant manager who live on site. Our kitchen staff is aware of the allergies or vegetarian or no-pork needs of our campers. The head cook and assistants are ServSafe certified. We also use certified life guards and personnel certified in CPR/First Aid.
No child is ever alone. We enforce rules that use the buddy system and the high school counselors or CITs (counselors in training) escort campers to and from activities. The kids are busy – unlike other camps we don’t have much free time. We believe that keeping them busy with language lessons, cooking, swimming, arts and crafts, song and dance, scavenger hunts and hikes makes for a very fun learning experience. Sure, we get some homesickness, but it usually only lasts one day out of the week. And parents can follow us on Facebook, if they choose. We post photos and videos daily. No child’s photo is shared if parents prefer and sign paperwork.
The church campsite that we have used since 2005 has a site manager and an assistant manager who live on site. Our kitchen staff is aware of the allergies or vegetarian or no-pork needs of our campers. The head cook and assistants are ServSafe certified. We also use certified life guards and personnel certified in CPR/First Aid.
No child is ever alone. We enforce rules that use the buddy system and the high school counselors or CITs (counselors in training) escort campers to and from activities. The kids are busy – unlike other camps we don’t have much free time. We believe that keeping them busy with language lessons, cooking, swimming, arts and crafts, song and dance, scavenger hunts and hikes makes for a very fun learning experience. Sure, we get some homesickness, but it usually only lasts one day out of the week. And parents can follow us on Facebook, if they choose. We post photos and videos daily. No child’s photo is shared if parents prefer and sign paperwork.
Not all cell phones operate at Templed Hills because it is located in a valley. H.S. counselors have a cell or walkie-talkie for communication with the nurse, the teachers and the directors. We also find that cell phones contribute to home sickness! Of course, campers may call home in emergencies. Parents can follow the week on our Facebook page. Parents receive the directors' cell phone numbers at check -in to use in case of an emergency. We also don’t want lost cell phones, iPods or iPads. This is a week of conversation - in other languages! Parents are also encouraged to write letters. Campers love mail! We will even print your emails and put it in an envelope as mail!. One email per day, please!
See our camp meal menu here.
Campers receive three full meals a day and a bedtime snack. At breakfast they may choose from a hot entrée, oatmeal or cold cereal. They pack their own lunches and are encouraged to pack as much as they think they'll eat. Dinner includes an entrée, a vegetable or salad, bread and butter, and dessert. There is milk or water to drink. The cooks prepare something at each meal for the vegetarians and for those campers who cannot eat pork. Campers prepare cultural dishes to share with the camp s well.
In the evening campers enjoy a treat that may have been prepared earlier in the day by the cooking class. Each language has a morning in the kitchen to cook a culturally-appropriate dish.
Campers receive three full meals a day and a bedtime snack. At breakfast they may choose from a hot entrée, oatmeal or cold cereal. They pack their own lunches and are encouraged to pack as much as they think they'll eat. Dinner includes an entrée, a vegetable or salad, bread and butter, and dessert. There is milk or water to drink. The cooks prepare something at each meal for the vegetarians and for those campers who cannot eat pork. Campers prepare cultural dishes to share with the camp s well.
In the evening campers enjoy a treat that may have been prepared earlier in the day by the cooking class. Each language has a morning in the kitchen to cook a culturally-appropriate dish.
You will complete forms for the nurse and talk to her as you arrive. We like to know before your arrival if your child is allergic to certain foods so that the cooks can plan accordingly. Sometimes, parents bring special foods along and given them to the nurse – applesauce in cups, for example, to take medicine.